Long Live the King

# 139 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 10:24b" So all the people shouted and said, "Long live the king!" (1 Sam 10:24b) “Long live the king.” A phrase we hear even to this day. It's not just a good sounding cheer. There is a statement being made here that speaks of a willingness of the people to be subjects to the king. Kings rule for life and the people were wishing him a long and prosperous rule over them. This is pleasing to God because as we read in Ro 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.” In our nation today, as Christians we should be praying, “long live President____, or Senator _____ or representative ____, and so on, right down to the town dog catcher. Because when we do, we affirm our trust and belief in what is being said in Rom 13:1. Authorities have been placed over us by God. The concept of “long live the king,” is not only a confession of willing subjection, but also a prayer that could be restated, “may the king (government) prosper. This instruction for prayer is repeated in the New Testament in 1Ti 2:1,2 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. The “prosperity” we pray for under our elected officials is that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” In other words, that circumstances in our nation would not distract us from the main thing. “Godliness and reverence” for God. God is in charge, the early church knew and believed this. Their peace was not disturbed as ours so often is fretting about the civil authorities. The disciples simply submitted to the authorities in all things, unless they were ordered to go against the Word of God.