God . . . government . . . and you? What is God’s design? How should we as Christians relate to government and government officials?

Many struggle with government. Some ignore it, some hate it. Criticism runs rampant. A few jump into policy issues, while most stand aloof.

What does the Bible show about God and government and you?

I was surprised as I read through the book of Second Chronicles to find such a strong connection between the religious (the prophets) and the government (the kings).

Nearly Every King Had a Prophet

Rehobam had a man named Shemaiah

Jehoshaphat had Macaiah, Jehu, Jahaziel, and Eliezer

Hezekiah had the famous Isaiah

Zedekiah had Jeremiah

The list could go on. . . .

What Does This Tell Us about God and Government?

1) God is interested in human government. In fact, He is very interested–more than most know. More than most pastors and church leaders know. If we who lead church meetings knew, we would begin our church services with prayer for various governing entities.

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,

for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Tim 2:1-2).

God enjoins churches to practice prayer for authority figures as a top priority in both private and public meetings (1 Tim 2:8). Not just any prayers. Specifically, we are urged to make entreaties, petitions and thanksgivings as well as regular prayers for various authority figures.

2) God is so interested in government that he repeatedly sends prophetic messages to governing officials through prophets or men of God. Could God use you?

3) God wants to direct the affairs of government.

The Biblical messages through the prophets included a vast array issues: military advice, when to go to war, when not go to war. Advice about foreign policy. How to treat prisoners of war. Religious matters.

4) God wants more than prayer for government; He wants His chosen people directly involved.

How Does God’s Concern for Government Apply in 2020?

In 1 Cor 10:11 we note that these things . . were written for our instruction.

The fact that the Bible shows so many of the kings had prophets whispering, or sometimes shouting in their ears, shows that God wants to teach us something.

Looking into the Bible records, we find that the prophets who spoke most effectively formed a relationship with the king. Isaiah’s relationship with King Hezekiah is an example. Nathan’s friendship with David is another.

Let’s Apply This to Local Government

Most of us will not have access to the president of our country. But we generally have surprising access to various forms of local government: councilmembers, perhaps the mayor, even state representatives, governors and senators.

I have a good relationship with our state representative and state senator to Des Moines. They respect me and I respect them. We have talked over some of the issues and they have asked me my opinion.

The church has a prophetic mandate to speak with local authorities. If approached well, especially if we have taken the time to become acquainted, most elected officials will welcome you and your ideas.

I have personally encouraged our state officials to vote for the fetal heartbeat legislation in Iowa. It passed and Iowa became the first state in America to enact a fetal heartbeat law. This law was designed to protect the lives of babies in the womb from the first day a heartbeat can be detected.

(Unfortunately, the Iowa Supreme Court declared the law unconstitutional; now we are by faith dealing with changes on the court and in our State of Iowa constitution.)

How Are You Doing in Regard to God and Government?

Are you giving regard to God and His interest in leading the nation?

Are you praying regularly for your governing officials? The stakes are high.

Do you know your local officials? Have you developed relationships with any?

Are you willing to be used by God?

What Does God Want You to Do Now?

What is your part in God’s plan?

California Wildfires, Puerto Rico Hurricane, and 107 MPH Winds in the Midwest. How Do We Make Sense of these Things?

Could all these be “natural disasters?” Are these the results of “climate change?” Or is there something greater involved?

One thing is for sure. God is getting the world’s attention. He’s stirring the pot aplenty.

Thee Bible prophets often portray natural disasters as not just natural; they have meaning.

It’s the prophets calling to interpret these so-called “natural events” for the rest of us.

Here’s My Take

Behind every flood, hurricane, or fire stands a great and loving God who wants the best for His creation. Nothing stands outside His love. So when mind-boggling disasters occur such as the California wildfires, there has to be an exponentially greater disaster ahead. A disaster of eternal and unthinkable dimension.

I’m not a doom and gloom guy. Nor do I speak ignorantly.

Tornado force winds severely damaged our house. Cancer wracked my body, nearly to death. Each left scars, each marked my life.

Nevertheless, I’m here to say that God is good and has a purpose for everything He allows. Even death brings hope for a better resurrection.

When we’re going through the onslaught, when we’re filled with confusion, when death surrounds us, it’s hard to look up. Still, let’s cheer up, look up, and find the purpose in it all.

The prophet Amos speaks of famine, drought, tornado, pestilence (would a current translation be virus?) plague, war, terrorism, fire and wind as judgments from God.

But you have not returned to Me, declares the Lord (Amos 4).

All of these seemingly natural events were designed to turn the people back to God so that nothing worse would come on them. Each was a dramatic and powerful call to action: Return to Me!

Jesus weighed in on a natural disaster during His day: Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:4-5).

Throughout Scripture natural disasters are viewed as calls for repentance in order to forestall or avoid further judgments from God that we bring on ourselves. God is a loving Sovereign willing to do whatever it takes to keep people from the eternal fires of hell and bring people back to Himself.

What Should We Do When Disaster Occurs?

One response is to bring further judgment, “They deserve it.” It may be true: They (We) deserve it.

But a better response is to humble ourselves, repent, and call for forgiveness and mercy. In fact, that’s what Jesus advised. He basically said, “Repent or perish,” even when we are not directly involved. Read Luke 13:4-5 again and see if you agree.

Learn from the Prophet Daniel

Daniel modeled this attitude following the invasion by the Babylonian army into Israel.

I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land. Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame,

O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and take action! For Your own sake, O my God, do not delay, because Your city and Your people are called by Your name.” [A]ll this calamity has come on us; yet we have not sought the favor of the Lord our God by turning from our iniquity and] giving attention to Your truth. Therefore the Lord kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the Lord our God is righteous with respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice (Daniel 9).

Why fires, floods and hurricanes? I don’t know all, but I do know that in the Bible many natural events were designed to get people’s attention. To shake people up. To get us out of our selfishness. To bring us to the breaking point where we have to admit, “There’s Someone or Something bigger than us around here.

Is every rainstorm, earthquake or tornado a judgment from God? Of course not.

But God has been speaking to me since about 2013 to “Prepare the people for judgment.” Judgments come in many forms. In fact, about 19 different kinds of judgments are mentioned in the Bible. Some ae scary, some are temporary, some are final. But all are true and righteous altogether. By them Thy servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward (Psalm 19:9-11).

I’ve been in earthquakes. Nothing like an earthquake to make you feel totally inadequate. It’s awesome. In an earthquake a person is absolutely, completely helpless. You can’t go up, you can’t go down, you can’t go out–no time. No place to go. No way to hide. Normal intelligence cannot reason with it. Little wonder, in Revelation 6 people cried out for the mountains and rocks to fall on them. I remember in an earthquake in Portland, Oregon, a woman in our apartment ran down the hallway in her nightgown screaming!

These are days when the pillars of civilization are shaking. Take “knee-time” seriously. Not a time to despair. And when the ashes settle, realize God is speaking–and not with words.

These are days of opportunity. These are days to look up. Take heart. Seize the day. Redemption draws near.