I hope you had a good week!
I have a few thoughts, a few Scriptures that I have reflected on this week and a song link.
I want to remind you that this election, like all others before, was in God's hands.
First, did you know that Scripture says that God "ordains" (order or
decree {something} officially) those who are going to be in office? "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God:
the powers that be are ordained of God." (Rom. 13:1)
God's Word is urging us to be "subject", under the authority of, the powers that be. But we are also reminded that there is truly no power other than God's power, and that the earthly powers that exist are "decreed", "ordered" by God Himself!
Daniel 2:21 states, "And he {God} changeth the times and the seasons:
he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:"
God can set up someone in a place of authority or remove them Himself. So when we vote, we make our choices known and God Himself makes the ultimate choice.
Sometimes God gives us mercy in the person He picks, other times He picks what we as a nation deserve because of how we have turned out backs on Him and His Word.
We see this repeatedly in Old Testament history. The nation of Israel would be doing fine spiritually, obeying God's laws and then then would fall away from Him.
God would send a prophet (a 'town crier' so to speak), to warn the people that if they did not turn away from their sin and turn back to Him, He would have to discipline them (just as parent does to their child who disobeys).
The people would choose to live as they were, worshipping false gods and living in sin and along would come a foreign nation, taking them into captivity and making them serve in their nation as slaves.
The people would cry out to the Lord, repent, help would be sent, they would be set free. The would live for God for a period of time, maybe a good amount of years, and then the whole vicious cycle would start again.
In the Old Testament, the prophets were sent to warn the people. In the New Testament who have the Lord Jesus Christ who as spoken through His word, the Bible. John 16: 8 says of Jesus, "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"
Psalm 33:12 states, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord;..." You can imagine the flipside of this.
Secondly, We are to pray for those in authority. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, "I
exhort therefore, ( strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something:- Oxford Dictionaries) that, first of all, supplications,
prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks,
be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
In New Testament days this referred to the Caesars that ruled. In modern day vernacular, since we don't live under a monarchy, it refers to those who we have in leadership today- the president, senators, congressman.
Is it tough to pray for someone you didn't want in office and didn't vote for? Yes:) Was it STRONGLY ENCOURAGED in Scripture? Yes!
What is the reason? The reason is given in the verse, "that we may lead a quiet and peacable life in all godliness and honestly." By our prayers for those in authority, differences can be made and we can lead a more quiet and peaceful life in Christlikeness and honesty because of it.
Scripture says that God can change the hearts of kings, (those in authority), "The king's heart is in the hand of the
Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."
There is much more on my heart that I look forward to sharing with you next week. For now is song link that I think befit the week. The song itself has been used in presidential funerals, and national tragedies.
Keep "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2) and Lord bless each of you this weekend!
Song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI7JYSw-gOU
