The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

Psalm 19:1-4

Dear God, if the Israelites has done it right back in 1 Samuel 8, who would David have become? I know it doesn’t matter because that’s not what happened, but I’ve recently wondered if he might have been the next Judge after Samuel. Everything about his relationship with you, his prophetic ability, and his concern for others suggests he might have been.

And if he had been Judge instead of King, what would his life have been like? He would probably have had a different married life and different children. His life would have been simpler and probably better in a lot of ways. To some extent, I think the power did corrupt David. It certainly corrupted his lineage.

The thing we all strive for—power and wealth—really is a false idol. Instead of peace it offers paranoia. It’s like giving a cola to a thirsty person at first or tastes great, but it only leaves you thirstier. What percentage of Americans are on antidepressants as opposed to those who live in South America? Shouldn’t one of the wealthiest countries in the world have the happiest people?

Father, I think of David writing the worshipful psalm and I can’t help but wonder what might have been. I’ve never wondered that before the last few days, but the more I think about it the more I’d love to know. You warned the Israelites about what a king would do to them, but you left out the part about what being king would do to the person. Help me to take my eyes off of worldly idols and simply embrace the beauty of the sky and all that you have made above and below it.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen