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They Are God's Servants


For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. (Romans 13:3-5)

“Not My President!” We’ve heard that for the past year, and we heard that during the last administration. The notion that these men or any person is God’s choice to rule any nation is difficult for American minds to wrap around. We, the people of the United States, elected them, and some would debate that. The divine right of kings stuff is considered rubbish.
Oh, we might be able to see a national leader as “God’s man” if that national leader did everything we thought right, but Mr. Obama and Mr. Trump, both? How can that be? What about Hitler, Stalin, and Mao? They commanded the deaths of more than one hundred million people, often their own people. Hitler slaughtered the Jews. How could these be God’s servants?
I don’t know. I don’t understand all of God’s plan, but national leaders, good and bad, are part of that plan. Read Isaiah 44:28-45:7.[1] Cyrus, God’s shepherd? Cyrus, God’s anointed? He was a pagan conqueror, but that’s part of the all in “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
And if our rulers are chosen by God, then rebellion against them is rebellion against God. That doesn’t make what I said yesterday wrong. We must reject the evil that our government does, and accept the consequences for having done so even as we hope it learns justice. That’s not the same as rejecting the leader God has chosen.


[1] who says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid.’” This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: “ I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.

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