Please Pray for Our Leaders

By servant@nazareneisrael.org

Shalom, Nazarenes.

Recently some teachers I respect very much have put out some writings condemning the Obama administration.  With full respect for these other teachers I have to ask, is this really what Scripture commands?

No matter what our opinion of any given elected official may be, like it or not, America is still essentially a ‘Christian’ nation; or at least that is the opinion of the Islamic world.  Like any other nation, we all must all pull together behind our leader as one cohesive team, if we are to survive.

Whenever I say things like this, usually I am confronted with the argument that this-or-that elected official is a bad person, or that he-or-she is a member of the Illuminati (or the Masonic Lodge, or the Skull and Bones, or the Bohemian Society, or whatever); and therefore they are knowingly in service of the Adversary.  While these people may or may not be aware of what they are doing, Scripture commands us not to speak evil of those in authority over us, but rather to pray for them, and even to give thanks for them, instead.

TimaTheus Aleph (1st Timothy) 2:1-4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,

2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all righteousness and reverence.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of Elohim our Savior,

4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

It can be extremely difficult to remember to pray and give thanks for leaders whose stated policies appear to contradict Scripture, but it is all the more important.  In fact, praying for our leaders becomes even more important when we stop to consider that YHWH is so completely in charge of the world that not even so much as a sparrow falls to the ground, unless it is in YHWH’s perfect plan.

Mattithyahu (Matthew) 10:28-31

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

How great is YHWH’s power?  And how much in charge of world events is He?

In Acts Chapter Twenty Three, the High Priest Hananyah (Ananias) commanded the Apostle Shaul to be struck in the mouth, because of his faith in Yeshua.

Ma'asim (Acts) 23:1-5

1 Then Shaul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before Elohim until this day."

2 And the high priest Hananyah commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

3 Then Shaul said to him, "Elohim will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the Torah, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the Torah?"

4 And those who stood by said, "Do you revile Elohim’s high priest?"

5 Then Shaul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

One can easily argue that our forerunner Shaul had good cause to speak evil of the high priest.  However, Shaul knew that the Torah commands us not to curse (i.e., speak evil of) a ruler of our people.

Please notice that in this passage, cursing a ruler of our people is mentioned in the same breath with reviling Elohim.  Could it be that the reason Shaul would not speak evil of the high priest was that he understood that Elohim ultimately appoints all those who rule over us; and so therefore, to revile those YHWH Elohim has placed over us is analogous to reviling YHWH?

Consider also this letter that Shaul wrote to the believers in Rome, at the time when Nero was emperor.  Even though Nero persecuted the Jews, Shaul tells the believers in Rome that it is ultimately YHWH who appointed Nero; and therefore they should render unto Caesar what YHWH has given to him.

Romim (Romans) 13:1-7
1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim.

2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of Elohim, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

4 For he is Elohim's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is Elohim's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are Elohim's ministers attending continually to this very thing.

7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

If the Apostle Shaul can acknowledge that Nero was to be given the honor that YHWH Elohim had assigned to him, then what makes us justified in reviling America’s leaders?

We discuss the concept of corporate judgment in The Post Millennial Return.  In the decades ahead, our people stand to undergo a major corporate punishment for having turned away from YHWH Elohim.  Our nation will surely pay the penalty for failing to teach our children the importance of hearing and obeying His voice.

We may believe that we are righteous, since we believe in YHWH, and in Yeshua.  However, let us consider the fact that America’s presidents are popularly elected.  If we as a nation want a righteous leader, all we have to do is to elect one; and yet, notice how this is a witness against us. 

In the supermarket, if no one wanted to buy sugar-frosted-spleen-killers, stores would not carry them: it is only because our people are willing to purchase bad products that the stores supply them.  Likewise, it is only because our people do not elect leaders who truly fear and serve YHWH that we do not have leaders who truly fear and serve YHWH.  That is why the proverb of our fathers is true: we as a people get the government we deserve.

Had our ancestors acknowledged that Rehoboam was the king of Israel, they would not have followed Jeroboam, and we would not have gone into the Dispersion.  Yet this is our fault, and that of our fathers.

Many people argue that because we are righteous, we can sit in judgment of others whose fruit is not quite as good.  However, is this really constructive?

Luqa (Luke) 18:9-14

9 Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'Elohim, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 

12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' 

13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'Elohim, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Whatever your complaints with the current administration, please consider how in-charge YHWH is of the world, and then insert them into verse eleven:

11 “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'Elohim, I thank You that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, _____________, or even as this (elected official).’” 

It does nothing constructive to curse or to speak evil of President Obama.  None of the Northern Kingdom's kings have ever been completely righteous, Elohim-fearing men; and so the pattern continues.  And yet in spite of that, if we fear Elohim we must obey His word, which commands us not speak evil of those appointed over us.  Rather, we must give thanks for what good we can, and pray for them, that YHWH might increase their fear of Him, and cause them to do what is right in His eyes, so that we and our people might not have to suffer the corporate punishment.

Thessaloniqim Aleph (1^st Thessalonians) 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray without ceasing,

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of Elohim in Messiah Yeshua for you.

Are these just idle words?  Or are we ready to live by them?  And if we are ready to live by them, then do we really give thanks in everything?

Mattithyahu (Matthew) 15:17-20

17 “Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 

20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

As we learned in the study on Lashon Hara, Lashon Hara is any communication that:

1.      Says something negative about a person or party;

2.      Is something not previously known to the public;

3.      Is not seriously intended to correct or improve a negative situation; and

4.      Is true.

Even if we speak the truth concerning our leaders, let us ask ourselves: is our communication negative, condemning or critical in tone (i.e., dark in spirit)?  Or is it something positive, uplifting, and edifying?  That is to say, is it of the darkness, or is it of the light?

We discuss the corporate judgment that is about to come upon America in The Post Millennial Return.  Yet when this corporate judgment comes, let us remember that life is a test; and that rather than spend our time and energy condemning others, we need to focus on working out our own salvation in fear, and in trembling.

Phillipim (Philippians) 2:12-16

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is Elohim who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 

15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of Elohim without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Messiah that I have not run in vain, or labored in vain.

While the Apostle Shaul is not present, let us keep His words.  Let us learn to focus on that which is good, and that which is pleasant, so that the Elohim of peace will want to be with us.

Phillipim (Philippians) 4:8-9
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the Elohim of peace will be with you.

Rather than committing Lashon Hara, let us give thanks for the fact that our president is at least a Christian believer, and that he had a Christian pastor swear him in.  Even if there is a speck in our brother’s eye, please let us be sure  to take the log out of our own so that we can focus on every virtue, everything praiseworthy, everything lovely, and everything of good report.

Dear Elohim of peace, please help us to receive Your light, so that you will want to be with us in the tumultuous times ahead.

In Yeshua’s name,

Amein.

Norman B. Willis
Overseer, Nazarene Israel
The original faith of the Apostles

www.nazareneisrael.org
servant@nazareneisrael.org

יברכך יהוה וישמרך
יאר יהוה פניו אליך ויחנך
ישא יהוה פניו אליך וישם לך שלום
 
May YHWH bless you and keep you.
May YHWH shine His face upon you, and show favor to you.
May YHWH lift up His countenance upon you, and give you Shalom.