Is God to blame for wicked rulers?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

And He changeth the times and the seasons; He removeth kings and raiseth up kings…. Daniel 2:21

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

The prophet Daniel declares here that God is the one who removes kings and God is the one who sets up kings. Romans13 teaches that the “powers that be” are ordained of God. The Word of God teaches that God has ordained human government.

But what about wicked governments? Did God set them up? It may surprise you to learn, yes, He did. That does not mean they are God’s will. God would much rather have righteousness throughout a land, and certainly in its government. However, by and large, people get the kind of government they deserve. God has made us free to choose. Wicked leaders are God’s consequences for a wicked people.

So what is our responsibility as a church? What is our responsibility so far as government is concerned? First of all, we are to pray for our government. We need to pray for leaders even if they are wrong“For this is good and acceptable and right in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:3).

ACTION POINT:

I am calling upon you to confess your sins personally and our sins nationally. And I am calling upon you to pray for America as Daniel prayed for his people—in the power of the shed blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is prayer time in America.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers