As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable. Proverbs 25:3
Three things here are considered unmeasurable - or unsearchable. First we cannot search out the measure of the heavens. Astronomers concur with this fact. No matter how powerful our telescope - the heavens are unsearchable. And even if we could begin to fathom just how vast our universe was - we could never actually search it out and exhaust the information we could gather on it. The second thing we cannot search out is the depths of the earth. We have theorized just what is underneath us - but considering we are still discovering fish that we had no idea ever existed - I think it is safe to say that we cannot fathom all there is to know about the depths of the earth. The third thing is different from these first two. We are told that neither can we search out all there is about the heart of a king.
This is true on several levels. First, kings and leaders have information that the local people do not have - and probably will never have. I think it would absolutely blow our minds to realize how much information about different things - important things - comes across the desk of our president or any other ruler in our world. They do not have the time to inform us of everything that goes into their decision making processes - neither do they need to. This is why we need to pray that God would surround our leaders with wise and understanding counselors. Much of the decision making that happens in Washington D. C. happens because of the advice of those around our president. Pray that he will have godly, discerning advisors. We see what just one Daniel did in the kingdom of Babylon - one Mordecai in the kindom of Ahasuerus - and one Ahithophel in the kingdom of Absalom. Whether for good or for bad, those who advise our leaders will greatly affect our nation.
The king's heart is also unsearchable because he will not ever share all his reasonings for his decisions. The role of a king/leader is to make decisions and lead a nation. Quite often pundits and writers will try to tell us what has gone on insider the minds of our leaders - but they don't really know. All we can hope and pray for is that they will make godly decisions that will bless our nation.
When we grasp this we may begin to understand why we are commanded to pray for our leaders. Paul wrote to young Timothy,
"First of all I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and those in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
The command of God , because this is in the imperative, is that we pray for our leaders. In fact - we are commanded to pray four ways for them!
Entreaties - to make known a need - and ask for it to be met.
Prayers - general word to pray to God.
Petitions - to intercede on behalf of another. To stand before God on their behalf.
Thanksgivings - to be grateful and to give thanks.
Just a thought . . . maybe we've got the kind of leaders we have - because we get the leadership that our prayers deserve? We truly need to pray for all our leaders (not just the ones we like) because they truly need the wisdom of God. And remember, before you begin making a comment about their level of spirituality or lack of it - God used some pretty ungodly characters to advance what he wanted done. And - it may be wise to remember that they were greatly influenced by godly people that God providentially put into their life for the pupose of giving godly example and counsel.
Finally, the heart of a king is just like every other heart among mankind. The king's heart is fallen. He is sinful no matter who he is. Thus, just like anyone else, the heart of the king is desperately sick and beyond even his own understanding. What we need to pray for is that our rulers are Christians who derive their wisdom and leadership from seeking God and knowing His Word. The king, like any other human, is sinful - and has aspects of his life that grieve him and plague him. He has weaknesses. This is the reason we need to pray for those in power and authority. They need our prayers because they do have to lead us. Our hope is that the One who searches all hearts - will search theirs as well. Our hope is that our leaders will have godly advisors and godly reasoning behind all that they do. Then we will have a blessed nation - because a nation ultimately must have its blessings from God. Oh that we would have leaders who turn to Him for that blessing.
Three things here are considered unmeasurable - or unsearchable. First we cannot search out the measure of the heavens. Astronomers concur with this fact. No matter how powerful our telescope - the heavens are unsearchable. And even if we could begin to fathom just how vast our universe was - we could never actually search it out and exhaust the information we could gather on it. The second thing we cannot search out is the depths of the earth. We have theorized just what is underneath us - but considering we are still discovering fish that we had no idea ever existed - I think it is safe to say that we cannot fathom all there is to know about the depths of the earth. The third thing is different from these first two. We are told that neither can we search out all there is about the heart of a king.
This is true on several levels. First, kings and leaders have information that the local people do not have - and probably will never have. I think it would absolutely blow our minds to realize how much information about different things - important things - comes across the desk of our president or any other ruler in our world. They do not have the time to inform us of everything that goes into their decision making processes - neither do they need to. This is why we need to pray that God would surround our leaders with wise and understanding counselors. Much of the decision making that happens in Washington D. C. happens because of the advice of those around our president. Pray that he will have godly, discerning advisors. We see what just one Daniel did in the kingdom of Babylon - one Mordecai in the kindom of Ahasuerus - and one Ahithophel in the kingdom of Absalom. Whether for good or for bad, those who advise our leaders will greatly affect our nation.
The king's heart is also unsearchable because he will not ever share all his reasonings for his decisions. The role of a king/leader is to make decisions and lead a nation. Quite often pundits and writers will try to tell us what has gone on insider the minds of our leaders - but they don't really know. All we can hope and pray for is that they will make godly decisions that will bless our nation.
When we grasp this we may begin to understand why we are commanded to pray for our leaders. Paul wrote to young Timothy,
"First of all I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and those in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
The command of God , because this is in the imperative, is that we pray for our leaders. In fact - we are commanded to pray four ways for them!
Entreaties - to make known a need - and ask for it to be met.
Prayers - general word to pray to God.
Petitions - to intercede on behalf of another. To stand before God on their behalf.
Thanksgivings - to be grateful and to give thanks.
Just a thought . . . maybe we've got the kind of leaders we have - because we get the leadership that our prayers deserve? We truly need to pray for all our leaders (not just the ones we like) because they truly need the wisdom of God. And remember, before you begin making a comment about their level of spirituality or lack of it - God used some pretty ungodly characters to advance what he wanted done. And - it may be wise to remember that they were greatly influenced by godly people that God providentially put into their life for the pupose of giving godly example and counsel.
Finally, the heart of a king is just like every other heart among mankind. The king's heart is fallen. He is sinful no matter who he is. Thus, just like anyone else, the heart of the king is desperately sick and beyond even his own understanding. What we need to pray for is that our rulers are Christians who derive their wisdom and leadership from seeking God and knowing His Word. The king, like any other human, is sinful - and has aspects of his life that grieve him and plague him. He has weaknesses. This is the reason we need to pray for those in power and authority. They need our prayers because they do have to lead us. Our hope is that the One who searches all hearts - will search theirs as well. Our hope is that our leaders will have godly advisors and godly reasoning behind all that they do. Then we will have a blessed nation - because a nation ultimately must have its blessings from God. Oh that we would have leaders who turn to Him for that blessing.
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