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Reprinted from the American journal, The Watch Tower, May 15, 1914 (not to be confused with the modern sectarian magazine of similar name). The article is reproduced as is, with minor typographical and format corrections to conform to our house style.
Scripture references are to the King James (Authorised) Version
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God's Supervision Of The Nations
‘[T]he most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men’ (Dan. 4: 17).
‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God . . .’ (Rom. 13: 1, 2).
Question: Should we understand from the above Scriptures that God guides the affairs of nations, and chooses their rulers?
Answer: These Scriptures are in harmony with other statements of Scripture. In the case of Nebuchadnezzar, for instance, after he had been seven years insane, lying amongst the beasts of the field, his reason returned to him and he extolled the God of heaven, acknowledging that God setteth up those whom he will and putteth down those whom he will. We understand that God’s dealing with King Nebuchadnezzar was prophetic.
In the case of Israel God had very particular oversight of their affairs, and dealt with their rulers. David was anointed when he was a youth, to be king in due time instead of Saul. So with several others of their kings the Lord had them anointed in advance. It might be said of Israel, that whoever sat upon the throne was there as the Lord’s representative. We remember also that on one occasion the Prophet of God was sent to anoint one of the kings of Syria and to give him a prophecy respecting himself, that he should take the throne.
Looking back, we see that in the case of
Pharaoh, the perverse king of Egypt, God declared, ‘for this cause have I raised
thee up, for to shew in thee my powerʼ (Ex. 9: 16). God did not approve of
Pharaoh, but used him to show forth his own glory.
God also used King Cyrus of
Persia as a servant to perform his bidding.
God’s Supervision Of Current
Events
All of these recorded instances show a vital
interest on God’s part as to who shall come forward and who shall be retarded
when these matters would affect his own plan. We are not to understand that these different kings
represented God’s choice as respects their loyalty to him, but that these were
the ones through whom the divine plan in operation could be signally manifested
and outworked. And so it is today.
The Lord knew which of the men
running for the office of President of the United States in the fall of 1912
would be the most suitable the one who would most fully co-operate in the
carrying out of the very conditions which he is pleased to permit to come to
pass at this time.
The Lord guides in the affairs of nations now,
only in so far as such oversight will promote the fulfilment of his own
purposes. When the
monarchs of various countries declare themselves ‘King by the grace of Godʼ, we
do not agree to the thought they have in mind in making such claim. They are expressing the thought which has prevailed
throughout Christendom for centuries that they reign as representatives of the
kingdom of God, and by his special favour. And likewise the Catholic church: when the
pope claims that he is the head of the Church of Christ, claims that he is
Christ’s vicegerent, he thus claims that Christ has set up his kingdom, and that
the pope reigns in his stead.
Overrule to Outworking of God’s
Plan
After the Papal power waned in Europe, and the
Protestants came into power, the Protestant rulers claimed the same right that
the Catholics had claimed to rule as the Lord’s special
representatives. And it is
from this standpoint that kings maintain that they reign ‘by the grace of Godʼ,
that the kingdom of God is set up, and that they are reigning in God’s kingdoms. We do not understand this to be the
right thought, but that in God’s providence he permits these to occupy the
thrones of the world for the time being. We understand that God does exercise a
supervisory oversight in respect to them not that he has authorised them to
represent him, or that he is responsible for their deeds and acts, but that he
is so controlling matters as to cause them to outwork his own
arrangements.
God will not convert a king in order to do
this; he will not make him a saint. But he can allow or hinder events without
interfering with the free will of any individual, and without becoming
responsible for his government.
We may assume that this supervision of divine power is for the ultimate interest of mankind. We remember that there is a prince of darkness, who is seeking to do violence to humanity. Our thought is that the divine power hinders or restrains, so that the worst things cannot come to pass until [God's] due time, and he overrules to bring those into power who will have the disposition to do what he purposes to permit when his due time has arrived. However, since the Lord does not explain to us just how he does this, it would be wise for us not to be too emphatic in our statements.
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