“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.” (Acts 4:25-26) The early disciples prayed these words of King David after Peter and John had been released from jail for healing a forty-something-year-old crippled beggar on the temple steps (see Acts 3).
A group of us from America visited our friend Anna in Sweden this past June and joined the prayers of missionaries from at least fourteen different countries. One leader prefaced the time of prayer with the obvious truth that many nations are directly opposing God’s ways. Even governments that used to uphold the principles and standards of Scripture are now openly promoting opposite messages.
We read history recorded in the Bible and see the same thing. Even the nation of Israel, entrusted with the Law of God, purposely disobeyed their Creator. Once the Lord called his people to account for not releasing slaves in the Year of Jubilee. Every seven years, people who had sold themselves into slavery were to be given a fresh start as freedom was proclaimed. The children of God admitted their disobedience and vowed to follow the covenant, but finding their lives inconvenienced, they quickly recanted and brought the ex-slaves back into bondage. They took the liberty to do what would please themselves and God pronounced his judgment.
“Recently you repented and did what is right in my sight: Each of you proclaimed freedom to your countrymen. You even made a covenant before me in the house that bears my Name. But now you have turned around and profaned my name; each of you have taken back the male and female slaves you had set free to go where they wished. You have forced them to become slaves again. Therefore, this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim ‘freedom’ for you, declares the Lord – ‘freedom’ to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.”(Jeremiah 34:15-17)
God gives nations freedom to do as they please. The ‘kings of the earth’ and other rulers can apply justice and govern with principles of righteousness or they can choose otherwise. What they can’t choose are the consequences of their decisions. God’s children may ask: “Why do the nations rage? Why do leaders oppose the Creator and his Anointed One?” But we should not simply ask troubling questions. The things we witnessed in Sweden among believers from nearly every section of the world point to proper action: Intercede. Love. Challenge. Go. Preach. Disciple. Serve. Pray. Proclaim true freedom. Live boldly in Christ.
“‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” (Acts 4:29-31)