God's Sovereignty in Choosing Our Leaders

          The recent presidential election was a long and arduous process that left many,
     including me, exhausted, and anxious about our country's future.  Of course, I did
     not want Barack Obama to be re-elected, and tried to do what I could to persuade
     others to vote for Mitt Romney; not because I was a huge Romney fan, but because
     I felt Obama would continue to lead us in the wrong direction, financially and
     spiritually, due to the unbiblical beliefs he espouses.

          God certainly wants good citizens to be involved in the political process,
     because our future will be affected by who is elected as our president.  However,
     in the end, God is in control of the presidential election, just as He is sovereign
     over all human affairs. 

          Even though the election did not turn out the way I wanted, I can take solace
     in the fact that God makes the final decision on who is elected, and His ways are
     not my ways.  He knows best, and what He desires will be accomplished.


                                 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
                                  neither are your ways my ways," declares
                                  the LORD. 
                                 "As the heavens are higher than the earth,
                                  so are my ways higher than your ways
                                  and my thoughts than your thoughts.
                 
                                 "As the rain and the snow come down from
                                  heaven, and do not return to it without
                                  watering the earth and making it bud and
                                  flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower
                                  and bread for the eater, so is my word that
                                  goes out from my mouth:  It will not return
                                  to me empty, but will accomplish what I
                                  desire and achieve the purpose for which
                                  I sent it."
                                                                          Isaiah 55:8-11


          John Piper comments on the election:

                           " ... let there be no man-exalting illusion as though mere
                             human beings will be the decisive cause in any victory
                             or loss.  God alone will have that supreme role."


                                  "He changes times and seasons; He sets up kings
                                   and deposes them."
                                                                       Daniel 2:21

                                 " ... the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms
                                   of men and gives them to anyone He wishes and
                                   sets over them the lowliest of men."
                                                                       Daniel 4:17b


          God establishes all governmental leaders on the earth, and we are to submit
     to their authority because God has appointed them for His own purposes.


                                  "Everyone must submit himself to the governing
                                   authorities, for there is no authority except that
                                   which God has established.  The authorities that
                                   exist have been established by God."
                                                                           Romans 13:1


         Presidents and kings are given power by God, but these powers are limited by Him.
     God is still sovereign over everything.


            John Piper concludes:

                           "[Barack Obama] will not be sovereign.  He will be governed.
                             And we should pray for him that he would know this:

                                     'The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of
                                       the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.'
                                                                                 Proverbs 21:1

            Piper continues:
                            "And when he engages in foreign affairs he will not be decisive.
                             God will."

                                     'The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
                                      he frustrates the plans of the peoples.  The counsel of
                                      the Lord stands forever; the plans of his heart to all
                                      generations."
                                                                               Psalm 33:10-11