God's Thoughts on the Presidential Candidates

We are in the midst of an unprecedented political battle. The top three major candidates are ones unlike any we have ever seen before. Hillary Clinton, if elected, would be the first president that should be in prison for the federal security laws that she has violated. It is unfathomable that we would elect someone who has been so negligent with our national security. Bernie Sanders, if elected, would be the first president who never earned a real paycheck until he was 40 years and then spent his lifetime as a politician. Not to mention he would be the first avowed unapologetic socialist who has made his living talking about class warfare and how mistreated the lower income are while at the same time pulling in a yearly salary of nearly $150,000. On the other side Donald Trump, if elected, would pull off a lot of firsts. He would be the first president to be divorced two times each time leaving one wife for the other. He would be the first president that boasted in one of his books that he has had sex with some of the top women in the world. If any of these three are (I honestly don’t feel like any other candidate has a chance)  elected there will be some major “firsts” for America this year.
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We look at this and it disturbs us. Here is the reality though. All of these candidates are closer in ideology than we often want to believe and all of them are working on the same team. At the end of the day they all come from a worldview that denies the God of the Bible and their desire is to stand against the Lord and to “have it their way.” As the saying goes, “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc. 1:9c)  and God’s word in Psalms 2 stated how this would be a continual pattern throughout history:

“Why do the nations rage
   and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
   and the rulers take counsel together,
   against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
   and cast away their cords from us”
(Ps 2:1-3)

We are a people that are plotting in vain and following rulers who are taking counsel together against the Lord (God the Father) and his Anointed (God the Son-Jesus Christ). We want to cast them away from us. This is the reality of Post-Christian America.

God's Response

God is not silent on how He responds to the people and rulers. God responds to the way we as a nation are partnering with the leaders to plot against Him. When we attempt to claim sovereignty over ourselves here is how God responds. He laughs…

”He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision”
(Ps. 2:4).

That is right. You read it right. He laughs. I remember as a kid playing in the pond with my Dad. Now, you must understand my Dad is a “Man’s Man.” He is a big dude. As a child my brothers and I loved to do what young boys do and challenge Dad. We would team up against to jump on him in an effort to take him down. We would wrestle him with the goal of trying to bring him down to dunk him under the water. You know what his first response was? Laughter, sheer laughter. We were like mosquitoes bouncing off an elephant. We had no chance to take him down. We as a nation are attempting to dunk God under the water and He is in heaven laughing at our futile attempts.

His first response is laughter and His second response is not so lighthearted. His laughter quickly turns into fury.

Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury,
(Ps. 2:5)

The same wrath and fury that was poured out when God flooded the earth will be poured out upon the people that plot against the Lord. The same wrath and fury that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah will be poured out upon the people that plot against the Lord. Oh God have mercy on us.

God Has Appointed a King

There is a very plausible reason as to why God gets angry when wicked rulers plot against Him. The reason is that God the Father has provided us with a King. ​

“As for me, I have set my King
   on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
   today I have begotten you”
(Ps. 2:6-7)

This King’s name is Jesus Christ of Nazareth and all the rulers and nations must pledge their allegiance to Him to escape the wrath and fury. God’s King is not just a ruler but He is God’s Son. God has a King and He does not need to be replaced. ​

A Message of Optimism

Follower’s of Christ should be optimistic during this election season. Our optimism does not flow from a candidate getting elected but it is in spite of any of the candidates being elected. Our optimism flows from the prophecy we read about in Psalm 2 in which the Father and the Son are discussing the future of the nations. Here is how the conversation went.

“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
   and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
   and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
(Ps. 2:8-9)

The Father offers the Son the nations for His inheritance. His will and testament was to give His Son the ends of the earth. The Son accepted. This is really an introduction of the Great Commission and the fulfillment is taking place right before our eyes. Steadily the gospel of Christ is going to all of the nations of the world and there is a day coming when all of the nations will turn to Him and bow their knee to Him as King. This day is coming. Our optimism comes from this reality that Jesus has inherited the nations and one day He will exert His power and fully claim His throne. Mark my words here: The best days are still yet ahead for the Kingdom of God.

A Warning to Earthly Rulers

Since God has appointed a King and there is a day this King is going to exert His power and rule the nations the Psalmist exorts the earthly rulers to turn to Him now so they don’t face His fury. This is a warning to all political leaders of today. This is a warning that all presidential candidates need to take heed to and listen very attentively. Here is this sobering warning.

“Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
   be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
   and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
   lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
   for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
(Ps. 2:10-12)

Presidential candidates and other rulers be wise. Be warned. As you are striving to lead don’t serve your own ego and agenda but serve the Lord with fear and trembling. Kiss (embrace) the Son and your King lest He becomes angry with you. Take refuge in the Son and you will be blessed. Plot against Him and you will be cursed. Turn to Him before it is too late.


Contributor / Eric Stewart
Eric Stewart is the Lead Pastor of ONElife Church in Flint, MI.​