As a nation we are in another election year. In a few months people across our nation will go to the polling booths to elect the next government and a new prime minister.

We'd like to establish a Biblical perspective on God, Governments and Nations. We understand that God determines the rise and fall of nations, leaders and governments. What is God's influence in the course of things in a nation? How can a nation experience more of God (or less of Him) in response to the prayers of God's people?

God Rules Over Nations

God is involved in the life of nations, in setting their boundaries and the appointed times for those nations.

Act 17:26  
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

God rules over the nations

Psalm 22:28
28 For the kingdom is the LORD's, And He rules over the nations.

Psalm 66:7
7 He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

Psalm 103:19
19 The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

Isaiah 40:15,17
15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.
17 All nations before Him are as nothing, And they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.

So when we look over our nation we must remind ourselves that our God is absolute authority over this nation. Our confidence is in this truth.

God And Governments

We understand two important truths here:

#1 God appoints leaders
God is involved in who comes into power over a nation.
By leaders we mean prime ministers, presidents, chief ministers, those in governmental authority.

Joseph realized that he came to power in Egypt because God sent him there (Genesis 45:8)
David acknowledged that it was God who made him ruler (2 Samuel 6:21)

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream in which he heard this:
Daniel 4:17  
'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.'

Remember, when Jesus stood before Pilate, Jesus told him that you could have no power unless it had been given to you from above.

John 19:10,11
10 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?"
11 Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."

[NOTE: "..the one who delivered Me to you.." would likely refer to Judas Iscariot or Caiaphas the high priest. Essentially, stating that Pilate was in the place of authority because that was given to him from God. But, Pilate is not responsible for what was happening/about to happen to Jesus, since Jesus was brought to this place because of betrayal by Judas and false accusations from the Jews]

Romans 13:1  
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

So, on one hand we know that God appoints those in authority.

Yet on the other hand leaders appointed by God may not always walk in the ways of God.

A, There are demonic powers that influence leaders and a nation

satan weakens and ruins (Isaiah 14:12) and deceives nations (Revelation 20:3).
satan also provokes leaders into evil, even godly leaders (1 Chronicles 21:1)

1 Chronicles 21:1  Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.

Daniel ch 10 gives us a vivid picture of what happens in the spiritual realm over nations.

Daniel 10:13  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.
Daniel 10:20  Then he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come.

we see the angel referring to spiritual beings with terms such as the "prince of Persia", to Michael the "chief prince" of Israel, and to "kings of Persia", "prince of Greece".

Answers to Daniel's prayers were being hindered because of demonic powers that were obstructing the angel from reaching Daniel.

B, Sin brings disgrace

Proverbs 14:34  Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.

Leaders and the people in a nation may choose to go on in doing wrong things.
Sin brings disgrace to any nation.

#2 God can influence and move upon the heart of a leader

Proverbs 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

One of the most amazing records of God moving on the heart of a leader is seen in Cyrus, King of Persia, who announced the return of the people back to Jerusalem at the end of the seventy year captivity in Babylon.

Ezra 1:1-4
1 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,
2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.
3 Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.
4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.

So when we pray, we invite God to move His sovereign hand to appoint for us a godly leader.
We also pray that God will move upon the heart of our leader to release His purpose in this nation.

Prayer And The Destiny Of A Nation

How does our praying affect our nation? What should we pray for?

We Must Pray for Our Land And Our Leaders

2 Chronicles 7:14
if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
God promised to answer prayer and bless the entire land   

Psalm 2:7,8
7 "I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

1Timothy 2:1,2
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2  for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Praying for Leaders
Proverbs 29:2
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

We need to pray for godly people as higher officials
Ecclesiastes 5:8  
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter; for high official watches over high official, and higher officials are over them.

What is on top, trickles down.

We need to pray that wicked people will be removed from influencing leaders
Proverb 25:5  Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.  

Pray for God to move on our leaders to execute righteousness and justice

Proverbs 29:4  The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

Exercise authority binding demonic powers from affecting leaders

• We need to pray protection from the influence of demonic powers.
• We must bind the influence of demonic powers from releasing their agendas in our nation that is designed ultimately to keep people in darkness.

If we as God's people pray - we will see results.
If we fail to pray - we will not have influence on outcomes.
Jesus is King of all Kings. Let's pray His Kingdom Come. His Will be done in our land.