Who is responsible—the leaders or the people?

(NOTE: January 7 to January 18 have all been posted today also.)

During our two weeks in Florida, we heard many people talking about their government, the presidential primaries, and the current economic situation. We also heard people cursing their leader, the president.

Although I pray about them, normally I don’t bother with social issues. Any study of history shows that things come and go, so my thoughts and comments could be obsolete tomorrow. However, in reading through parts of Exodus this morning, I realize I need to be more aware of current events in relation to what the Bible says. I read one verse that really startled me, particularly in light of our south of the border observations.

The verse says, “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people” (Exodus 22:28). It cross-references to Ecclesiastes 10:20 which goes farther: “Do not curse the king, even in your thoughts.”

God’s will for His people is that we respect authority. These verses from the Old Testament, especially in their context, show how serious a matter this is to Him. For example, the Ten Commandments include one about honoring parents, and a few chapters later, those who curse their parents are to be put to death.

We don’t follow that practice today, but the point is worth repeating; God takes respect for authority seriously. He repeats this in the New Testament in passages like this one: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2).

This is about recognizing and yielding to the sovereignty of God. He governs the people who govern; He allows rulers to rule nations. If God’s people curse their rulers and refuse to honor their authority, we are reviling God and His sovereign will. Other passages make clear that when God’s people do this, their whole nation will suffer because the Lord God will bring judgment on them. Some of those judgments included crop failure and the inability to conquer their enemies.

As I ponder these things, the logical next question is this: In a country with a collapsing economy and other hardships, and a seeming inability to win their wars, who is to blame? Certainly leaders can make dumb decisions, and a whole host of factors can affect their economic status, but considering the sovereignty of God who can overrule any negatives and bless any person or group of people whose hearts are set to obey Him, is decline really the fault of just one leader? The Bible is filled with God’s promises to bless obedience and curse disobedience, but these promises are given the entire population, not just the leaders.

Of course complaining about the government could be justified; all presidents, kings, and other rulers make mistakes. Some of them are downright evil. But such complaining cannot be justified before God. His will is that His people stop grumbling to others and get on their knees, taking their concerns to Him. One familiar Old Testament verse says: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The New Testament adds this, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

No country or people are exempt. Those who know and love the Lord are as responsible for the state of their nation as their leaders are responsible. God will bless and have mercy on those who trust Him, even if their leader seems to be doing the wrong things. We need to pray for our governments, not revile or declare hatred for those in authority.

This might sound simplistic, and perhaps it is, but if God is not sufficient to take care of decisions made by those in authority, or the economy of a country, or the safety and well-being of those who live in it, then who is?

“If my people hear my voice. . . .”