God Save the King

When people in authority acknowledge the hand of Almighty God and embrace His principles, it is something worth noting.  Even if their lives may not have exemplified an adherence to Christian principles.  We can be careful to pray for our leaders and pray that they will exercise Godly wisdom.  And, we can continue to give attention to the hand of God as He works in and among the nations.  In 2nd Chronicles 20 (ESV), we read the proclamation of King Jehoshophat just before the nation of Judah experienced a powerful victory:
5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court,
6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.
7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

We are approaching the 250th anniversary of the separation between what is now the United States and England.  In the Declaration of Independence, we can read about our Founders' reliance on Almighty God in the face of tyranny, embodied in King George III. The grievances were many, but in the face of the authoritarian actions, the colonists declared their independence and stated their dependence on God.

King Charles III received a warm welcome in his visit to the U.S. recently, stood before Congress, with many in the audience supportive of the ideology associated with the "No Kings" movement, as it's been pointed out.  But, an actual king, well, he delivered an address that focused on shared history and shared religious practice.

The Christian Post reported:

King Charles III, whose royal titles include Defender of the Faith and head of the Church of England, spoke about the importance of his Christian beliefs in his address to Congress.

“For many here — and for myself — the Christian faith is a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us not only personally, but together as members of our community,” he told those gathered.

“Having devoted a large part of my life to interfaith relationships and greater understanding, it is that faith in the triumph of light over darkness which I have found confirmed countless times.”

It is true that the King of England does occupy a position of ecclesiastical authority, and I think that one could certainly question decisions and viewpoints in his personal and professional life.  He is correct when he speaks, ironically, of the concept of freedom. The article says, "Charles emphasized a common heritage of liberty, noting that English measures like the Magna Carta of 1215 and the English Declaration of Rights of 1689 influenced the U.S."

Some say that the King is not a political figure, but the office carries with it a close relationship with the British Prime Minister and considerable influence of British policy.  So, when you have a King who dedicated a sculpture last year paying tribute to LGBTQ+ veterans, it is worth noting.  And, his dogged embrace of climate change policy proposals is certainly troubling.  In his address to Congress, he stated, “Even as we celebrate the beauty that surrounds us, our generation must decide how to address the collapse of critical natural systems, which threatens far more than the harmony and essential diversity of nature..."  

We don't have a King - even amidst people taking to the streets in protest calling for "No King."   The people of Israel wanted a King, even though Samuel insisted that the Lord was their King.  And, they suffered for it.  Throughout the writings of the Old Testament, we see a succession of kings - two sets of them, once Israel and Judah separated following Solomon's reign.  Some followed the Lord wholeheartedly, some perhaps half-heartedly, others didn't follow Him at all.  Jehoshaphat exercised dependence on the Lord, King Josiah actually publicly proclaimed the Word of God.  Others led their people in a direction away from God.

We serve the One True King, who is called King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we can pray for the leaders over us to submit to His authority.   The Bible teaches that authority has given by God.  King Charles and leaders throughout the ages - from monarchs, to dictators, to democratically-elected Presidents and Prime Ministers, will all stand before the presence of the ultimate Judge.  And, so will we - we have to make sure that we are in right relationship with God through Christ.