Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word...” 

  - Daniel 3.28

The frail, oppressive, and fleeting glory
of the kings of the present world is laid low by God’s will.

  -Columba, Altus Prosator, Irish, 6th century[1]

Scripture speaks of the civil magistrate as a servant of God who is to be obeyed because he wields the sword on behalf of good (Rom. 13.1-4). Civil government is an instrument of God for good, and we must not presume to stand in the way of its fulfilling its calling.

Ours is a qualified obedience, however, as Daniel’s three friends remind us. We must obey government when it is serving the good purposes of God. We are not called to obey the civil magistrate when doing so means we must disobey God or deny our Kingdom duties. The sense of shock in Nebuchadnezzar’s “frustrated the king’s word” is almost palpable in the text. Who would ever dare to stand against a powerful ruler and refuse to abide by his command?

Only those who recognize a higher Lord than the temporal government under whose oversight they pass this earthly sojourn.

God is Lord of all people, including all kings and rulers. He sometimes intervenes on behalf of His faithful people to ensure their wellbeing and continuity. Sometimes, however, it pleases God to allow His faithful people to suffer under the hands of rebellious civil magistrates. This is for Him to determine, Who does all things well.

Yet we, in order to engage that shepherding care, must make certain our ultimate allegiance is to God and His Law, and that we trust in Him alone.

When this is the case, we will seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else, and in and through all else. We will not rest easy with laws, statutes, or policies that contradict divine precepts; rather, we will devote our strength to the pursuit of holiness in every sphere of life, and for the benefit of all people, not just ourselves.

And to the extent that “we the people” have a role to play in the work of the civil magistrate, we will do so as unto the Lord, seeking His Kingdom and righteousness, and working according to His holy and righteous and good Law.

If we focus on doing God’s will at all times, we will be more likely to realize God’s blessings and glory for ourselves and our posterity. He Who is the Lord of kings uses His faithful people to shape even the policies of those who govern them, as long as we trust in Him and set aside any practices or precepts which are contrary to the righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit that is ours in the Kingdom of God.

And even when governments go bad, and they and the people they serve become corrupt, still God rules over all, and He will be glorified in the faithfulness of His covenant people.

God rules every fleeting earthly power and government, and some day He will lay them all low.

But His power and glory, nothing can oppose.

Psalm 72.5, 6, 9-11 (Martyrdom: “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed?”)
Let nations fear You while the sun and moon endure on high;
Refresh, renew us every one, like sweet rain falling from the sky.

O let the Righteous rule the earth, and let His foes bow low;
Let nations praise His matchless worth, and all His bidding do.

The world’s strength, Lord, is all deception to whoever embraces it. There is no strength save great love for You, Our Lord and King. Adapted from Oengus mac Oengobann, Féilire Oengusso

If Men Will Pray
Paul commands us to pray for all people, including those who serve in civil government. We need hardly ask whether those who serve in government need prayers so that they will do what is good, what is according to God’s will. But we might need to ask whether we will actually take the time to pray for them to that end.

In 1 Timothy 2.1-8 Paul holds out some fairly astonishing promises if men will join together and pray. If you’d like to consider these more carefully, and become part of a movement of men in prayer, I invite you to order a copy of If Men Will Pray by clicking here. In fact, order several copies, and enlist all the men you know in this God-given duty and privilege of beseeching Him on behalf of all people, including those who serve in civil government.

This little booklet can tell you how you can become part of a movement of men who are learning how to pray with greater consistency, focus, and effects. And if you’ll download the free PDF, A Solemn Warning (click here), you’ll see why men praying like this matters so much.

You’ll never know how much power there is in prayer until you begin praying with real power. Why not start today?
T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.