Pray for Our Authorities

1 Samuel 24:10

Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’

Romans 13:1-2

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Every time I read this story in 1 Samuel 24, I am amazed at David.  Saul hated David.  Saul knew David would be king and was hunting David down to kill him.  In verse 4, Saul has found David in a dark cave.  Saul is so close to David that David cuts a corner off of Saul’s robe.  David had the opportunity, but he did not kill Saul.  David knew Saul was trying to kill him, but he chose not to lay a hand against Saul because Saul was the “Lord’s anointed.”

In the first two verses of Romans 13, Paul says that all authority comes form God.  It also says, if we resist the authority, we resist God.

So, what about today?  Do we have the right to “stretch out [our] hand against the Lord’s anointed?”  Say what you will, but if all authority comes from God, we need to pray for our leaders, not tear them down.  It does not mean that you cannot disagree with them.   But, we know the difference between “agreeing to disagree” and coming against or attacking those in leadership when we disagree—even if it is just with our words.

I don’t know about you, but I am going to pray for our country’s leaders, my employers, and my church leaders.  It’s time to bring them to Jesus, not to our neighbor!

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