Spiritual studies: praying for leaders
Why do the nations rage?
And the peoples devise a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand,
and the rulers take counsel together... (Psalm 2: 1-2a)
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand in the path of sinners...
but his delight is in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1: 1-2a)
Therefore, O kings, O leaders of the earth, (bow down) Kiss the Son...
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (Psalm 2 :10-12)
The world plays background noise of boasting, violence, hatred, tragedy, greed, injustice, perversion blaring at us all day. The world can intimidate us with its brash self-exaltation. This is nothing new. Psalms 1 & 2 written some three thousand years ago, and Paul & Peter’s pastoral words amidst the first century Roman Empire introduce us to a life of prayer as an individual amidst an uncertain and raging world. (I Timothy 2: 2, 8; Romans 13: 1-8; I Peter 2: 13-17)
Can God be heard over all the noise? Has God lost control? Psalm 2 reminds us that God is on his throne, calm and resolute in his plan of redeeming mankind through his Son. He is not surprised or flustered by the monumental selfishness man-- mankind the individual and mankind expressed nationally. And he appeals to the leaders to bow down to his higher wisdom and seek His face.
As followers of Christ, we must see a Godsighting with the installation of new leadership, regardless of party and politics. We must continually pray for their wisdom and their heart for knowing God. We must not be dissuaded from fervent and focused prayer due to preoccupation with the latest tweet, reports from media or disappointing or woeful world events. We must put our mouth where our money is. And our meditation of our hearts where our outrage is. We must pray the earnest prayer of the heart for the hearts of earnest leaders. In fact, we are commanded to in scripture. Commanded independent of all circumstances, politics or personal affection. We are fundamentally citizens of a better kingdom.
God knows the immense capacity for leaders to be seduced by power and thus to serve self-interest , special interest and expediency. Truth and conscience are glossed over and even lost. There becomes an ease in portraying one thing on the outside publicly and quite another privately. Men and women become dualistic people with hearts unchanged and increasingly calloused. We would be tempted just the same as they.
So, how shall we pray for them? We need help with this for sure. These scriptures above and psalms 1 and 2 and the apostles words are a primer, and would suggest we pray for :
wisdom; recognition of God's authority; reverence or awe of God; healthy trembling respect for the enormity of task and honor of leading people; personal bowing of the knee to God as King over all; servant attitudes; tranquility; reverential attitude and orientation toward God first in their heart; discernment; teachable hearts to hear and heed warnings; worshipful hearts toward God and not to self; not to reject conscience and counsel from God; to take refuge in God.
Prayer reminds us who's in control and calms us. Until we pray, we pretend we're in control or no one really is. Notice the opening of psalm 2 looks at the enormity of the problem, then God's calm response, and then concludes with prayer and warning to leaders to bow down to Christ--- not for the somewhat elusive, grass is greener change of a nation, but for the leaders themselves to change. Notice also in these commands for us to pray for leaders that there isn't anything about praying for prosperity, lifestyle, policy or legislation. Until the heart of a leader changes, nothing really changes. Same with us.
I will commit to pray this year more than I complain, grumble, criticize and second guess. Even if it doesn't change policy, it will for sure change me. And Lord knows I need that.
originally posted: November 9th, 2008 by Patrick Harrison
