Since the election, there has been all sorts of stuff about the President and the election on Facebook. As one person noted, before Facebook people used to keep this stuff to themselves. But no longer. Everyone’s latest thought is published with one click. And so everything from thoughtful analysis to outright slander is rolling through all of our feeds.
Those who understand that much of this is not good and even sinful have been posting this biblical counsel, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way (1 Timothy 2:1-2).†They have called all to stop all the posting and to start praying for President Obama.
But it seems to me that we need to talk about what that actually means. What does that mean to pray for him? Without instruction, some might think that praying for our President means that we must never disagree with him, that we must simply pray that whatever he does would be met with success. On the other hand, others might think that we should pray against him in every way, hoping ultimately that one way or another they would be removed from office. Both would be wrong.
It is especially in cases like this when emotions run high that the written prayers of the Church are as precious as gold. Let us learn from this prayer:
O merciful Father in heaven, from You comes all rule and authority over the nations of the world for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well. Graciously regard Your servants, those who make, administer, and judge the laws of this nation, and look in mercy upon all the rulers of the earth. Grant that all who receive the sword as Your servants may bear it according to Your command. Enlighten and defend them, and grant them wisdom and understanding that under their peaceable governance Your people may be guarded and directed in righteousness, quietness, and unity. Protect and prolong their lives that we with them may show forth the praise of Your name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
So what does it means to pray for our President? First we pray understanding that God has given this person authority for his purpose and that their authority is over us. We pray sincerely for our President that God would watch over him and graciously regard him. We pray understanding the huge responsibility he has been given. We pray this prayer as those called be submissive to this God-given authority.
But we also pray that he would use the authority given to him in accord with God’s commands. This means that if we are aware of some position of our President that stands in contradiction to these commands we pray that he would repent of this position, receive the forgiveness of Jesus, and begin to walk aright.
We pray that he would constantly be made wise to lead. And we pray finally and maybe most importantly as God’s people that the President would allow the Church to live and exist in peace and quiet.
Our prayer is that our President would prosper in all things good and that he would turn from all evil. Ultimately our prayer is that we would understand that we remain under the President’s authority and that he would understand that he too is under authority, the authority of God. Therefore, we pray earnestly and sincerely for him to do well never neglecting to pray specifically where we know repentance is necessary. We pray as we live, in submission to the President unless he commands something forbidden by God or forbids something commanded by God. We pray for his good unless he neglects to submit himself to God. Yes, let us stop all the posting and start praying for President Obama.
