Broken Heart

Jeremiah was called the ‘weeping prophet’ in his day.  He knew what was about to happen to Judah and Jerusalem and it broke his heart.  He knew that God was just and He always dealt with sin accordingly.  Jeremiah knew that God was a merciful, kind and a loving God, full of compassion and was fair and holy, but that He was one who didn’t tolerate sin even when it came to the ‘apple of His eye,’ the Israelites, that He had chosen from all the other nations of the world.  

God’s judgment was about to fall and the Israelites would suffer much for their sins.  Jeremiah didn’t weep for himself but he was broken hearted for God’s people just like God was and Jeremiah’s concern overwhelmed him and broke him to tears.  Have you ever wept over the condition of your nation; has it ever brought tears to your eyes?  Are you praying for your president and your leaders that are in government positions ruling over the nation you live in or do you just complain about what they are doing?  The one thing that many of us seem to forget is that the hearts of the leaders are in God’s hands.  It says this in Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”

It was that way in the days of the Kings and it is the same today.  It also says this in Romans 13:1-7, “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.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.  For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil.  Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?  Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.  For he is God’s minister to you for good.  But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.  Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.  For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.  Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.”

We must never rebel against the ruling authorities because of our own agendas but we can never allow the government to define who we are and who we will serve, if we are true believers.  Which is better to obey and serve, God or man?  We must obey God, just like Jesus’ disciples did when confronted with opposition because of their faith and Christian principles. 

You may be struggling with your government officials but you are commanded to bless them and pray for them.  Think about Moses and how God’s people complained about him and his authority but he was God’s chosen man at the time for the task.  Was he a perfect man?  No, but God chose him to be their leader and there were consequences for those who rebelled against his authority.  God raises up anyone He wants to be a leader and if they dishonor Him, He can remove them and the consequences will be laid on their own shoulders.  

When the Kings in the Old Testament rebelled against Him and encouraged God’s people to sin, they paid for it and sometimes it was a very high price to pay.  I think God still holds government officials accountable today for what they do and the decisions they make.  I heard a silly thing awhile back and it was this; that you are never supposed to talk about politics or religion.  Don’t believe this lie of the enemy, both subjects are very important and need to be discussed rationally, to keep people from being ignorant about either subject so that they can make rational decisions about them.

If your heart isn’t broken over the condition of the government, the condition of the nation and also the condition of mankind in general, then it would be good to ask God to help you in these areas to truly love people regardless of what position they hold in life.  Instead of continuing to complain about what you don’t like happening start doing something to better the situation, start praying.  Ask the Lord to help you hate the things He hates and to love the things He loves.  I hope this has been encouraging and a help.  May the good Lord bless you and yours.  Have a great day!!