It’s not easy being in government. One single decision can affect millions of lives. Therefore, we need to pray for our leaders and lift them up constantly in prayers, so that they can receive divine guidance on how to govern.
The Bible advises us to pray for our leaders. We also have to give them the respect that they deserve.
In 1 Timothy 2:1-4:
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” NKJV
In Romans 13:1-7:
“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore, you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.” NKJV
Furthermore, we read in Ecclesiastes 8:2-8:
“I say, “Keep the king’s commandment for the sake of your oath to God. Do not be hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand for an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him.” Where the word of a king is, there is power;And who may say to him, “What are you doing?” He who keeps his command will experience nothing harmful;And a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment, Because for every matter there is a time and judgment,Though the misery of man increases greatly. For he does not know what will happen;So who can tell him when it will occur? No one has power over the spirit to retain the spirit, and no one has power in the day of death. There is no release from that war, and wickedness will not deliver those who are given to it.” NKJV
Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ was a model citizen and fully obeyed the law. He paid taxes and did it in a unique way. He instructed Peter to pay his taxes with money he got from the mouth of a fish!
Talk about a “River bank!”
This account is found in Matthew 17:23-27:
“When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes.” And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” NKJV
Government officials also owe a duty to the people. They have the duty to protect and to give fair, just and equitable treatment to all, regardless of their tribe, race or culture.
In Psalm 72, we see some of these duties clearly spelt out. It is interesting that this Psalm was written by King Solomon, the wisest man that lived on earth. He at least knows one or two things about wisdom and governance.
In Psalm 72:1-5 and 12-14, King Solomon prayed like this:
“Give your love of justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king’s son. Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly. May the mountains yield prosperity for all, and may the hills be fruitful. Help him to defend the poor, to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. May they fear you as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains in the sky. Yes, forever!
He will rescue the poor when they cry to him; he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and he will rescue them. He will redeem them from oppression and violence for their lives are precious to him.” NLT
The Bible recognizes that there are some people in society who may be more vulnerable than others. Thus, you have God himself declare that he will be swift to punish those who oppress this class of people. They include the orphans, the widows, the fatherless and foreigners. For example, in Malachi 3:5:
“At that time, I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” NLT
In Deuteronomy 27:19:
“‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen” NKJV
In Ecclesiastes 5: 8 we find a very strange verse. It says:
“If you see the oppression of the poor and the denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight [of corruption]; for a higher official watches over another official, and there are higher ones over them [looking out for one another].” AMP
So, what happens when a government official decides to pervert justice, oppress others and favors his “buddies”? Who can call him to order, and how can those suffering from injustice obtain justice? Who can you run to when you hit the brick wall of nepotism and cronyism?
Let’s see what the Bible says on this delicate subject.
In Job 34: 16-28:
““Listen now and try to understand. Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the Almighty Judge? Are you going to condemn this God who says to kings and nobles, ‘You are wicked and unjust’? For he doesn’t care how great a man may be and doesn’t pay any more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all. In a moment they die, and at midnight great and small shall suddenly pass away, removed by no human hand. No darkness is thick enough to hide evil men from his eyes, “For God carefully watches the goings on of all mankind; he sees them all. Without making a big issue over it, God simply shatters the greatest of men and puts others in their places so, there is no need to wait for some great crime before a man is called before God in judgment. He watches what they do and in a single night he overturns them, destroying them, or openly strikes them down as wicked men. For they turned aside from following him, causing the cry of the poor to come to the attention of God. Yes, he hears the cries of those being oppressed.” TLB
So, what do you do when you have followed due process and still face oppression and injustice?
Cry out to God!
Yes! Cry out to him for justice!
God is a God of justice.
In Isaiah 38:18:
“For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.” NKJV
One final word for those that are beneficiaries of the help they are enjoying from those oppressing others. Listen to what the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 9:11-12:
“I returned and saw under the sun that—The race is not to the swift,Nor the battle to the strong,Nor bread to the wise,Nor riches to men of understanding,Nor favor to men of skill;But time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.” NKJV
Invitation to Salvation.
Jesus is calling you today. He is saying to you:
“Come to me all who are tired from carrying your heavy loads and I will give you rest”. Mathew 11:28
If you want to accept this invitation, pray to God. You can say something like this:
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I confess my sins before you today. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to know you personally.I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in and be my Lord and personal Savior.Take control of my life.Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life.Make me the kind of person that you want me to be. In Jesus name I have prayed. Amen.”
If you have sincerely put your trust in Jesus to be your Savior, welcome to the household of God!
