“Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.” (Daniel 2:20-22)
This week will see the election of the next President in America. This is a very strategic election in that what happens at the voting polls will have widespread ramifications, not only for America’s future, but for the world at large. The votes of the American people will reveal where America stands on such key issues as abortion, funding terrorist organizations, financially supporting the Iranian regime, maintaining the border between Mexico and the United States, immigration and America’s continuing support of Israel. These are just some of the matters that will hang in the balance in this election. From the Biblical perspective how the next President relates to Israel will determine the future of America. (Genesis 12:2-3) (Zechariah 2:8)
President Trump recognizes that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel while Joe Biden is for a two state solution which would see Jerusalem divided and which goes against the Word of God and brings God’s judgement on any nation that seeks to do this where Israel itself is concerned. (Joel 3:2-3) Joe Biden has said he will reverse President Trump’s policies and how far he will go in doing this remains to be seen. Joe Biden has the backing of Obama and Clinton, both of whom had no qualms dealing with those Islamic nations hostile towards Israel with Obama sanctioning huge amounts of USA dollars to the Iranian regime in conjunction with the Iranian nuclear deal, a policy President Trump stopped in its tracks.
Joe Biden will reactivate the Iranian nuclear deal and Obama will undoubtedly back this decision. For American Christians in this election the moral, ethical and spiritual matters related to the Bible will also be on the line. Someone has said a nation that prospers spiritually, socially and economically along Biblical lines is a nation governed by men who are governed by God. While President Trump has his faults and lacks to a degree the ‘spit and polish’ of a Politician there is no doubt he has sought to bring America back to its Judeo-Christian heritage and cares for the ongoing welfare of the American people.
His handling of the Coronavirus situation may not have been completely successful but with much adverse publicity both from the media and staunch resistance from the Democrats President Trump has been maligned by them. Of course we know that President Trump cannot save America neither can he make America great again even though he seeks to do this as best he can. We know from the New Testament that government is ordained by God and should be obeyed unless there is a violation of the conscience and of Biblical priorities and one has to decide allegiance to God before allegiance to the state. (Romans 13:1-7).
However, It is God Himself who determines who governs a nation. In the Book of Daniel we read what the prophet writes concerning God’s sovereignty over the leader of a nation. “Daniel said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. 21 “It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. 22 “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him” (Daniel 2:21-22) Now we notice several things.
1. God alone has the ultimate wisdom and power. (Vs.20)
God Himself is the ultimate source of all wisdom and power and nothing is hidden from Him with whom we have to deal. As the author of the Book of Hebrews writes; “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13) While man looks on the outward appearance God looks upon the heart to try the motives, the thoughts and the deep intends of the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)
His wisdom is not the wisdom of the world. We are told in the Book of James that there are only two kinds of wisdom. There is the wisdom that comes from Satan, the god of this world which is marked by bitter envy, selfish ambition and boasting and that such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual and of the devil and that where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:14-16) This is so true of the political world today. God’s wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure and not tainted; then peace loving, not divisive in nature. It is considerate, submissive to God, full of mercy and good fruit and impartial and sincere and that peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:17)
Indeed it is also written in the Word of God that “Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning…Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:33-34)
2. God changes the times, historic situations and removes and establishes kings. (Vs. 21a)
One thing we know even at election times that God still has everything under control. In the Book of proverbs we are told that “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21) Concerning the drawing of lots (casting of votes) we are told in God’s Word that “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” (Proverbs 16:33) Can we make room for the sovereignty of God? In this coming election no matter how people vote God will see to it that the man He has chosen will sit in the White House.
However, there is more to consider. Notice we are also told that God “gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.” God does not automatically dispense his wisdom to a leader but expects that leader to be open to receiving God’s wisdom and understanding. If that leader does not seek God’s wisdom, direction, advice and guidance then God will remove him from office. If that man does seek God’s wisdom and understanding then God will add to his wisdom and understanding. It has been said that people get the leaders they deserve. If a nation ignores the Biblical mandates and at election time votes for a wicked and unprincipled man then God may well appoint that man as their leader, not to bless that nation, but to bring down upon its own head the results of such a decision undiscerned from a spiritual and Biblical perspective.
While God is gracious, longsuffering and full of mercy He is still righteous and holy in His nature and cannot look with favour or approval upon sin and rebellion. This is why prayer is vital at the time of an election and there are many believers in the Lord Jesus in America right now praying that God’s man will sit in the White House and seek to govern that nation as he himself is governed by God.
3. God reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him” (Vs.22).
We are told in the Word of God that there are things that God keeps secret but other things He reveals to those who seek Him. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) Everything God does and reveals from his Word is that we might love Him, recognise His nature and as we seek to align our lives with His Word we and our children will be blessed in doing what He commands us to do.
There are some things we cannot know because God reserves the right to withhold them from us but others things He delights to reveal to His born again, blood washed saints who love and follow the Lord Jesus His one and only beloved Begotten Son. Now God knows what lays in the darkness the things hidden from us and sees the plans and desires of wicked men and frustrates their plans. As the psalmist writes; “The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the peoples.” (Psalm 33:10) He is always one step ahead of the devil in all things and plans accordingly. Not only does He know the things of darkness but also we are told that the light swells with Him. In other words He sees the beginning from the end and the solution to all situations that are dark and incomprehensible to man.
4. God’s Purpose and Pleasure Will Stand!
Indeed the prophet Isaiah writes concerning what God said to him; “Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.” (Isaiah 46:8-10) God in His eternal nature and foresight knows how the election in America will turn out. While He is sovereign in these matters He still gives men the freedom to choose. If there is enough of those who are Godly in a nation when election time comes then through prayer and seeking God they will be successful in seeing a man open to God sitting in the seat of political power.
On the other hand if those who are voting by and large are ungodly then it may well be they will get the leader they crave but in the end reap what they have sown and bring about spiritual leanness to their souls. (Psalm 106:15) God is still sovereign in this election and whoever is elected within the sovereign providence of God will have to seek Him and His wisdom because if they don’t then they run the risk of being ‘dethroned’ as it were and that by the sovereign hand of God. In the end God in His sovereignty and infinitely wise counsel will determine who will be the next President of the United States. It is God who really has the Winning Vote!
