1. REIGN (reign – to be or become king or queen, and hence, reign as king).

2. It is by means of Divine wisdom that this occurs.

a. This does NOT mean that all those who reign as king (or president or sheik or Prime Minister) are wise… or that they conduct the affairs of their realm by means of Divine wisdom.

b. Rather, it means that the whole system of human government came about because of God’s wisdom… God’s wise design.

c. It was the wisdom of God that put this system in place. Back in the day of Noah, God instituted human government. (Gen. 9:5-6)

3. The kings that reign today are ordained by God’s wisdom, as God’s ministers… and as such are an example of the wisdom of God. (Rom. 13:1-4)

4. All who reign as king do so by God’s design and by God’s appointment. (Dan. 4:17) (Yes even those rulers who are the basest of men!)

a. Dan. 2:20-22 – God in His wisdom sets up and removes kings… and presidents.

b. Jer. 27:5-7 – God appointed Nebuchadnezzar to bring His will to pass upon Israel: captivity!

c. Ezra 1:1-3 – God used Cyrus to bring His will to pass for His people: bringing them back to the land to rebuild.

d. It was the wisdom of God that puts men into positions of power… and God uses them for His purposes… whether they be wise, fools; good or evil; believing or pagan!

e. One might legitimately ask, “Where is the wisdom in such flawed systems of government?”
• God’s concept of man governing is not flawed. That is a perfectly good system.
• The problem is that MEN are flawed. God doesn’t have much to work with!
• In the Kingdom, men will be governed by men… and it will be a perfect government… the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man being King of kings.
• But even today, the fact that kings reign is an expression of Divine wisdom.
• God uses the whole system of nations to bring His perfect plan for the ages to pass… and one day, the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

5. As flawed as human governments are, could you imagine the alternative? (Every man doing what is right in his own sight! Anarchy is no improvement! Thank God that the Lord in His wisdom instituted human government for our protection.

6. When kings reign, there is a sense of law and order in the land.

a. This too is by God’s design. He is a God of order.

b. He has established a sense of order in the world today… although 6 billion sinners seem bent on destroying that order.

7. When Kings reign, they collect taxes from the people:

a. And provide roads, bridges, and services for the common good of the people.

b. They support an army for the protection of the people.

c. These are all expressions of Divine wisdom. This is God’s idea!

d. Different political parties debate over the details, but the overall concept is God’s idea!

8. When kings reign, good is rewarded and evil is punished.

a. When there is no king… no government, criminals rule… evil rules.

b. When a king reigns, criminals are punished. Murderers are put to death or at least incarcerated. (Deut. 25:1-3)

9. When kings reign, those who have been mistreated have somewhere to take their complaints. (Like the two women who came to Solomon when one of their babies died in the night.) People came to kings for justice to be executed.

10. Certainly not all individual kings exercise wisdom as they execute the duties of their office. But the fact that there IS such an office is an expression of God’s wisdom.

a. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor (Prov. 28:16)

b. Some in positions of power are BABES: (Isa. 3:4) – And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.

c. Sometimes God gives a people a ruler who is a babe as a form of judgment upon the sins of the people. We get what we deserve!

d. Let’s pray that God will be gracious to us next week!

11. The laws which governed the land of Israel were DIVINE LAWS… that was certainly a reflection of God’s wisdom. (Deut. 4:5-8)

a. When the people obeyed the laws of the land, they would demonstrate the wisdom of God before the nations.

b. The kings in Israel were to read the Scriptures every day! (Deut. 17:18-20)

c. When all this was practiced, kings would reign by wisdom… God’s wisdom!

WISDOM IS NEEDED BY RULERS

1. We are about to elect a president who will likely appoint several chief justices, which could affect the direction of our nation for years to come.

2. We need people in positions of power who are WISE… that is not always the case.

3. Prov. 31:4-5 – it is not good that ANYTHING should hinder the ability of a ruler to rule… and to think clearly… to make sound judgments!
a. vs. 8-9 – Kings should protect those who have no voice; the weak; poor; needy

4. I Tim. 2:1-2 – we are commanded to PRAY for kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Let’s pray tonight for our nation… and for the election…

5. Ecc. 10:17 – BLESSED is the people whose leader is WISE… and not a self indulgent fool! This isn’t a given—we are to pray for these things.

6. Prov. 16:12 – It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. Let’s PRAY for a leader who will bring honor to the office and execute his office in righteousness!

7. Prov. 16:10 – A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. Let’s PRAY for a leader with a divine sentence in his lips… one who isn’t afraid to speak up for what is right!

8. Isa. 5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Let’s PRAY that we might have a leader that knows the difference between good and evil and isn’t afraid to say so!

9. These are some simple, but practical things we can pray for — for our country and the upcoming election.