Looking abroad on the very satisfactory and unsettled condition of the world today, all pointing clearly to the fact that we are nearing the end of the dispensation, one is increasingly struck with the insistence and scope of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy—“I exhort therefore, that, FIRST OF ALL, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus; who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:1-6).
To the emphatic words,
“FIRST OF ALL”
we should pay special attention. Not only are we exhorted to prayer. It is noteworthy that very insistent forms of prayer are indicated—supplications and intercessions. Prayer may be described as making requests to God; supplications, as earnest and agonised entreaty; intercessions, as caring for others, and praying on the behalf of such, as Abraham prayed for the wicked people of Sodom in his day.
Lastly, there is added the giving of thanks as the Apostle wrote elsewhere, “In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6).
We do not have to wait for the answer before we render thanksgiving. We may not get the answers we wish for, but we can thank God for the response of wisdom to our earnest petitions, whether the answer be affirmative or negative.
We have an analogous case to ours, when we read, “And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace” (Jer. 29:7).
The present times are truly difficult, something like the troubled rapids before the “beyond redemption-point” is reached, and the seething waters are flung over the precipice, carrying certain death with them. We may not understand all God’s governmental ways at this time, but we can rest content in God’s wisdom and power.
First, we have to pray for all men. Two results are desired from this, viz., that (1) we Christians may have liberty to live a life of all godliness and honesty; and (2) God is a Saviour-God, not wishing the death of a sinner, but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth. To this end Christ came as the great Mediator between sinful man and a thrice-holy God. By His atoning death on the cross He has so satisfied God as to the whole question of sin, that He can in full righteousness proclaim salvation to all who believe.
In the very nature of things rulers are appointed to carry on appropriate government, and so we have kings and those in authority. In the hands of such, great powers are placed and their responsibility is similarly great. Whatever their title may be, Emperor, King, Queen, President, Chief, etc., we are exhorted to pray for such. Think of the great power and responsibility resting on the President of the United States of America, or the President of the Soviet Union of States, or the rulers of India, China, etc. Whether in our judgment rulers are good or bad, our privilege is to pray for all alike. As a matter of fact in the early days of the church’s history on earth the very cruellest and most lustful of the Roman Emperors, Nero, was on the throne, the vile murderer of his own mother and wife, the persecutor of the Christian community.
Christians may rightly choose to keep aloof from earthly politics, yet their prayers may be powerful as registered in heaven. We are not of the world as our Lord was not of the world, (John 17:14, 16). “Our conversation [commonwealth, N.Tr.] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).
The insistence of this exhortation should send us all to our knees, both publicly and privately, and keep us continually in a dependent and prayerful spirit. How far do you and I respond?—is a timely question.