“He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will.” – Daniel 5:21
The sovereignty of God includes the appointment of kings, emperors, presidents, and prime ministers. Whether they are good or evil, godly or demonic, there are no accidents. Daniel, Peter, and Paul are all emphatic on this point. As followers of Jesus, we may not understand why God has placed a particular person in power, particularly if they’re wicked or persecute the church. Nonetheless, we must trust that God has put them there for His purposes which are often beyond our comprehension.
The Bible teaches us how to respond to the leaders placed over us, including when we find them detestable:
– First and foremost, we are to pray for them (1 Timothy 2:2). That should include praying for their salvation, wisdom, for their character or policies to change to align to Christ’s, for favor toward believers, and for well-being.
– We are to live quiet lives of faithfulness to Jesus (1 Peter 3). This is particularly important if those leaders persecute the church. Never compromise your faith, but seek to live a quiet life out of the spotlight and filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
– We are to serve with Christ-like integrity if called upon (Daniel 5). Never compromise or hide your faith, but if called, serve for God’s glory.
– We must respect and submit to our earthly leaders, even if they aren’t worthy of it (Romans 13). That must never take priority over your obedience to Christ, Who is our ultimate leader. If there’s a conflict, you must always obey Jesus. However, if there is no conflict, you have no choice but to also honor God’s sovereign placement of a particular leader in a particular position at a particular time for His particular purpose. #FollowJesus