Week 38: When Leaders are Wicked
Weekly Reading:
Hosea 1 - Jonah 4
Opening Prayer
Father God,
As we go into annual election time and we begin to vote for our leaders, give us wisdom. Father, You chose our leaders for Your purpose. We may not understand Your ways, but we still exercise our duty as members of society. In that, Father, give us an understanding of other’s views, give us grace even when we do not agree, and give us patience. Father, we pray for those who lead us, who give up their time and are faced with difficult decisions.
Amen
Study
While reading through Hosea, it hit me, “what do you do when your leaders are wicked? “. We know that God has put all leadership in place
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.
Romans 13:1 NLT
Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
Hebrews 13:7 NLT
The responsibility to God in leadership is to do what is right for all those who are subject to God. This goes for political leaders, church leaders, public safety leaders, and community leaders. Even leaders of the family.
In Hosea 4:4-14 we see God’s judgment over the spiritual leaders. God is calling out the priests for being false teachers: not guiding the people to know God and they have forgotten God’s laws – they were behaving badly.
My people are being destroyed
because they don’t know me.
Since you priests refuse to know me,
I refuse to recognize you as my priests.
Since you have forgotten the laws of your God,
I will forget to bless your children.
Hosea 4:6 NLT
The priests are accused of worshiping idols (verse 7). The priests encourage sin so that they can feed off of the sin offerings (verse 8) and they are a poor example for the Israelites (verse 9).God asks the priest why He should punish the people for following the bad example of the priests (verse 14).
In Hosea 5:1-15, we see God admonish both priests and the royal family, who have let Israel to sin.
“Hear this, you priests.
Pay attention, you leaders of Israel.
Listen, you members of the royal family.
Judgment has been handed down against you.
For you have led the people into a snare
by worshiping the idols at Mizpah and Tabor.
Hosea 5:1 NLT
They pursue false religions and encourage sin. Because of this, God’s judgment will rain down on the Israelites until they confess their guilt and turn their ways to God.
We see Solomon in I Kings 3:7-9 asking God to give him discernment and wisdom, understanding and good judgment so that he may lead God’s people in the way that is right.
I Timothy 3:1-5 explains what makes a good leader
This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
I Timothy 3:1-5 NLT
This still brings us back to what to do when your leaders are wicked.
Why God does teach us that leadership is appointed by God, to what means and God’s timing is beyond our understanding (Romans 13:1). We must still follow God‘s desire in our lives. If those in leadership are rewarding sin, it is our duty to turn from sin and encourage others to do the same. When we turn from sin, we know that suffering for Christ is a possibility.
Good always wins over evil at the end, and God’s reign is eternal. Our job is to keep the faith and encourage others through seasons where we see leadership as bad or wicked.
Always pray. Pray for the leadership in the world, your country, your state or province, city or town, your job, and at your church and in your home. Always pray.
Closing Prayer
Father God,
We pray for our leaders today. Give them guidance and wisdom to lead our country, to lead our state, to lead our city. God, I trust you to choose our leadership while we exercise our vote. Father, even if we do not agree with whom is in leadership, we choose to support them and pray for their peace.
Amen
Homework
What leadership do you need to pray for today?
Is there any softening of your heart that needs to take place when it comes to leadership?
