The Most High Rules in the Kingdom of Men

As I read through some commentaries on the book of Proverbs, I came across the following story from the Eastern Roman Empire. A Christian monk horrified by the emperor’s wickedness prayed to God and asked, “Why did You allow that evil man to become emperor?” To which God replied, “Because I couldn’t find anyone worse!” 

 Daniel reminds us in Daniel 4:17 that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people. Daniel, for example, served in prominent positions in the governments of several consecutive Babylonian and Medo-Persian rulers, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus -men placed there by God to fulfill His purposes. 

 One of the themes in Proverbs is indeed the sovereignty of God. This book reminds us that He made all, sees all, rules all, secures justice, is the source of wisdom, and deserves our worship. It is against this truth that we read Proverbs 21:1. In the LORD’s hand, the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. 

 In another theme, the responsibilities of kings or leaders are frequently described. If you can remember, we talked about this right at the beginning of the year, that one of the reasons behind this collection of wise sayings was to prepare the king’s children for succession! 

 Let’s take chapter 20 for example:

Verse 2 compares the king to a lion, highlighting his power and the impact of his decisions.

Verse 8 encourages the king to be observant, alert, and test every matter.

Verse 26 commends the king, who can separate right from wrong, and 

Verse 28 reminds the king that his position is not dependent on his strength and dominance but upon his relationship with his subjects, a relationship of love, loyalty, and trust! 

 We must remember that history really is His Story. God reigns supreme. When the politicians we vote for get into office, He is as much on the throne and in control as when those we oppose get elected into power. How reassuring to know we can trust Him, for as Daniel reminds us in chapter 4:37, Everything he does is right and all his ways are just!  

GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Close your eyes as I read Ephesians 1: 20 -23 from the Message, ‘All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him for death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being but forever. He is in charge of it all, and has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church!’ WOW, WOW, WOW… Can I read that last sentence again… The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church! Now let us go and chew on that for a while!