The Perfect Election

So, our election is over and the Conservative Party won a minority government. It is interpreted as a mandate for change but nothing radical. The result is that many Canadians are unhappy, some are happy and some are moderately satisfied, in that they won, but not a majority. Some of the analytical columns in the papers suggest that it is, in fact, a desirable outcome and the Canadian electors are praised for their wisdom in voting. From where do they get this electoral wisdom? I suggest to you that it comes from the Creator (by His own mysterious ways) because He chooses who will rule so that His plans for eternity will unfold according to His will. If this is so, we may all relax and watch how the new government implements God’s plan for Canada!

Paul has said, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction or instruction in righteousness.” So, let us look there. Daniel interpreted two of the dreams of King Nebuchadnezzar, the second one showing that he would be driven from office and live with the cattle. Daniel’s words were, Daniel 4: 25 – 26, “That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will. And whereas they commanded to leave tie stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shall have shown that the heavens do rule.” After suffering the abuse foretold by Daniel, the king was restored to his throne, and Nebuchadnezzar concludes his acknowledgment with the following words, Daniel 4: 37, “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment; and those that walk in pride, He is able to abase.” So, we have a case of God choosing, correcting (from pride), and re-installing Nebuchadnezzar as king.

A second confirmation of this principle in found in the first chapter of Ezra, Verse 2, “Thus saith Cyrus , king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and He hath charged me to build Him an house at Jerusalem which is in Judah.”

But, the most obvious choice of the Lord was David. And his anointing is very interesting in that all his older brothers were rejected by the Lord, who said to Samuel. I Samuel 16: 7, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” And as all the brothers were rejected, Samuel said unto Jesse, (Verse 11), “Are here all thy children? And he said, there remaineth the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.” And although the Lord said he chose by looking on the heart, David was nevertheless, “ruddy, and withall of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to.” So, David was anointed king, and later the Lord declared that David was a man after His own heart. And so there be no doubt about who rules, Psalm 45: 6, “Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.”

And later, during Solomon’s rule, through the prophet Ahijah, the Lord says to Jeroboam, I Kings 11: 30 – 31 & 37, “And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him , and rent it in twelve pieces: And he said to Jeroboam, take thee ten pieces, for thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hands of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee. And I shall take thee and thou shall reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.” Unfortunately, Jeroboam did not follow the Lord’s instructions, since he encouraged idolatry and therefore did not enjoy the promised blessings.

There is one more instance recorded in the book of Haggai, 2:21-23, “Speak to Zerubbabel, govenor of Judah saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; And I will overthrow the thrones of kingdoms; and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen: and I will overthrow the charriots and those that ride in them; and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of HIS BROTHER. In that day, said the Lord of Hosts, will I take thee 0 Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet; FOR I HAVE CHOSEN THEE, saith the Lord of Hosts.”

So, we have examples of the Lord choosing the leaders of the heathen and of his people.The key point is this; whether they chose to do good or evil, they were fulfilling the Lord’s plan! We are all aware that He knows the end from the beginning and those that fell short of the expectations of God were NO SURPRISE!

As an aside, I would like to refer to the temptation of Christ. Matthew 4:8-9, “Again, the devil taketh Him up to an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” Again, the devil, the father of lies, lies once more because God decides who rules where, NOT THE DEVIL! Of course, Jesus knew he was lying and suitably rebuffed him.

Having looked at the past, the present, Steven Harper, what of the future? Well, God has anointed a ruler for the future and He waits at God’s side until God sends Him back to earth to rule with His redeemed people. Yes, there may be more interim rulers on earth before He comes but His entry to earth will be so glorious with the raising of the dead in Christ and the destruction of all His enemies, those armies sore afraid but yet willing to fight. And what about His coronation? For this we look to Daniel 7: 13 – 14, “1 saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, and nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting-dominion which shall not pass away, and.His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

And the Anointed One, said, “Behold, I come quickly. Even so, come Lord Jesus!” Amen