God and Politics
Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah; and he did what was good, right and true before the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 31:20 NASB
Good/ right/ true – Hezekiah was one of Israel’s faithful kings. The narrative tells us that he did everything he could to seek God with all his heart. Hezekiah had but three principles for running the kingdom. Good, right and true. Of course, good, right and true require standards and Hezekiah was careful that his standards were God’s definitions of good, right and true. As a result, he prospered.
Biblical politics are not complicated. Human beings make life complicated, but God’s ideas are pretty simple. They have to be or we, the dunderheads that we are, wouldn’t be able to do them. Our politics are incredibly complicated. That just proves how easy it is for human beings to make a mess of God’s ideals. Hezekiah is the exception in a long list of political messes. Maybe we could learn something from him. We could learn, for example, that prosperity (something nearly every politician extols) doesn’t come from government plans and programs, or even from the absence of government plans and programs. Prosperity comes from the good, the right and the true – God’s way. Politics that isn’t good, right and true will always bring chaos whether at home or in the nation. You just can’t work against the grain forever.
So what is good, right and true? The Hebrew words are tov, yashar and ‘emet. Tov has five applications: 1) what is practical, economic or material good; 2) what is desirable, beautiful or pleasant; 3) what has quality; 4) what is morally good; and 5) what is of ultimate value. In biblical terms, God is good and every sense of tov is associated with Him. That means if you want practical and material good, you must also seek moral good and the highest value. You can’t compartmentalize tov. If you want what is most desirable, you must embrace what is of the most value—and God is Man’s summum bonum.
Yashar is really about what is upright, lawful and honest. Yashar is living a life of blamelessness, recognizing the divine law and making it the basis of my character. The opposite of yashar is anomos—lawlessness. Hezekiah knew that deviation from the law meant disaster, sooner or later. Everything he did was based on God’s revealed instructions. And he prospered. There is no tov without yashar. As soon as we compromise what is just and upright (according to biblical standards), we detour from the path of biblical prosperity. In fact, I would argue that any detour leads to the collapse of the civilization (see James Black, When Nations Die). History confirms what the Bible teaches. Ignore God’s way at your own peril. No society that has compromised God’s law has ever survived.
‘emet from ‘aman is the Hebrew term for faith. It is an action, not a state of mind. Faithfulness, reliability, fidelity, certainty, confirmation—all those characteristics of the Lord that provide the foundation of human life. We cannot survive without these and yet they seem to be the last things politics worries about. What is life without ‘emet? In a word, chaos. Living in constant uncertainty. Living without being able to trust. Living in a world of lies.
Three little words describe God’s view of politics. Kings who understood these words and followed them brought peace and prosperity. Kings who did not choose these words brought judgment. Is there any doubt about this?
So where does that leave us? And what will you do about it?
Topical Index: politics, good, right, true, tov, yashar, ‘emet, 2 Chronicles 31:20
Oops! might have crossed wires between emet and emmuna.
Will check it when I have time. Thanks
Look at the Hebrew spelling for “yashar”: yod, sheen, reysh
Now look at the Hebrew spelling for “Israel”: yod, sheen, reysh, alef, lamed
Israel is to be “upright, lawful and honest” before El!
Kind of adds a twist to the Shema!
Shema, Israel…
Hear and obey the upright, lawful, and honest ways of El!
Blessings & Shalom!
I like it 🙂
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It’s not everyday you find yourself sitting right next to
one of the most powerful and influential Congressmen
in the U.S.
I did, about 12 years ago. We coincidently were attending
a private Bible study and discussion group.
What he told me resuscitated my lagging view of politics.
He, and a handful of fellow Congressmen, met faithfully
every morning for prayer, unbeknownst to their colleagues.
They knew from experience that only through their faith and
perserverence in prayer would they ever be possible agents
of true and right change.
He’s since left office. But I sincerely hope a vestige of that small
group of Congressmen still meet for prayer as they put their
faith in Christ first.
If America is going to change, people who pray are likely
to make it happen.
Let’s join them!
