A good rule of thumb Always be humble

A good rule of thumb: Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. - Ephesians 4: 2 -3 (NLT)

Democracy is… A government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system. www. dictionary. com

God’s idea: the·oc·ra·cy [thee-ok-ruh-see]

All creatures of our God and King: Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm! -Psalm 47: 6 -7 (NLT)

No king but Jesus: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

No king but Jesus: He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. -Isaiah 9: 6 -7

A seriously bad alternative: Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look, ” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have. -Vv. 4 -6

The people ask God for a “divorce”: “Do everything they say to you, ” the LORD replied, “for it is me they are rejecting, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. ” -I Samuel 8: 7 -8

The whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help him, Him! “Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them. ” So Samuel passed on the LORD’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. “This is how a king will reign over you, ” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. ”

The whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help him, Him! “Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. ”

The whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help him, Him! “He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. ” -I Samuel 8: 9 -17 (NLT)

The answer is not a better “king”: It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. -Psalm 118: 8 -9 (NIV)

Who or what are you trusting in? Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. -Psalm 20: 7 (NIV)

The not-so-secret “secret” to our success: Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. -Joshua 1: 7 -8 (NLT)

The only way to see our land restored: “…if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. ” - 2 Chronicles 7: 14 (NLT)

We may regret what we have asked for: When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the LORD will not help you. -I Samuel 8: 18 (NLT)

One of the saddest Scriptures of all… But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s [God’s] warning. “Even so, we still want a king, ” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle. ” So Samuel repeated to the LORD what the people had said, and the LORD replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king. ” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home. -1 Samuel 8: 1 -22 (NLT)

The sad result: “…he gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. ” -Psalm 106: 15 (ASV)

Will we learn from their mistakes? Or repeat them? “Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! You must never have a foreign god; you must not bow down before a false god. For it was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things…”

Will we learn from their mistakes? Or repeat them? “But no, my people wouldn’t listen. Israel did not want me around. So I let them follow their own stubborn desires, living according to their own ideas. Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!” -Psalm 81: 8 -13 (NLT)

The ideal leader: When he sits on the throne as king, he must copy for himself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. He must always keep that copy with him and read it daily as long as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the LORD his God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees.

The ideal leader: This regular reading will prevent him from becoming proud and acting as if he is above his fellow citizens. It will also prevent him from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that he and his descendants will reign for many generations in Israel. -Deuteronomy 17: 18 -20 (NLT)

Reality check: We don’t have that!

So, what’s a good Christian to do? • Vote without regard for Biblical standards & morals?

So, what’s a good Christian to do? • Vote without regard for Biblical standards & morals? • Vote for the candidate we perceive to be the ‘lesser of two evils’?

So, what’s a good Christian to do? • Vote without regard for Biblical standards & morals? • Vote for the candidate we perceive to be the ‘lesser of two evils’? • Vote for an ‘un-electable’ but more ‘Christian’ candidate?

So, what’s a good Christian to do? • Vote without regard for Biblical standards & morals? • Vote for the candidate we perceive to be the ‘lesser of two evils’? • Vote for an ‘un-electable’ but more ‘Christian’ candidate? • Don’t vote at all?

Honestly fast & pray & seek God’s wisdom: If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. - James 1: 5 -8 (NLT)