Over All

Read: Daniel 2

He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. Daniel 2:21

IN WORD

We like to complain about government. It’s the democratic way. If our candidate isn’t elected, we’ll find reasons to criticize the one who is elected throughout his term until someone we like better is finally in office. Then we defend our leader from attacks from the other side. And in the midst of it all—in the context of our passionate sense of “right” and “wrong” and “good” and “bad” leaders—God is sovereign over them all.

Scripture tells us that often. God turned the heart of Pharaoh in Exodus. He put Saul on the throne of Israel and then took him off, replacing him with David. Even in a Roman Empire led by a viciously oppressive dictator, the Spirit inspired Paul and Peter to write about being subject to governing authorities and patiently enduring injustice against believers. As much as we tend to think the world is spiraling out of control and another antichrist is just around the corner, God sits on His throne changing times and seasons, deposing kings and raising up others. Nothing is beyond His control. He knows the abuses of those in power, and He allows them. For a time.

We aren’t blind to the world’s ways. We know God doesn’t approve of everything our leaders do. We realize many of them are not reflecting His character and carrying out His will. Powerful people seem to face quite a few integrity challenges, and all fail at some points, some drastically. We may not understand the difference between God allowing bad decisions and ordaining the ones who made them. We just know that however it shakes down, God is still in control, and He is working through the political maneuvers of human kings to accomplish things for His purposes, quite apart from their own.

IN DEED

The Kingdom perspective is not fatalistic, but we do trust in the sovereignty of God. Regardless of current national and international affairs, we never have reason to be despondent. In fact, we have an open invitation to appeal to a higher authority to build up, tear down, move, restore, and renew. We have the audience of a greater throne room than any other on earth.

ADDITIONAL READING: Psalm 2:1-4

Nothing that is attempted in opposition to God can ever be successful.

JOHN CALVIN