The central issue in A Tale of Three Kings has to do with leadership roles in the community of God’s people (whether in ancient Israel or in modern churches). The novel addresses a particular concern that some church communities face: how to deal with leaders whose character or calling might not fit them for the work of ministry. Part 1 (which looks at the period of Israelite history under Saul’s kingship) studies the question of discerning the best course of action when the leader in authority is a person of poor character, whose behavior is affecting the congregation in detrimental ways. Part 2 (which looks at the period under King David) concerns itself with whether it is ever appropriate to rise up against an established leader in favor of what appears to be a more promising ministry candidate.

The book regards a person’s anointing—that is, their calling and divine appointment for a ministry role—as separate from their inner moral character, which may or may not be well-adapted to promoting spiritual growth in that role. The ideal is for a leader both to be anointed and to have a good character, but in some cases it may be that a person who has been called to ministry is nonetheless motivated by selfish aims and prone to sacrifice the spiritual growth of their flock to their own ambitions; and yet (in the book’s

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