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Leaders, especially those who are elected through a democratic process, usually reflect the spiritual and moral character of a nation. Those who obtain power through deception often come from cultures built on lies. The same holds true for materialistic or violent leaders.
Other times, God puts people in power to carry out his judgment. God referred to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar as "my deputy" (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6) and "my servant" (43:10), whom he used to punish the people of Judah for their disobedience. Habakkuk acknowledged the same reality.
When the Ottoman Empire threatened Europe, Martin Luther declared, "The Turk is the rod of God's anger against the apostate church, so opposition to it must begin with repentance, prayer, and preaching God's Word."
If a political leader's behavior or stance on issues contradicts what we believe the Bible teaches, we need to step back humbly and ask, "Is God showing us something about our spiritual state?"—and then repent of any sin he reveals." ~Paul Borthwick, "Praying for the Powers that Be," Discipleship Journal (November/December 2005)
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Jeremiah 25:9 "Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations."
Jeremiah 43:10 "And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them."
Romans 13:1-6
Submission to the Authorities - "1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing."
"Almighty God,
we make our earnest prayer
that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection,
that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens
to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government,
and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another
and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.
And finally, that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased
to dispose us all to do justice,
to love mercy,
and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility,
and pacific temper of mind
which were the characteristics of the Divine Author
of our blessed religion,
and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things,
we can never hope to be a happy nation.
Grant our supplications, we beseech thee,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen"
~ George Washington
Written at Newburg, June 8th, 1783
Sent to the governors of all the states
"Leaders, especially those who are elected through a democratic process, usually reflect the spiritual and moral character of a nation. Those who obtain power through deception often come from cultures built on lies. The same holds true for materialistic or violent leaders.
Other times, God puts people in power to carry out his judgment. God referred to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar as "my deputy" (Jeremiah 25:9; 27:6) and "my servant" (43:10), whom he used to punish the people of Judah for their disobedience. Habakkuk acknowledged the same reality.
When the Ottoman Empire threatened Europe, Martin Luther declared, "The Turk is the rod of God's anger against the apostate church, so opposition to it must begin with repentance, prayer, and preaching God's Word." If a political leader's behavior or stance on issues contradicts what we believe the Bible teaches, we need to step back humbly and ask, "Is God showing us something about our spiritual state?"—and then repent of any sin he reveals." ~Paul Borthwick, "Praying for the Powers that Be," Discipleship Journal (November/December 2005)
2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Jeremiah 25:9 "Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations."
Jeremiah 43:10 "And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them."
Romans 13:1-6
Submission to the Authorities - "1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing."
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