Changing A King’s Heart

Changing a King’s Heart

Have you ever known someone who would make up his or her mind about something and not change it no matter what you said? That can be pretty frustrating, especially when you are convinced that person is wrong about something important. And it can really hurt if he or she has authority over you and treats you unfairly.

It happened often in the Bible. Pharaoh didn’t want to free the Israelites from slavery. King Ahab wanted to kill God’s messenger, Elijah. King Nebuchadnezzar built an idol and forced people to worship him, under penalty of death. How do you handle times when you are convinced the person in authority over you is wrong or being unfair? One option is to appeal respectfully to your authority, hoping to make your case. Another is to appeal to God.

You see, God can change the hearts of people, if he knows it’s best. There’s no limit to the type of people whose hearts God can turn. A pharaoh, a king, a teacher, a parent . . . anyone.

There’s a great example in the book of Ezra. For years, the Jews were ruled by foreign kings who went back and forth on whether or not they could return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple after being scattered around the world. The rebuilding started and stopped until the reign of King Darius of Persia. God’s prophets explained to one of the king’s governors that the promises of past kings had not yet been kept. Darius searched the records to see for himself. Sure enough, it was true. So Darius ordered that the rebuilding be finished. For seven days, the Israelites celebrated “because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria” (Ezra 6:22, NIV). The next king, Artaxerxes, continued to support the Jews’ return home! Ezra went on to praise God for influencing the king’s heart, and God was honored above all.

Daddy-Daughter Time

Talk about how you and your dad handle disagreements. Does your family have a way for its members to ask for a different decision with respect and love? Think about some ways to discuss disagreements while still showing love and respect to one another. Are there people in your life whose hearts you’d like God to change: a teacher, a bully, a friend, a grandparent? Make a habit of praying for the Lord to change their hearts in a way that would glorify him.

What’s The Word?

Praise be to the LORD . . . who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the LORD . . . and who has extended his good favor to me before the king.   Ezra 7:27-28 (NIV)