Articles
“Pray For Our Leaders”
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:1-4
One of the things Paul charged Timothy to straighten out at Ephesus (1:3, 18) was prayer. He urges that prayers of all kinds (“supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings”) be made for all people, including those in “high positions.” The aim of such prayers is to enable Christians to “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” Our concern isn’t so much that we live a life free of trouble (2 Tim. 1:8; 3:12), but that we may be free to display the gospel to society.
We want to foster a good reputation among our neighbors, accurately reflecting God’s truth to them (1 Tim. 3:15). When we are “well thought of by outsiders” (3:7) we “give the adversary no occasion for slander” (5:14) so that the gospel “teaching may not be reviled.” (6:1)
How does praying for governing authorities help the church live out their faith in a public way? When the government does its job (cf. Rom. 13:1-7), it creates a peaceful and stable society as God intended. A peaceful environment creates a strong platform upon which Christians can gather for worship without fear of reprisal, raise their families according to God’s purpose and travel freely to proclaim the gospel “for all.” And the gospel is “for all people.” God is pleased when we pray for our nation’s leaders because he “desires all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” Though the gospel can spread in adverse conditions (see the book of Acts), a stable society only further broadens its reach. More seed can be broadcast when Christians are free to sow in peace.
With the election over and the government preparing to transition, let’s list a few ways we can hone our prayers for those “in high positions.”
Supplications — A “supplication” is simply a request we make to God in prayer. Pray for a peaceful transition of power in January, avoiding a repeat of the 2021 tragedy. Pray that justice would be upheld at home and abroad and that leaders would avoid corruption and selfish ambition (Prov. 11:3). Pray that policies reflective of God’s will would be enacted. Pray that those in authority would avoid leading the nation into war. Pray that they promote laws that allow citizens to live free from violence and oppression, especially for those who are vulnerable (Psa. 82:3).
Intercessions — We may find ourselves having to “intercede” on behalf of our nation’s leaders. As Moses interceded for rebellious Israel (Ex. 32-34), we ought to pray for God’s mercy and patience when those “in high positions” commit crimes, promote unjust practices and are guilty of corruption and blasphemy. We know that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34) As students of God’s word, we understand that nations can become so corrupt they end up as unwitting agents of Satan (Rev. 13, 17-18). Once this happens, God is forced to execute his wrath and consign them to the graveyard of history. The fallen empires of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon and Rome serve as sober reminders that our God “changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings” (Dan. 2:21a). He “rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (Dan. 4:25b). Our leaders need our intercession.
Thanksgivings — We often fail to be as grateful as we ought because we focus only on the shortcomings of our nation. Earthly kingdoms, by their very nature, are fundamentally flawed but that doesn’t mean they are all bad. If only we would count our many blessings! America is a wonderful country for all its warts and scars. The freedom to vote on candidates and policies; the freedom to travel wherever and whenever we want; the wealth we enjoy in a free market economy (even despite high inflation at the moment); the relative peace we have experienced; the schools, hospitals, museums, restaurants and parks. The list is endless. And how do these freedoms and opportunities come to us? Certainly by God’s grace, but through the honest and sacrificial work of civil servants.
So let’s pray for our leaders. Pray for President Biden and Vice President Harris. Pray for their supporters that peace may prevail. Pray for President-Elect Trump who has many challenges ahead of him. Pray for all those “in high positions,” incoming and outgoing, that they may seek to do what is right. Most of all, let us continue to love our neighbors and our enemies and pray that all may come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved. This is good and pleasing to God.
