Tuesday, January 23, 2018

God's Use of Rulers, Nations - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Ezra 6:22,

"For seven days they [the Jewish exiles] celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because the Lord had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel."

We are told the Lord prompted the king who held the Jewish remnant captive to release the Jews and have them return to their homeland and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The Lord even had the king decree the locals (who would oppose the returning Jews) to provide materials and supplies.

Just how does the Lord change an attitude of a king? I'm certain the Lord probably has a number of ways he does it, but, the point is, he does it. We know from a well-known proverb, the Lord engages the hearts of kings and leaders, "In the Lord's hand the king's heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him." Proverbs 21:1.

In another interesting proverb about the Lord's control of those in authority, we read, "By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just; by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth." Proverbs 8:15-16.

We may entertain ideas about limiting our own federal government from establishing a state mandated religion, but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob establishes governments, "From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us." Acts 17:26-27.

It was God himself that established the various nations with their governments for his own purposes. And, he uses those in control of those nations to carry out those purposes.

So, what exactly is the Lord doing in our nation today? Other nations?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!

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