As we read through the Old Testament, especially Kings and Chronicles, we keep seeing the same refrain about the kings of Judah and Israel. Notice the pattern:
"He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin." (1 Kings 15:26 ESV).
"He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel to sin." (1 Kings 15:34 ESV).
"for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son, which they sinned and which they made Israel to sin, provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols." (1 Kings 16:13 ESV).
These verses represent many like them, and they all carry the same weight: the kings did not merely sin. They led Israel into sin. That repeated phrase hit hard today: and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. God judged these kings not only for their own rebellion but for the influence they used to turn others away from Him.
"Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep?" (Ezekiel 34:2 ESV).
Kings were meant to rule as God's shepherds. They were charged with representing His character, His care, and His justice. Instead, most led the people into idolatry and away from the living God. Ezekiel exposes their failure with painful clarity:
"The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them." (Ezekiel 34:4 ESV).
They did not protect the people. They exploited them. This is exactly what Samuel warned would happen when Israel demanded a king. Yet whenever God appointed a king to rule on His behalf, He expected that king to shepherd His people with His own heart.
But this warning does not stay locked in the Old Testament. Jesus carries it forward and intensifies it. What He says should send a tremor through us:
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea." (Mark 9:42 ESV).
This comes from the One who is full of grace and mercy. Yet when it comes to influencing the vulnerable toward sin, His words are severe. We may not be kings leading nations astray, but we are still accountable for the influence we exercise. In the eyes of Christ, causing someone to stumble is no small matter.
He dethroned kings. He brought down nations. And He warns us in unmistakable terms not to use our influence in ways that lead others into darkness.
Our influence is meant to point people to Him. It should strengthen faith, not weaken it. It should cultivate worship, not idolatry. It should reflect the heart of a shepherd who serves, not the heart of one who consumes the flock.
If we were to stand before King Jesus today, how would our influence on others be weighed? Would our lives reflect a shepherd's heart, or a careless leader who never considered the impact of his decisions?
In the quiet places of our daily interactions, are we drawing people nearer to Jesus or nudging them away? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments about how this reflection speaks to you as we walk through it together.