-With all our praying, we need to be sure to include prayers for the king. No, not Elvis. Not Arnie or Lebron. The word is basileus and it refers to the leader of the people, whoever he (or she) may be. The prince, commander, lord of the land. He may be called Pharoah. Caesar. El Presidente. In Paul’s day, these held supreme power, and their word was law. Not so much anymore, with many countries now led by committee, by layers (and layers) of leaders and bureaucrats. There may be a single person with an exalted title and position at the top, but they tend to serve simply as the first among many. They typically cannot and do not lead by fiat the way a despot or other totalitarian ruler would do. The advent of things like the landed middle-class and public education has also brought with it new layers of hierarchy in society, all kinds of nuanced relationships where different ones are placed in authority over others including over those who follow Christ. In the end, whether led by many or a few or just one, God’s people are to pray for those who are in positions of authority over them. It may be helpful to remember that at this time, almost all if not every one of those to whom Christians would have been subjects of their authority were antagonistic to this sect of the Nazarenes. At best, Christians were seen as strange nuisances, and at worst they were rabble-rousing, wrath-of-God arousing troublemakers, theological and societal deviants who needed to be either exterminated or marginalized as much as possible. Inversely, kings would have easily been seen by Christ-followers as the enemy. Nevertheless, it is these same rulers who in their place of authority are positioned to maintain the peace and dispense justice and who are also the ones able to protect both the promotion of religion and the free exercise thereof. These men (and women) deserve our prayers on their behalf, not only for wisdom and discernment as they govern but also for the health (and conversion) of their souls. For as it goes with them and the country or municipality which they lead, so it goes with us and our congregation. In their welfare, in their shalom, we find the same (Jeremiah 29.7).
-Paul actually expands the list of those for whom these prayers must be made to include all those being “in high”. Technically, could (and should) this not encompass anyone who happens to be in any kind of position over us? Our team leader. Our coach. Our boss, or supervisor. Our pastor. Our teacher(s). Our parent(s). We can and should be lifting up anyone who is over us - not only prayers for blessing on their behalf, prayers like they would pray for themselves, but there is an even more important reason to do this...
-No doubt there are a number of strategic and redemptive reasons to be doing this, but Paul cites just one at this time. He has in mind as the outcome of our praying for these leaders that we may thereby be enabled to be living what he calls a tranquil and quiet life. An interesting vision, this. Paul wants some peace and quiet. Serenity now, serenity now. He almost sounds like some old geezer who wants the kids and the world to stop making such a ruckus. Get off the lawn! Not at all what one would expect from the guy voted most likely to charge the gates of hades with a squirt gun. Not so much a vision of the army of God’s people facing down persecution and making disciples of all the nations come hell or high water. What in the world is he talking about? Is it simply time for Paul to be put out to pasture? Doesn’t the Gospel tend to flourish best in times of persecution? Isn’t that when God’s people shine most brightly?
-While this may no doubt be true, and while we are told to expect the world to hate us, for trials and persecution to be sure to come, we are nowhere told to pursue this. It doesn’t take a PhD to know that a beligerent or otherwise incompetent leader can make life extremely exasperating, even when they’re not “out to get us”. And if for some reason they DO have it in for you, if somehow you do get sideways with someone who is “high”, higher up the food chain, they can make your life a living hell. The godliness and dignity which we should have on display at all times and for all people, the kind of godly comportment, the respect, the reverent conduct which beautifies the Good Name of our heavenly King, and which behooves us to render unto Caesar as their position deserves (even when they perhaps have not earned it as such) - our conduct towards this person (and others) can be severely challenged by those very leaders themselves. And so we pray for them. Benevolent intercession. FOR them, not necessarily against them. For them, the way they would pray for themselves, and for our relationship with them. For us to find favor and to be better enabled to show them the proper respect as God would have us do. Ultimately, it can affect our entire mission, AND, bottom line, they are not the enemy. This person who IS making your life miserable at work or school is not the one you need to worry about. Not ultimately. They are no less of a weak and insecure and flawed individual than we are. They need grace and forgiveness and transformation just as much as we do. And the grace which we render unto them - that same undeserved favor which we have freely received from the Lord and apart from which there go we - this grace may be the only form of grace that person receives, perhaps that they ever have or will receive in their life. If they don’t receive it from us, from someone who has first freely received it from the hand of Jesus Himself, where are they going to get it? If not us, then who? If not now, then when? Do this for them - and do this for yourself.
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