Rulers Need to Hear the Word of God

Throughout history nations of people have suffered the consequences of rulers who squandered the nation’s manpower and financial resources. Some rulers indulged in alcoholism, wild parties and sexual immorality. Some built palaces of ice on a whim. Some sent hundreds of thousands of young people to their death over crazy aspirations to expand their nation’s holdings. What should we who are ruled by such rulers do?

The Bible is a rich resource of answers to this question. In fact, I cannot touch on all the areas of wisdom it has to offer in a short article like this one, but I will focus on a few.

The starting point for any aspiration for improvement is to look to the Lord for help. When Moses and his people where attacked by Amalek and his army, what did Moses, the man of God, do? He gave his general, Joshua, orders to assemble soldiers and fight Amalek, but then he prayed. As long as Moses prayed for his army, they prevailed, but when he grew weary of praying, the enemy army began to win. Two men helped Moses keep praying until the victory was secured. The future of the nation depended on their faith in God to answer their prayers.

“Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.’ So Joshua did as Moses said to him and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” [1]

In fact, the people of God are mandated by God to pray for those who are in authority.

“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.” [2]

Do we want a quiet and peaceable life with godliness (or godlikeness) and reverence? Then, pray, make supplications, intercede for national rulers, give thanks for them. It only takes one bad leader to cause a major problem for all nations. But, on the other hand, one good leader can help many others to see the abundant blessings that good leadership yields.

People in charge of armies and national treasuries have many people trying to influence them. The Roman proconsul Sergio Paulus had a bad advisor trying to keep good advisors away from him. The Apostle Paul rebuked the bad man, and the Lord struck that advisor with blindness. The Roman proconsul became a believer in the Lord after that incident. The Word of the Lord can change the course of a nation for the betterment of all.

“Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him [Elymas] and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?” [3]

“Holy Spirit, please rebuke bad influencers of our leaders and authority figures. Please thwart their efforts to pervert the ways of the Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen.”

Elymas earned more than a rebuke. He got a consequence. Paul declared… “’Now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.” [4]

The Lord was gracious to limit the sentence of this false prophet’s blindness. He had been a blind guide leading blind followers. Now, he needed a trustworthy seeing-guide who would not take advantage of his plight.

Throughout the Bible, God tells us of the people that He graciously raised up to advocate for the betterment of people. Moses was one of them. He spoke to the King of Egypt about freeing Hebrew slaves. At first, the king refused to do so. He did not know the Lord. But the Lord dealt with his hard heart via judgments on his nation. Then, he let the slaves go. And when he hardened his heart once more, the Lord slew him and his entire army in a moment.

The prophets confronted kings and queens about their bad choices because they knew that the Lord would back up His Word to them in one way or another in due season.

As God’s people scattered throughout the earth, we should seek the Lord to help us speak for God. Moses tried to convince God that he had the wrong man for the job. Jeremiah told God that he was too young. God was patient and worked with them as they followed His lead.

The Holy Spirit helps God’s servants to know what to say when they stand before rulers.

“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” [5]

For examples of the Holy Spirit carrying out this promise, read the Book of Acts. When servants of God’s Word were brought before authorities, He gave them the right words to say.

[1] Exodus 17:8-13
[2] 1 Timothy 2:1-2
[3] Acts 13:9-10
[4] Acts 13:11
[5] Luke 12:12