Dear Brethren,
Greetings to everyone and happy Sabbath.
It's been an interesting week in our country.  On Tuesday night we heard the President's "State of the Union Address".  On Wednesday the Senate acquitted President Trump and Thursday was the "National Day of Prayer Breakfast".  In all these events, there was plenty of drama, mud slinging and blatant disrespect.  I think you can sum up these events by saying there is an absence of peace as insults are being thrown around, in an environment of frustrating politics and vindictive comments being made about those who disagree with one another. Will we ever see peace? 
As we enter the Sabbath, it gives us additional time to read and study the Word of God, which gives us great peace and comfort.
Even though we see political unrest as well as corruption and power struggles in many nations who try to gain control or power over other nations -- we know God is ultimately in charge of world affairs.   Yes, power is given to men by the will of God.  Our God is sovereign.  Our God is supreme.
In Romans 13:1 the Apostle Paul wrote: Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Do you remember when Pontius Pilate questioned Jesus before His crucifixion?  When Jesus did not answer Pilate's question, Pilate said to Jesus In John 19:10-11:  Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"  Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above..."
Jesus knew well that God was in charge of everything and those in position of government are there only by God's will.
Nebuchadnezzar, a powerful king of the world ruling Babylonian empire was reminded by God's prophet Daniel:   You, O king, are a king of kings: for the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all.  (Daniel 2:37-38)
King Nebuchadnezzar later forgot that it was God who gave him his authority to rule when he said:  ... Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from you And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will.   (Daniel 4:30-32)
The prophet Daniel reveals it is GOD who gives the power to rule to whomsoever He wills. 
We can have confidence in knowing our God is supreme in power and authority above all others and that He is the King of Kings. Nothing can happen without God allowing it. It is He that makes and unmakes nations and governments. All for a purpose. And that purpose includes teaching mankind many lessons.
But God also reveals in scripture, there is a time coming when His own government will be established on earth!  It is prophesied that in due time, that God will intervene powerfully on the world scene after many hard lessons are learned by mankind and He will reign here on the earth.
Isaiah 9:6-7 is a prophecy of a future time, when God the Father will send His Son Jesus Christ back to earth to rule. God's prophet Isaiah writes:  "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
This future time will eventually be a reality when  "... The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15). 
What a glorious day that will be!
Wishing all of you a blessed and meaningful Sabbath. 
Dave
 
Scripture to read:
For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.  (2 Corinthians 5:10)