The last years of the southern kingdom of Judah saw one unfaithful king after another, beginning with Manasseh, who reigned for 55 years, and ending with Zedekiah, who saw the destruction of Jerusalem and its fall to Babylon in 586 B.C. Those years, however, were punctuated with the reign of the good king Josiah: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. In the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek the God of his father David. In his twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Asherah poles and idols” (34:2-3). Also, Josiah repaired the temple and restored faithful worship among the people.
We are in another cycle in national politics with a vote for legislators and the president coming up. A recent NBC poll reported that almost three out every four people polled said that our nation is on the wrong track. It would be very easy to sink into a diatribe regarding our government leaders. Especially for those of us who are believers, I think it is exceedingly difficult to approve of Paul’s injunction: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God” (Romans 13:1). Governments are given to encourage the good and to restrain the evil, current government seemingly doing exactly the opposite. But God remains on his throne. Our government leaders might think they are sovereign but, oh no, Another is, and he will have his way.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
and rides upon the storm.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
but trust Him for His grace;
behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face. –William Cowper (1774)