VT Sabbath Focus: Elections and Rulers

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VT Sabbath Focus

Elections and Rulers

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How do we keep a “vertical thought” perspective when national elections (like the U.S. mid-terms this past Tuesday) are happening? Vertical means “up,” and thought is what you think on. Therefore VT is all about “thinking upward” toward and about God.

What is God’s opinion of the political leadership in America or any other nation? In the final analysis, who really decides who the leaders will be?

Let’s take a cue from an old saying that is echoed in principle in many of the Bible proverbs:  “Man proposes, God disposes.” In some nations, the voters elect their leaders, while in others the leaders enforce their own rule or that of the successors they choose on the populous, often punitively.

God can, whenever He chooses, give a nation the good leaders they desire, or give them the kind of leaders they may deserve (not the happiest option). While a change of government is seemingly so complex to those of us who observe it, God can enforce His will through either democratic or dictatorial governing processes. Human politics can't stand against God's judgement.

Drawing from the Bible…

Here’s our VT Sabbath Focus for the end of this work week. Take some time to study these passages in your Bible:

Daniel 2 – the story of Daniel explain to King Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of his great prophetic dream. Focus on verses 20-22.

- As you reflect on the story, the prophecy and the focus passage, how, in principle, can you apply verse 23 to yourself?

Daniel 4 – This is the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s vanity and self-exaltation, followed by his period of divinely imposed insanity. All recorded in the King’s letter, read how his mind returns, but he retains a clear memory of his mental lapse of “seven times” which usually means seven years. Focus on verses 34-35.

- Reflect on how the King learned a profound lesson of who is actually in charge of the earth and the universe. How do you personally identify with Nebuchadnezzar’s conclusion in verse 37?

For more on this subject, please read our featured article, “Whom Would Jesus Vote For?”

Have a wonderful Sabbath!