Then the king said to the man of God, “Intercede with the LORD your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.” So the man of God interceded with the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before.
1 Kings 13:6 (NIV)
Lord Jesus, on this President’s Day my heart is sensitive to the reality of how public the lives and sins are of those who You have placed over us. Like Jeroboam, their sins are on display to everyone, their failings and integrity shortcomings open for all to see. Unlike me, their sins have the spotlight of public exposure shining on them, and the impact of their failings sends ripples into the lives of us all. They attempt to build compromise “altars” to give the people what they want while remaining in control, having a form of godliness, of “acceptability,” but when seen against the backdrop of Your righteous requirements, their hands are leprous and the works of their hands are tainted, foul by Your standards. Is it any wonder that You have called for us to pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-14)?
In Your wisdom You have exposed them for who they are, revealing to us their brokenness. How befitting that You would make Jeroboam’s hand leprous symbolizing how he contaminates all he touches! So too You are revealing the same regarding our country’s leadership. There is this feeling that every branch of government is being contaminated. The difference is that Jeroboam had enough foresight to know that he needed prayer…
So, today I pray for our leadership, Lord Jesus. I pray that You would send healing to their minds and soul. This quiet vendetta that they appear to be acting upon, I pray that You would erase the pain both in the hearts of the perpetrators but also the victims. I pray that You would open the eyes of all of our leaders and enable them to see right and wrong, good and bad from Your perspective, guided and directed by Your Word, not tainted with human failings and selfish ambitions, but reinforced and upheld by godly insight.
I pray that true love would govern their actions and behaviors. Not merely love for those who look like them or come from the same place as them or believe as they do, but love for the least of these (Matthew 25:31-46), those whom You have singled out, loving like that Samaritan who loved one who looked upon him with contempt and disdain (Luke 10:30-37).
I pray that You would show them the error of their ways, how some of their policies hurt and harm, while at the same time showing them those edicts and mandates which promote good in our society. Give them a heart to reject the former while clinging to the latter.
And finally Lord, I pray that salvation would visit their homes, that they might truly know You. Not in a superficial, lip service way, posing for pictures in front of churches and having a form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:1-5). No. I pray they would have a heart transplant, falling deeply in love with You, seeing the world as You see it, loving the world as You love it, and serving the world as You serve it. Bring about this heart transformation, Lord, granting them godly wisdom and a Christlike heart. Remove the leprosy and make them whole to Your glory. Amen.