1 Samuel 8:7 KJV – “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”
Government is God’s creation. Politics is man’s perversion of it. The Lord instituted government, for without it, you cannot have proper leadership and order. Societies succeed or fail based on their rulers.
The American government is unquestionably founded upon the Bible, as witnessed by the Ten Commandments directly above the Chief Justice’s head in the Supreme Court. Its godly citizens are called to be involved in governance by giving voice to their opinions and electing those who should be in authority.
This level of freedom carries a huge responsibility, making the Lord’s words to Samuel more haunting, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” In a modern sense, God would say, “Samuel, they’ve rejected Me. They’ve removed Me from their schools, courts, and public squares. So, give them what they want.”
Every election cycle provides opportunities for new leadership. The question is: what will be the outcome? Will it be the result of prayerful involvement or ignorant apathy? Will statesmen be elected or political demigods who feel above the people they serve? The choice is ours.
How does a nation know who is best? What if it is divided and does not remember where it came from and thus cannot determine where it should go? It must cry out to heaven for wisdom in choosing good leaders and make its voice be heard when it votes, lest it receive the rulers it deserves.
