We Need a King for Our Nation – Part 4

Good Day to each of you reading this column on a King for our nation.

Here’s a trivia question for each of you—Who made this statement?

Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.

If you guessed Abraham Lincoln, then you would be right. I don’t gamble or play the lottery, but I would bet one thing and that God is always right and that’s something that you can take to the bank.

So, here is a suggestion—Instead of God Bless America, how about America Bless God—How can God truly bless our nation until we bless God. Three simple words turned around with the thought that we, as a people, must turn from our wicked ways and stiff necks and Bless God in each way.

While I am on interesting things, here is a question for those of you in the Jewish religion: The Christian God has a son, Jesus Christ, the Jewish religion denies Christ as the son, and their god has no son. So, do you of the Jewish religion have a different god than we Christians? I would like clarification on this topic.

Now, let’s turn to the following verses—1 Timothy 2:1,2 (KJV) I EXHORT therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: For Kings, and for all that in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Please note that in the 1611 KJV version that EXHORT is in all capital letters—According to Merriam-Webster dictionary: egg (on), encourage, goad, nudge, press, prod, prompt, urge

Did You Know?

Exhort is a 15th-century coinage. It derives from the Latin verb hortari, meaning “to incite,” and it often implies the ardent urging or admonishing of an orator or preacher. People in the 16th century apparently liked the root –hort, but they couldn’t resist fiddling around with different prefixes to create other words similar in meaning to “exhort.” They came up with adhort and dehort. Adhort was short-lived and became obsolete after the 17th century. Dehort was similar to exhort and adhort but with a more specific meaning of “to dissuade.” It had a better run than adhort,being used well into the late 19th century, but it is now considered archaic.

Folks, I like substituting the word exhort for encourage – Here, Paul begins with strong encouragement to believers who, like Paul, were being persecuted for their belief. Paul begins very humbly by giving thanks for all men and this includes, friends, loved ones and enemies.

As you may recall, Nero, the emperor and cruel ruler was constantly persecuting Christians as well as killing, burning and feeding Christians to the animals. Why? Because Nero saw that the Christian religion was growing and a threat to him as ruler. Nero denied Roman Christians certain privileges in society, thus sparking unrest in his district. Later, when the great fire nearly destroyed much of Rome around A. D. 64, Nero used the Roman Christians as a scapegoat. Doesn’t this sound like many leaders of today? History does repeat itself.

Paul was praying for authorities who would supply its people with a quiet and peaceable life, a life filled with godliness and honesty. Please turn with me to Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14 (KJV) Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

We all agree that Solomon was a wise man blessed with many talents which included being a King and Authority. So, take time and read Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14 carefully and ask yourself this question: Does your life measure to God’s standards? Do you fear God and obey his commandments? Do you pray for those in authority?

In review, many of you reading this column, may be under the authority of a king, queen, president, ruler, dictator, emperor, prince or other title and that person may be good or may be evil. Was this your choice? Is this the will of the people?

If we look back in the Bible and we look at Saul in the Old Testament, then we will see that God gave them a “KING” and that’s what the people got, “A KING” but God didn’t say what type of King or whether he was going to be a good king that would supply the people with godliness and honesty.

The Bible supplies answers to life’s trials and tribulations both individually and collectively but too many times we think we are smarter and can fix problems without God’s help. Remember, God is a gentleman and he steps aside so we can go it alone, only to find that we need his help.

So, what does this have to needing a king for our nation- We need a King and his name is Jesus Christ to rule over this world. How do we start? Do as what Solomon says: Fear God, and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Whatever title in life, whatever position you may hold, whatever you do, you have someone who is in authority and one who has made the rules. God, who is the ultimate authority says to keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man, not partial but whole duty.

Please take time and read the Commandments, but don’t stop there at Exodus 20.

Take the time to read Exodus 21, 22, and 23 and give me your thoughts on these chapters. I would love to hear from you.

May God Bless you and keep you safe.

Jeff