Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God, the gift of just rule to the crown prince. May he judge your people rightly, be honorable to your meek and lowly. Psalm 72:1 (MSG)

I love that there are moments of complete synchronicity when reading a chapter of God’s message each day. It amazes me how often something in the chapter I read seems tailored specifically for that particular day in life. As I write this entry, it is the first Tuesday in November. Today is the day that the nation holds elections for people to represent us in the government. How fitting that today is the day I read a Psalm written by one of the legendary leaders of all time, King Solomon, praying for God to grant wisdom, justice and honorable leadership to those in authority.

Elections in a free society are cause for both celebration (that we have the freedom to choose leaders to represent us) and frustration (that we must endure months of limitless political back biting and unending streams of negative attack ads). The debate leading to Election day is often heated. It divides communities, friends, and families. Like most people, I have my own opinions about political issues. Some of them are quite strong. Some of them are merely preferential. I’ve watched leaders come and go in my lifetime. I’ve watched the pendulum of public thought swing back and forth through the years.

The thing that I’m reminded by Psalm 72 is that all leaders ultimately fall beneath God’s higher authority. As you read through Biblical history you find that God used terrible tyrants to achieve His own purposes. He allowed national crises because they turn people’s hearts back towards things that really matter. So, whatever the outcome of the elections tonight, I will pray Psalm 72 for those who win. And, whether the candidates of my political persuasion win or lose, I will remind myself that my ultimate citizenship is in a Kingdom that is not of this world.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickr and Enrico Fuente.