Day 68 with David: Godly leadership leads to a peaceable life; evil leadership leads to ruin.

“Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭51:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

No matter what you think of the 2020 presidential election in the United States, one thing is undeniable: a lot of things have happened since the administration was changed, and none of it has been good. You see, when the leaders of a country are out of favor with God, the whole country suffers. You might wonder why I would say that the current administration is out of favor with God. Well, it’s very simple, and has nothing to do with a particular political persuasion. No administration that pushes abortion and other iniquity can possibly be pleasing to the Lord. When parents whose only “crime” is not wanting their children going to the bathroom with the opposite sex, or not wanting their elementary age children exposed to graphic sexual materials, or not wanting their child to be encouraged to have gender dysphoria, are investigated as “domestic terrorists,” you know the leadership of our country has taken a leap further away from God. I make no statement regarding the previous administration, I’m referencing where we are now; and, it’s a result of corruption on many levels.

The proverbial writer rightly says:

“Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭14:34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Apostle Paul, in speaking to his spiritual son, Timothy, explains the importance of praying for godly leadership:

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

‭‭I Timothy‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In our portion from Psalms today we see David ending his prayer for restoration from the Lord, ending with his request that the Lord rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. As we know, at that time, the walls of a city were a crucial line of defense, and apparently some portions were in bad repair. But beyond that, David knew that his iniquity concerning Bathsheba and the death of Uriah, had caused great trouble for Israel, breaking down its spiritual wall of defense.

At yet another time, David saw the disfavor of the Lord expressed toward Israel, because of his own failing. This time the sin was taking the census of Israel:

“Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel. So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.”

‭‭I Chronicles‬ ‭21:1, 7, 14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

David saw firsthand what his failings brought on his country.

Now, You might think it isn’t fair that a whole country suffers because of evil leaders; but that is the way things work with the Lord.

Given, whereas for the leader of a country, the repercussions of their failure before the Lord, may have further reaching consequences, make no mistake, in our own lives, when we fail the Lord, others may suffer: family, friends, employees, and so on. We do not live nor die unto ourselves. Our responsibility to do the right thing is not only for our benefit, but for the benefit—and perhaps salvation—of those with whom we are involved.

For today let us know and understand what David knew:

Godly leadership leads to a peaceable life; evil leadership leads to ruin.

#100dayswithdavid