What a week? - A time of change within what feels to be a season of change. We had a new Prime Minister (Liz Truss) installed, although that is a relatively regular happening at the moment. But it was coupled with something that was anything but regular, as our reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away on Thursday, after 70 years on the throne.
Only a small minority of people can remember a previous time, when Elizabeth wasn’t the Queen. Our reactions to this will vary. Some will feel quite indifferent – disconnected from someone who wasn’t actually physically present in their everyday life. Others will have a very different response.
One of my work colleagues told me his reaction when I spoke to him on Friday morning about this lady that he too has never met. He said that he had got home from work and gone about his usual routine of wash, make tea and eat, get a can of Carling from the fridge at just before 7pm, turn on the TV to watch Emmerdale, while returning to the sofa. That’s when he heard the news. He spoke, emotionally, about how he had sat there, beer in hand, crying with grief.
Which attitude is more valid? Neither one nor the other, I think.
We will also have different opinions about the new crew. Some may have been shouting, ‘God save the King’ enthusiastically. Others may have suspicions about what Charles III may represent. We may broadly agree with what Liz Truss has said so far. We may be holding our heads in our hands. We may just be wondering where the Premier League football matches disappeared to! Our responses will vary.
But are there things that should be similar for believers? We follow one who the Bible calls ‘King of kings and Lord of lords’. Should we be bothered about earthly kings and queens, who are just one among many others, regardless of the length of their reign? Should we do anything special?
I think the bible tells us to do something really special. God has given us the wonderful gift of prayer and instructs us how we should pray.
In his accession speech, King Charles mentioned prayer, and he mentioned peace. He said:-
‘In taking up these responsibilities, I shall strive to… seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands and of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world’, ‘and in carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of Almighty God.’
I don’t know what Charles knows about Almighty God, but I know that Almighty God knows. I also know that those expressed desires of our new King are good and honourable. How do I know? Because of what the church is told in 1 Timothy 2:1-4.
‘I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth’.
So, whether we actively support the monarchy or are staunch republicans – whether we trust Truss or don’t trust Truss – if we are Christians then we know what ‘pleases God’. We should pray for ourselves and our peace, in order that we can actively bring his message of hope into society’s decay. And we should pray for those who have been God appointed in their carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon them.
Why do I call this earthly authority God appointed? Because Romans 13:1 does.
‘…be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God’.
There are two Old Testament prayers that seem timely.
Daniel prayed, ‘Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others’ (Daniel 2:20-21).
Who does? He does.
And Hannah prayed a prayer that reminds us, as true followers of Almighty God, that we have royal privileges.
She said, ‘He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and makes them inherit a throne of honour’ (1 Samuel 2:8).
Yorumlar