Prayer Builds Up a Nation in God's Image

 By Pastor Benjamin Glaser - Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms:

Desiring Holy Leaders in State, Church, and Education

Good Morning!

It is fitting that the next portion of the Westminster Directory of Public Worship we are going to be looking at is a section on the pastoral prayer which covers supplications for politicians. We may not like them, but God does tell us to pray for our enemies. Though in all seriousness central to the keeping of the Fifth Commandment is recognizing that there are going to be hierarchies in life. Those who are Fathers and Mothers. Passages like Isaiah 49:23 witness that this authority is clearly derivative of what they have received from the Lord. Kings and princes are not in any way above God, and must obey Him. It is interesting that whenever the Bible presents those who are going to be in charge, whether in the church or in the state, that they are always represented as servants. We who must live in a nation governed by a civil realm need to have a right peace and comfort in knowing how it is that we are to ourselves be felicitous in grace towards these men whom providence has smiled on in granting these positions of power over us. Knowing how to pray for them is an important part of being a good citizen, and a good Christian.

Here's today’s (long) section:

To pray for all in authority, especially for the King’s Majesty; that God would make him rich in blessings, both in his person and government; establish his throne in religion and righteousness, save him from evil counsel, and make him a blessed and glorious instrument for the conservation and propagation of the gospel, for the encouragement and protection of them that do well, the terror of all that do evil, and the great good of the whole church, and of all his kingdoms; for the conversion of the Queen, the religious education of the Prince, and the rest of the royal seed; for the comforting of the afflicted Queen of Bohemia, sister to our Sovereign; and for the restitution and establishment of the illustrious Prince Charles, Elector Palatine of the Rhine, to all his dominions and dignities; for a blessing upon the High Court of Parliament, (when sitting in any of these kingdoms respectively,) the nobility, the subordinate judges and magistrates, the gentry, and all the commonality; for all pastors and teachers, that God would fill them with his Spirit, make them exemplarily holy, sober, just, peaceable, and gracious in their lives; sound, faithful, and powerful in their ministry; and follow all their labours with abundance of success and blessing; and give unto all his people pastors according to his own heart; for the universities, and all schools and religious seminaries of church and commonwealth, that they may flourish more and more in learning and piety; for the particular city or congregation, that God would pour out a blessing upon the ministry of the word, sacraments, and discipline, upon the civil government, and all the several families and persons therein; for mercy to the afflicted under any inward or outward distress; for seasonable weather, and fruitful seasons, as the time may require; for averting the judgments that we either feel or fear, or are liable unto as famine, pestilence, the sword, and such like.

Continue here.