I appreciate the sentiment but it’s going to take more than prayers for favor — which is typically what I hear in religious political gatherings. “Oh God please bless us so we can continue doing the things we’ve been doing.” Until God’s people are ready to return and recognize that we have walked away from God’s principles of government AND then return to living in those ways that are defined by Him, all the prayer in the word is no different than an Indian rain dance. We have not paid attention to what God said.
I second that emotion Suzanne.
Proverbs 28:9 – If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.
Amen – good scriptural reference. (Not that we live by proof texts. :))
Suzanne,
Man/Woman shall not live by proof texts alone, nor by every word spoken by persons behind pulpits and the denominations they serve. 🙂
NTWIW Chapter 3, verse 10 :
“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful
and effective.” James 5:17
Jesus, who was in constant prayer, would likely
agree.
(I can’t speak for Indian rain dancers.)
And what did Yeshua do? He lived by Torah, He was righteous and I’m pretty sure he wasn’t part of the empty words crowd. Where I live (on the Left coast), we have a lot of empty word prayers, most of which are given by those who come with religious credentials of some sort, including Indian Rain Dancers. 🙂
I guess my issue is more about what we call public or corporate prayer. Are all the words spoken with our heads bowed and eyes closed always prayer before God? Does whining count? Or telling God who to bless or how to direct the political activities of men?
In my experience, too often what we call public or corporate prayer is simply an oration (often highly emotional) before men and not a genuine attempt to ALIGN ourselves with the most high God. When we pray, the most important thing we can do is align ourselves with God’s stated plans, not tell Him how to run things. If we are not aligned and our words do not correspond to that alignment, then our words — no matter how heartfelt or emotional — are not prayer in the sense of moving God.
I’m not trying to be irreverent here, but I am tired of “going through the motions” of what we call Christianity. We do things because that’s the way we did it in Aglow or Promise Keepers or UMW circle (to pick on everyone equally). We stand in a circle and go clockwise around the circle with the really spiritual people praying for a minimum of 7 minutes. And then we (subconsciously) congratulate ourselves because “we prayed” before our event. Is that all there is? (asked rhetorically)
There’s so much more and we’re missing it. And we can’t get there as a body until we are willing to examine the patterns we follow and question why we do them — without freezing out the person who asks the question because they dared to ask.
Hi Suzanne,
I suppose just as there are people who shouldn’t sing publically,
there may be people who’d also be better off keeping their prayers
to themselves. Different gifts for different folks.
My experience, quite unlike yours by the way (could it be a
Right coast thing?), is having more-often-than-not uplifting
experiences when joined in audible prayer among others.
I find it thrilling to be blown away by the surprising depths
of other’s hearts and the maturity of their faith’s knowledge
that allows them to come to God’s throne with a humble
sincerity and a profound sweetness and beauty that so
reflects the Spirit’s presence within them. This kind of prayer
gathering is a true worship experience indeed IMO.
The real members of the Body are out there; they’re just not
always easy to find. Current research says, if it can be trusted,
that 2% or less in the typical Christian church truly know God
and faithfully follow Him according to His will.
And you know what I’ve found is a good barometer to finding
out who they are?
Listen to them pray!
I can certainly relate to this Suzanne. I often feel like I’m criticizing or complaining, but truly, I am not. I am simply weary of years of emptiness I milled around in so many churches. Trying to make real sense and value of it all.
I yearn to pray as David, Abraham, and other did. I’m tired of gimmicks, 3-point outlines, seminars and events designed simply to entertain.
Making progress slowly though. A step at a time.
Thanks for your sharing.
Yeah, I’m tired of the rituals too. Have you read the chapter in Spiritual Restoration Vol 2 on Prayer. 40 different words to capture the idea, including shouting, growling, clapping, silence. You might find it useful.
Oops, was initially going to make a smiley face at the end of NTWIW Chapter 3, verse 10 where the : is now located and should not be. 🙂
A colon in the wrong place can cause unnecessary communication difficulty. 🙁
For me, uninformed. What is NTWIW? Something I missed along the way of life?
Larry,
Shalom to you and yours.
