I saw an interesting glimmer of light as I read the second Psalm today . While the Psalm wont be completely fulfilled until the return of the Lord, it’s still pertinent for here and now, especially politically.
The last paragraph, starting in verse ten, exhorts and admonishes the Kings ( Presidents and Prime
Ministers ) and ‘leaders’ of all other sorts to show discernment and worship the Lord with reverence ( I suppose that means that without reverence, it really isn’t worship).
Verse twelve says, very broadly, pay homage to Him for your own sake, as well as the sake of your nation. The Bible here teaches that leaders, are to some measure, responsible for all the well being, of all their citizenry -and, since it’s the resurrected Son of God we know ourselves to be talking about here- I’d think it meant responsible for their spiritual state as well.
Of course I don’t imply that the Queen of Canada, the Governor General or the Prime Minister are intended to take any one else’s spiritual obligations, rather that good ‘kingship’ requires them to encourage and provide for a life of faith in their constituents. To see that it’s done more than do it.
Paying homage, even worship itself, doesn’t really require any theology or deep intimacy. Surely both of those disciplines make the experience more efficient and more rewarding but I see no reason to think Father Abraham knew much of either when he lit his first fire. That knowledge begins to flow into lives once individuals begin to admit there is a power higher than themselves givimg life and provision to all.
I’m going to take some time in my own prayers to invite that same eternal presence, who began pressing me with an awareness of Himself long before I accepted Him as my Lord, to begin to press himself upon and into the lives of all those giving leadership in our land. I’m more interested in who they are than what they do.
It seems to me, once again, that good government of every kind stems from ‘who’ more so than ‘what’.