Pray for our country
Good day to each of you reading this column and the current attack on Iran from the USA.
No matter what side of the fence you are on of the issue of the bombing of Iran, our president of this republic of the USA needs our prayers so that he does the will of God.
This column has to do with 2 Chronicles 16 and the importance of a king to pray to God before he makes decisions that effect himself and his country’s population.
Time will tell as to any repercussions from the Iranians and those who are linked to this country’s evil leaders and their terrorist’s organizations.
We are told that the Iranians have access to uranium to build nuclear bombs and that a US strike yesterday was to negate that threat by blowing up three areas where they were being produced.
Is the US headed for war with Iran? Will Iran strike the US by killing US forces in the Middle East, ships in the Middle East and disrupting maritime trade in the strait of Hormuz.
As the days unfold, fellow Christian, I urge you to pray for our leaders in the hope that they have called upon God in prayer to assist them in their decision making.
Why? Look no further than 2 Chronicles 16:1-10 (NIV) 16 In the thirty-sixth year of Asa’s reign Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and fortified Ramah to prevent anyone from leaving or entering the territory of Asa king of Judah.
Asa then took the silver and gold out of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.”
Ben-Hadad agreed with King Asa and sent the commanders of his forces against the towns of Israel. They conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim and all the store cities of Naphtali. When Baasha heard this, he stopped building Ramah and abandoned his work. Then King Asa brought all the men of Judah, and they carried away from Ramah the stones and timber Baasha had been using. With them he built up Geba and Mizpah.
At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”
Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison. At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.
Please take the time to read this passage in full for you see what happens when you, as a leader, do not consult God in any and all-important decisions that concern your fellow countrymen.
No, we don’t have a seer or prophet that I know of in the USA, but we do have God who is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent and what better way to speak to God is prayer.
This is what the Bible says about leadership:
Proverbs 11:14
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.
Proverbs 24:6
Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.
Proverbs 18:13
To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.
Proverbs 28:2
When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
This is an awakening call before Jesus comes for, we are seeing wars and rumors of wars and then the final conflict.
Awaken for we need discernment and read the word of God to be watchers like the ten virgins.
I put the above verses for our leaders to read so they can heed the advice that God has given each of us which is to call upon the Lord, seek guidance and direction, and speak with advisers before making a rash decision.
As a final thought, the above verses came from the wisest of all men, Solomon—we should heed advice especially the last verse which is to answer before listening is folly and shame.
Now on to 2 Chronicles 16 where Asa, king of Judah, obeyed God during the first ten years of his reign and then he decided to take things into his own hands.
Asa, wanted a treaty between Judah and Aram and in doing so wanted Aram to break the treaty with Israel. Aram was a foreign nation with evil people, but Asa wanted to make sure that his alliance with Aram was strong so Israel would not attack Judah.
If you read the chapters before, Asa had defeated the Cushites in open battle with the help of God. So why didn’t Asa call upon the Lord to help him ? Asa was stiff-necked and responded with rage to Hanani the seer when confronted about not contacting God.
Asa put his confidence in man and not with God for Asa wanted a human solution to his problem. Hanani the seer or prophet called Asa on his decision and, in return Asa put Hanani in prison.
Proverbs 24:6
Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers
Asa, took his adviser and placed him in prison because Hanani told him that eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him and that Asa had done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.
Cause and effect simply put—Asa has put his nation at risk for now and the future.
Asa’s response was that he was angry with the seer and became enraged to put him in prison as well as brutally oppressing some of the people.
I am not insinuating that President Trump was or is enraged or will put any of his advisors in prison, but it is my prayer that President Trump calls upon God’s counsel when making decisions of this magnitude whether it be domestic or foreign policy.
If he does what Asa did, this is what will happen when you don’t consult God in serious matters as the one Asa faced.
President Trump must make sure that the decision he makes is with countries that are not evil. God has showed us in the Bible not to deal with pagan nations but to put their trust in God and God alone.
We can all agree that it’s not sin to use human means to solve our problems, but it’s sinful to trust humans more than God especially if we have those that think that man’s way is the only way and to leave God completely out of any problem solving.
As we close, here is what God says about leaders and who choses them:
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Romans 13:1 (NIV)
He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21 (NIV)
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV)
Fellow Christian, heed the words of Paul in 1 Timothy 2:2 and pray for our leaders. It is so easy to criticize our leaders, so why not pray for our leaders. Remember, there is NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT THAT WHICH GOD HAS ESTABLISHED.
Do you wish to criticize God for the choice he made? Not me, for as for me and my house will serve the Lord.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
