If the leader takes a wrong turn or makes a bad decision, it will either cost him his job (as in the advanced nations) or the country ends up bearing the cost.
So we have to pray for our leaders, especially for them to receive wise counsel. Whatever views we have of them, we need to pray they will steer the ship well. If the captain steers the ship into troubled waters or gets lost, dont you think the passengers will also be lost?
Once there was a young man who was crowned king. He was asked to make a sincere personal wish for his kingdom. He thought a while and wished for wisdom. Sure enough, his prayer was divinely granted and he became known as the wisest man who ever lived. His kingdom flourished and he wrote a book of wisdom to pass on to future generations.
In contrast, there was another king who was also blessed with great wealth and power. His wealth was so great that, one fine day, he boasted to his people he was the source of the country's riches. After that, things started to go downhill for him and he ended up losing his kingdom.
He went into hiding in the forests like a wild man and stayed there for seven years until he finally learnt his lesson.
Lesson for the Head of State:
Take stock of what you have done for your country and ask God how your scales are weighed in His sight. Have you stood up to the position granted to you by your countrymen?
Or having fallen short of God's expectations, you remain stubbornly proud and unrepentant of your mistakes?
Lesson for the Opposition leader:
Take a deep breath and look at the world at large. Are you truly sincere in offering an alternative to the ruling administration? Is your motive to truly serve the country or to fulfill your personal ends either for yourself or your group of supporters?
Have you not seen how pride and self exaltation in those who hold the reins of power has brought down kings and queens?
The eyes of God are ever-seeing and His judgment will be swift if you secretly plant seeds of discord in the night. Old warriors with cunning plans will remain in the shadows until their hearts are changed.
Lesson for the citizens:
Pray for your leaders and your nation that wisdom, good governance and justice (in every aspect of a multi ethnic society) is restored and ingrained into the roots of your land.
Most of all, turn strongly away from your sins, both known and unknown, with a repentant heart so that God in Heaven will have mercy on you and your nation. Cry out to Him and ask Him to forgive you for allowing the nation to be besieged by unscrupulous characters.
For you were raised in this country for a time such as this. And each one of you has a hand in shaping the destiny of your nation.
