A Far From God King as God's Servant?
Do you view those in governmental authority as your opposition?
God calls Nebuchadnezzar “his servant.”
Nebuchadnezzar was evil, wicked, bad and nasty. He was foreign. He worshipped other gods. He did unspeakable things to people when he conquered lands.
This was unthinkable for God’s people to hear and to read from Jeremiah. They could not imagine this pagan king who did not worship YHWH could possibly be God’s servant…let alone have God think that someone as bad as Nebuchadnezzar was God’s servant.
Perhaps you think it just as unthinkable if your candidate doesn’t get elected. And maybe you think, “Oh, this was for the people Jeremiah was speaking to. This isn’t for me today.”
Romans 13:1-7. Paul wrote this in a time that was much worse than we have it today. He may have written this about an Emperor who persecuted Christians. Even if it was an Emperor who didn’t persecute Christians, the emperor still thought himself to be a god.
Nebuchadnezzar as Babylon’s king. The Roman Emperor. The current President. The next President. All God’s servants while God accomplishes his will with the world.
History is God’s story. He is doing something bigger than we can ever fathom or imagine. And no matter the spot in history we find ourselves, we are here to advance God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth by Hearing & Following him.
So no matter how bad it gets, Romans 13:1 is still in effect.
Then there is Matthew 5:44. If you think the other side persecutes you and is your enemy, Jesus calls us to pray for them.
What if Christians…
Loved — “Agape’d” their political enemies? This is sacrificial love. The love that gives their life for another. The love that took Jesus to the cross for you, his enemy. You don’t think you were Jesus’ enemy? Be reminded of Romans 5:8
Prayed for those in government authority, even if they didn’t vote for them?
Food for Thought:
Do you view those in governmental authority as your opposition? Or as God’s servant?
How do you start praying for those in governmental authority? How can you pray for the advancement of God’s Kingdom into the world around you?
How can you lead those in your church to a deeper understanding of God’s story through governments? How can you lead those in your church to a deeper prayer over the governments around us?