God Save the King!

This morning I was contemplating Psalm 21.  I try to meditate upon a psalm every Friday morning.  As I read and re-read it, thinking about what it says about the king as an office and the king himself I began to think.

In today’s world the thinking of men, especially in America, is the dread of having a king.  We think of the great evil he would or likely could do with none to stay his hand.  But it is not right to think like this..  Is not God over the king?  Will not He who has all power be able to stay an evil ruler?  Yet one will ask, 'Why does He not move against the evil of our day?  But I ask, have we given Him any reason to do so? Have we honored Him with Godly lives and prayers? Is not the government which is there, by divine appointment? (Rom 13:1-10)

Oh there is a truth that even such a wicked king will be made to lie low in God's providential plan - so I do not mean to promote a passivism.  But if we were a godly holy people - we would have claim, but we are not.  Corruption is found at every point.  Every office, and court, and place of authority, operate as fits them and not according to law. 

We allow abortion and right to die.  Tomorrow we will take up involuntary euthanasia calling it death with dignity.  And in this climate we think to oppose the president on moral grounds?!

Ha! Such is the fools plan.

Psalm 21 is all about the Lord blessing the king and being on the side of the king.  But not any king, he who is saved (vs. 1) and who trusts in God (vs. 7).  The vision of King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 2) is all about pointing to a monarchy as being a better government - because it paints a truer picture of the reality of the One true and right King, Jesus.  And while we cannot expect THAT kind of perfection in our rulers, dare we expect a better moral ruler than we ourselves have been?! 

Better - a people like us repent and seek again God in tears and ask the Lord to save those who are over us in authority.  It is true that they over us who exercise authority outside of the God given mandate will have to give account, as we all do.  Perhaps we need to begin to honor the Lord and His Word first, before He will answer us regarding our leaders.  And while it is a true statement, "The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes" (Pro. 21:1)  It may be the case that we ourselves ought to turn first to righteousness & peace and then ask Him to turn our leaders...

Let those who trust in the Lord wait for the deliverance of their God - and while we wait, call upon Him!  In the ashes of a contrite heart and repentance let us wait – knowing that he who waits upon the Lord will not be disappointed.

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31