Biblical Qualifications for President

Does the Bible give us any qualifications for who should be our president?  Yes it does!  2 Samuel 23:3 says, "He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God."  These words are recorded in the Bible as being among the "last words of David".  So, according to this admonition our president needs to be one who can be described as "just".  The dictionary defines "just" as
   1. fair and impartial: acting with fairness and impartiality 
   2. morally correct: given in accordance with what is morally right 
   3. reasonable: valid or reasonable
For those that say that it does not matter about a candidate's personal moral character or what he does in his private life as long as he makes good policies, please note this and read on.  

King David also tells us that he should be a man who understands what it means to fear God. 

Proverbs 1:7 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction."  We may tend to think that the strongest leader is the one who is not afraid of anything.  We may want a leader who is brave, courageous, and will not back down against an aggressive enemy, but a leader who does not fear God is a leader who thinks he has absolute power and is not under any greater Authority. 

 

To fear God means to be in total reverence and awe of YHWY--Jehovah, the only God of Creation.

And how can someone be in total reverence and awe of a God they do not know?  How can we know if a presidential candidate knows God?  Both of our main candidates for this upcoming election claim belief in God, but is that the same as knowing God?  I John 2:4 tells us, "The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 

 

So, the Bible tells us that one that would be president of the United States must be a morally upright man who follows the commandments given by the Word of God.  Wow, that's a tall order.  Which of our two main candidates best meet these requirements?

 

Daivd's last words continue in 2 Samuel 23:4 where it says, "And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun riseth.  Even a morning without clouds as the tender grass springeth out of the earth by clear shining after rain."  Jesus is described in I John 1:9 as being the "true light of the world!" And Jesus said of himself in Rev. 22:16, "I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star."  This tells me that our national ruler must be one who is like the One who is the Light of the World.  So, can we elect a president in 2012 who is Christ-like in all his ways?

Hmmmm, wouldn't it be great to just have Christ Himself come and be our ruler?  God's covenant people have been praying for this for quite some time now, "...Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  

Maranatha!  Come, O Lord!