9/26/20
(As you can see, I wrote this blog back in September when I had no idea what the election outcome would be. I’m officially home now from the Race, but I’m not done sharing what happened with y’all. This is my first blog about our time in Northern California.)
A few days ago our host Brit prayed about how we could be most strategic in spending our ministry time. She felt the Lord place government on her heart and she considered the fact that come December there will be a need to fill several city council positions in Santa Rosa. That, of course, in addition to the other major political votes coming up.
So, in response to this topic of consideration, she and her husband agreed it would be strategic to pray over the government buildings in town. So, we went and broke into groups to go for prayer walks through that area.
During our worship time that morning as she was sharing her heart about what she felt God was reminding her of, Brit discussed the anointing of leaders in the Bible. And as we walked and prayed, I found myself reflecting even more on this topic, this very cringeworthy topic, and trying to understand how it relates to modern politics in America.
In the Bible, God was always the one to anoint leaders.
And I realized as I thought about it that He doesn’t always anoint leaders and kings who follow His will and His way.
The example of Saul and David comes to mind. David is probably the King we think of first when most people consider biblical kings. And it’s all well and good because David is an excellent example of a King after God’s heart who tried very hard to do God’s will.
But his predecessor was Saul and Saul was not a man after God’s heart. Saul was a rather evil king in many ways.
And yet, David respected Saul not because he was king but because David recognized Saul was anointed as king by God.
David refuses to kill Saul. He refused to set a hand on God’s anointed leader. And God appreciated that.
I don’t understand why Saul was king. I don’t understand why most of the kings in the biblical history of kingdom were anointed by God, but they were. And they did terrible things. They worshiped other gods. They sacrificed children. They built altars and idols and had ungodly wars.
But God still is identified as the one who anointed them as leaders over the people.
And I think that’s still true. God anoints our leaders and is with the leaders He anoints in His own way. Ways that I for one don’t understand. I can’t say for sure, just like I can’t say for sure whether leaders in countries outside of Israel had anointed leaders, but it makes sense to me that they were anointed and still are anointed to be leaders. And though the anointing may not quite be the same as the kings of Israel, I know God is with our leaders and the leaders God chooses aren’t mistakes.
Romans 13:1 tells us: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” (NIV)
1 Peter 2:13-14 remind us to “Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.” (NIV)
So, I believe that regardless of whether we like Trump as a person or a leader, Trump is God’s anointed president. And in November, regardless of whether I like the outcome of the election, the one who comes out as president will be God’s anointed president for the next 4 years.
Presidents like kings can do evil things and sin and make mistakes. Even the greatest of kings like David still sin.
So I can’t say it’s a mistake or a sign of destruction and death and impending doom if a president does terrible things or the candidate I think is most godly doesn’t win. God has His own reasons for choosing to anoint the leaders He anoints. This was true in biblical times and this is true now.
And that, I believe, is why we should pray for our leaders, and especially our president, as David prayed for Saul. Even when Saul wanted to kill David, David still prayed for God’s will through God’s anointed king and for the well-being of God’s anointed king.
What I want doesn’t really matter. I’m not God. I’m not going to understand. All I can do is trust that it’s for the good in the end.
So, no matter who wins this presidential election, I’m going to pray for them as an anointed leader of the Lord. I’m going to pray that no harm comes to them. And I’m going to pray for God’s good will to be done and that God will work in and through His anointed leaders.
I’m still going to have my opinions. I’m still going to have beliefs about what is best for this country. But I will also humbly accept that I’m not God and know that God is far more powerful than any king or any president who has ever lived.
I invite you to do the same.