When I saw what Suzanne wrote: “(Not that we live by proof texts. :))” I was struck by it in a very funny way and wanted to express it further out within a flow of a verse of Scripture most people would recognize.
You wrote, “For me, uninformed. What is NTWIW? Something I missed along the way of life?”
I wanted to be a bit ambiguous and hope someone would take the bait and ask.
NTWIW = Not The Way It Works
I am realistically sure we both are not uninformed with how NTWIW has impacted us along the way of living our lives. 🙂 . . . 🙁
Suzanne, and others, Shalom!
Love all the comments here. So often folks say long prayers, out of their own spirits rather than being aligned to ABBA’s will and purposes.
YHWH has His plans which will surely be fulfilled, according to His time, though at times He does through His chesed allow certain changes, but, always only from a yashar man/woman, and for His plans. E.g. Joshua/Yahoshua spoke to the sun, and the moon to stand still in the Valley of Ayalon for an entire day, as it was YHWH’s will to give the Amorites into the hands of Yisrael. Chap 10: 12, 14 says YHWH listened to the voice of a man to fight for Yisrael.
2 Kings 20 where Hezekiah sought for healing as he was sick to death, with a boil that would not heal (cancer?), turned his face to the wall and cried to YHWH, and he recovered, but sought a further sign of his healing, and was granted that the sun go BACKWARDS 10 degrees!
And Isaiah/Yeshayahu, verse 11, the sundial went back 10 degrees! Wow!
But it was the prophet of YHWH, Isaiah, who interceded on Hezekiah’s behalf, and in alignment with YHWH’s will for him.
Truly, our ways have to be good, right, and true, to YHWH’s ways! Amein!
I really have gotten a lot out of this particular commentary. I want it to continue! Praying amiss and then blaming the other End for all the (non) results seems to be a big problem. Perhaps if we want to become apostles it is time to stand with the disciples when they realized they didn’t know their left end from their right and ask “Lord, teach us to pray”.
Could you write some more about how to pray, Skip, so that Suzanne could respond some more? LOL I would like to see what else she has to say on this, as I get the feeling she might not be through…. I still need to know better how to pray, I guess is what I’m saying. If anybody has some helpful sources to pass on, too, I would sure appreciate them! (You could send them to me at lauritahayes @gmail.com) Thank you to all of you.
Hi Lauretta:
I too am struggling with how to pray — and it helps to know that I’m not the only one. 🙂
I just know that what I’m hearing in public is too often feeble. I’m so convinced that there is more for both my private and public prayer. So I’m studying, too — Heschel has been a wonderful resource in answering the cry of my heart. And I’m digging through our boxes of books (we had a major move last year) for Skip’s Vol #2 to reread the portion on prayer.
But I am convinced that with the back and forth of this blog — as we hash it out together — God will move. We all come to greater understanding as we talk it out together — and that’s a long way away from the Greek idea of one right answer. 🙂
P.S. I’m sorry for not knowing, but who wrote Spiritual Restoration Vol. 2 On Prayer?
Everything in any of my books is written by me unless I tell you otherwise.
I’m sorry I did not know it was your book I will just get it! Thanks.
Beautiful forum on prayer and Godliness.
This brings back many memories this time of year.
The day after the famous Greensboro Four lunch counter sit ins some conservative coeds gathered at Shaw University and Fisk University. They said we don’t have to call for backup. We can actually march downtown. We have nonprofit status. But we must pray together, stay together, sing the songs of Zion together! And most importantly shut up together! We can do this!
Huge football player then said if they spit on me they’re dead. One of the women leaders said you cannot march with us. Suddenly a voice rang out “We want you to lead us!” So, off they went after fervent prayer marching and singing “Go Down Moses” like never heard in the streets before. Sometimes it felt like a Pillar of Cloud by Day and a Pillar of Fire by Night as these very talented choir members sang these beautiful songs. A few disciplined, conservative women and fewer males all students marched with no fear whatsoever.
Later, days later, the male divinity students joined them.
God chose the foolish things of this world to confound the earthly wisdom of humankind!
One of these leaders was my sister and we miss her leadership so very much!
There are many unpublished Godly stories during this time period of our great nation.