God Offers Us A Full Life in an Empty World 2 I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. 3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4 For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. Ecclesiastes 8:1-5 Even if your thoughts, do not curse the king…” Ecclesiastes 10:20A Does God choose Kings and in our case the leaders of our government? And, if we disobey the leader, or the King in this instance, are we disobeying God? Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations.” (1 Samuel 8:4-5). ““Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 1 Samuel 8:7 Israel’s Request for a Human King Was A Reject Of The Divine King. “Tomorrow about this time I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel.” - Samuel 9:16 “I’m sending you to Jesse in Bethlehem because I’ve selected one of his sons to be king.” “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; -Danuel 2:21 “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. -Romans 13:1-2 “Even if your thoughts, do not curse the king…” -Ecclesiastes 10:20A > “2 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. - timothy 2:1-2 I don’t think we can pray for our leaders out of one side of our mouth and curse our leaders out of the other side of our mouth. We Can Choose To Vote For Or Against Our Leaders. We cannot not choose To Pray Or Not Pray For Our Leaders. ”What if our leaders are asking us to do things that are against our Christian values or against a clear Biblical command? Do we still have to submit and obey?” “3 Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. Ecclesiastes 8:3 ...and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.” - Ecclesiastes 8:5 “And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you.” - 1 Samuel 19:1 “27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:27-29 We obey the authorities until the authorities directly forbid us from doing what God has commanded. When Our National Identity Surpasses Our Divine Identity, Problems Begin. 17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:17-21