Praying For The "State Of The Union"

"Today's Devotion" For February 1, 2006

Read: Romans 13:1-7; Psalm 47

PRAYING FOR "THE STATE OF THE UNION"

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (I Timothy 2:1, 2)

Last night the President of the United States gave his "State of the Union" address to the joint houses of Congress, the Supreme Court of the United States, and a national television audience. It's an address that goes all the way back to 1790 (if I have my dates straight) and meets the President's requirement to report, as the nation's chief executive, on the "state of the nation." (If you've ever watched the State of the Union you know that the opposition party makes a rebuttal right after the President is done - a "tradition" that goes back to 1966.)

Listening to his speech and watching and hearing the response of his Congressional audience one gets a microcosmic sense of the partisanship and ideological divide that grips the nation - at least, and, perhaps more acutely, in the halls of Congress. On points that I found encouraging the "loyal" opposition refused to even applaud, much less rise to their feet in approval and support. On points of disagreement they were willing to stand, almost as a "slap in the face" to the President and the principles under which he lives. What became obvious, at least in my mind, is that the nation will continue to be gripped by rancor and mistrust on a lost of issues, and through it all the 'business of the people" will be stymied and held up.

While listening to the President's address, it also became obvious once again, how enormous the burden of his office really is. In some ways it could be reasonably said that anyone aspiring to that office is either crazy or very arrogant (some might say extremely confident) - or both. One can see the obvious burdens and challenges of the office in the face and hair of the occupant of the Oval Office. As with the previous President, whose hair turned pure white very quickly while in office and whose face showed the burden of the office, so also does the strain and burden of the Presidency show on the current President's face and in his hair.

After watching the dynamics of the room during the President's address, coupled with the news reports, television programs, and commentaries heard over the airwaves, it isn't hard to see that our leaders are at odds with each other and with us. There are two sides to every issue - sometimes more - but there seems to be very little common ground. If the President proposes something which the opposition party disagrees with we have to look very, very, very, hard as citizens to discover any attempts to find a common ground and a common solution that might be acceptable to all. Rather than fair and open debate, the partisan bickering within the walls of Congress more often than not seems to lead to acrimony, character assassination, and blocking of any action needed to do the "business of the people." Hatred, scorn, and derision seem to have become the norm - something of which all parties serving the people are guilty.

In the face of this unhealthy situation among the leaders of the Republic, we hear St. Paul's exhortation to young pastor Timothy to bring "kings and all those in authority" before the throne of God with "requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving.". The context of Paul's exhortation are quite interesting because they are shared in the context of a Church under persecution - the Roman emperor of the day was once of its most infamous, Nero. Nevertheless, no matter who is in "office," Paul calls upon us, as the redeemed children of God in Jesus Christ, to pray for them and lay them before the throne of God's grace. Paul reminds us in his Letter to the Romans that all authorities, whether we agree with them or not, are in place by God's will and for His purpose - especially to establish orderly and peaceful lives for their citizens.

Since these are the purposes for which God establishes the authorities, whether they know it or not, or believe in Him or not, it becomes necessary for us, as God's faithful people, to raise up in prayer our leaders and their welfare. We are called upon to pray for them that they might perform their duties for the good of all and in accordance with the will of God. We are called to give thanks for them and to intercede on their behalf.

In the light of God's Word to us, we realize that it's better for us to pray for them than to just protest their decisions. Certainly we've been given the freedom in our nation to protest, openly disagree, and constructively challenge the decisions of our leaders and those in authority, whether on legal, moral, or ethical grounds. Yet, perhaps we can "make more hay" if we, the people of God, spend more time lifting up our leaders to God's providential mercy and grace, love and care - even those we vigorously oppose and with whom with vociferously disagree. Besides praying for their good and that God would lead them to walk with Him, it's also essential that we pray that they seek God's guidance as to the choices and decisions they make for the nation so that our nation may serve Him and the world in "all godliness and holiness" - a manner pleasing to God.

The "State of the Union" was labeled as "strong" in the President's speech and, from a human perspective, it is. However, from a spiritual perspective, it is anything but "strong." We are a nation in need of prayer and healing from the divisiveness that seems to plague our every step. It’s important that we pray daily for our leaders, lifting them up before God with thanksgiving for their willingness to serve and interceding on their behalf that God would bless them and enable them to do serve Him and the nation well. It’s also important that we pray that God would lead us to be a nation of greater "charity" as we deal with each other in the conduct of the "business of the people." Wisdom also leads us to pray that God would guide us and our leaders to fully recognize our own fallibility and inadequacy to serve well without His presence in our lives. We pray, in accordance with God’s will, that our nation might come to believe God’s truth and realize that we all "fall short of the glory of God" as sinners and are in need of His forgiveness in Christ. Our prayers might also include asking our heavenly Father to help us as citizens and a nation to show compassion, respect, and love for even those with whom we might vigorously and vociferously disagree.

The "State of the Union" can only be strong if God is in its heart and is its foundation. Our prayers for our leaders, whether we like them or not, whether we agree with them or not, are essential to keeping our nation's foundation strong. Only God can bring peace to the troubled soul, the troubled nation, and a troubled world. He does that in Christ and calls us to be the messengers of His love in Jesus. Being "subject to the higher powers" (Rom. 13:1) and praying for their good is an essential part of that witness and love on our part.

Prayer: Father, I'm grateful to You for this wonderful nation I live in and the freedoms You have established and maintained in it so that I may freely and openly worship You. While I disagree with a lot of the ungodly ideas and behaviors of the politicians and the legislation and decisions they make, nevertheless You call me to "be subject to them" as Your appointed servants for my good. Give me a loving and caring heart and spirit so that I may daily lift the nation's leaders before Your throne of grace, praying especially for the President and the Congress that they might do Your Will as they lead the nation and the world. Let me truly be "loyal opposition" as appropriate, and fully in keeping with being Your child. Above all, Father, continue to bless the United States of America, its President, its Congress, its Judiciary and all others who would lead us in our service of You and others in Your name. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright @2006 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.