The election is over. Donald Trump will be the 47th president of the United States. Many who voted for him are glad, giddy, and gloating. Many who voted against him are sad, anxious, and angry. No matter who we voted for, we know, as Christians, that God is in control. He is sovereign over the affairs of this world. We trust Him, not any human, for our future. Our mission does not change with the changing political administrations.
I have been reading much lately from Daniel, who prophesied in the pagan city of Babylon, and his older contemporary, Jeremiah, who prophesied in the holy city of Jerusalem. Daniel read the prophecies of Jeremiah and gained insight into his role in serving the immoral king, Nebuchadnezzar, who had decimated his homeland (Dan. 9:2). Jeremiah sent a letter to Daniel and the other exiles urging them to serve Babylon well for God had appointed Nebuchadnezzar to rule over Jerusalem … for now (Jer. 29:1). What can we learn from these prophets for our day?
God rules the rulers of the earth.
Daniel wrote, “It is He (God) who changes the times and epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings” (Dan. 2:21). God’s kingdom is everlasting, and He does whatever He wants to do, and no one can stand up to God or question His will (Dan. 4:34-35). Jeremiah was blunt. God chose the immoral, despotic King Nebuchadnezzar to rule over the nations, including God’s chosen people. God called Nebuchadnezzar “my servant,” and the people were to submit to Babylon’s leadership or be judged by God (Jer. 27:6-8). We must submit to rulers because God rules the rulers (Rom. 13:1-2).
God uses immoral leaders to rule His people.
Patriotism may lead us to stand against God’s will.
Beware of nationalistic patriotism. Patriotism that slides into the idolatry of nationalism may cause us to fight God. We could end up on the wrong side of God’s will. Jerusalem’s king, priests, and prophets were zealous for their nation and refused to surrender to Babylon. Jeremiah continually warned the nation that these patriotic leaders were lying. He said, “Serve the king of Babylon and live” (Jer. 27:17). In their self-righteous patriotism, they rebelled against God’s will.
Jeremiah told the story of the figs to illustrate his point (Jer. 24:1-10). The good figs were the captives who surrendered to Babylon. God says, “I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans” (Jer. 24:7). However, the bad figs were the nationalistic leaders who fought against Babylon. God said, “I will send the sword, the famine and the pestilence upon them until they are destroyed from the land which I gave to them” (Jer. 24:10).
We must serve well those who rule over us.
God, through Jeremiah, told Daniel and the other exiles to build houses, plant gardens, and settle down in the land of Babylon. They were to multiply and prosper in the pagan land where God had sent them. Daniel understood this reality and served five pagan political administrations with excellence. God told them, “Seek the welfare (peace) of the city where I have sent you into exile and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare (peace) you will have welfare” (Jer. 29:7).
All leaders and nations have a shelf life.
Babylon had an expiration date stamped on its rule. God gave them seventy years, and then God would judge them with the same hand He judged all the other nations. “Then it will be when seventy years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,’ declares the Lord, ‘for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it an everlasting desolation” (Jer. 25:12). America has a shelf life. So do all the other nations of this world. God has stamped an expiration date on the MAGA movement, and nothing Trump can do will change it. God sets up and removes all leaders and their nations in His time and by His choice.
Brothers and sisters, we should not be too excited or dismayed by any political election. Only one kingdom matters eternally. Only one kingdom lasts forever. We are part of it and must prioritize it. Remember what Daniel wrote about the Son of Man, Jesus Christ.
“And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:14).
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David Christensen served in dual ministry for thirty years as a Bible college professor and local church pastor. He is the founder of The Rephidim Project, a ministry devoted to encouraging and equipping pastors for expository preaching. David is the author of seven books including “A Philosophy of Pastoral Preaching: Shepherding God’s People with God’s Word in One Place.” He retired as Preaching Pastor of Galilee Baptist Church in 2018 to devote himself to encouraging pastors, missionaries, and church leaders through Bible exposition and teaching the methods of expository preaching to the next generation of preachers.
