Pleasing the Crowd

“So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd released Barabas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified” Mark 15:15

In democratic countries of the world the political systems have deteriorated into essentially politicians seeking to please the people in order to be elected to office. One only has to take a casual look at the style of electioneering to observe this. When leaders of a country have only their own interest at heart and thereby seek to gratify the crowd then righteousness will be crucified.

In Daniel’s explanation of king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream regarding his and future kingdoms, the last kingdom in the image prior to the Lord’s return is a mixture of iron and clay (Daniel 2). These substances cannot hold together. We know that the iron represents the oppressive dictatorship of the Roman Empire but in the last days that will be mixed with a weak form of government depicted by clay in the feet and toes of the image. Just as iron and clay cannot mix, neither does a dictatorship and democracy. Just as iron is strong and clay crumbles, so a dictatorship is strong and democracy is weak. The weakness of democracy is in the fact that in order for politicians to be elected they must please the people. If the people seek righteousness it is strength but when they seek unrighteousness the weakness of democracy is revealed.

In Saul’s day the people demanded a king like the surrounding nations. In doing so they rejected God as their King (1 Samuel 8:7). The final renunciation of Jesus by the chief priests is expressed in their words, “We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:15). In these days we observe that politicians, in order to please the crowds of lobbyists, are choosing to crucify Jesus all over again by turning from righteousness to unrighteousness and oppression of His people.

God gave Israel the king they desired essentially saying, “You can have the king you desire but you will be sorry” and “You will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day” (1 Samuel 8:18). Samuel had just told the people of Israel that the kind of king they wanted would tax their hides for his own luxury and a vast military force.

If, as a nation, we demand unrighteous leaders (by our democratic vote) God may give what we ask for but we will be sorry.

In the current alignment of nations and the raising up and pulling down of nations, we are observing the horizon of fulfillment of the prophetic Scriptures drawing ever nearer. “… knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11).

Looking For Donkeys

“There he is. This one shall reign over My people.” 1 Samuel 9:17

Kish sent his son to look for his donkeys that had gone AWOL. That should not have taken very long but three days later Saul and his servant were still wandering the hills of Benjamin in search of the miscreants.  As it turned out they had already been found but that information was kept from Saul because God had sent him unwittingly on a quite different search: To find Samuel the prophet.

Becoming concerned over his father’s anxiety for his long absence Saul determined to go home but his servant suggested going to see the prophet for help regarding the donkeys.

Saul was seeking donkeys but the Lord was seeking him to make him king of Israel in response to the people’s demand for a king like the other nations. The people had rejected the Lord to reign over them and demanded another (8:7) so God gave them what they wanted with a warning that they would suffer great sorrow as a result (8:11ff). In effect God was saying, “You can have what you want but you will be sorry.”

In a democratic country the people have the opportunity to elect a government of their own choosing. It will reflect the hearts of the people. Because we live in a predominately secular, humanistic and effectively atheistic society we can expect the government elected to reflect that.

The Lord will let us have what we want but with it comes with many stern warnings in the Bible. Judgment is at the door and only restrained by the mercy and grace of God.

It is appropriate for Christians to vote for local representatives who give honour to God and His Word, in word and deed, but unless we are actively involved in the Great Commission there will be less and less representation of godliness in our government. The ungodly will not vote for godly representatives and that is why we have, in some cases, known liars, adulterers and thieves representing us in government. Instead of being kicked out they are applauded for being “human” (i.e. sinners).

For now, God’s hand through Jesus Christ is still extended to all people. He will clasp any who reach up to Him and pull them out of the mire of delusion this world offers. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Our democratically elected government will reflect the heart of the people. Therefore make disciples of Jesus Christ.