Praying for Namibia as we Prepare for National Elections on the 28th November 2014

“Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.”  ( 1 Chronicles 12:32)

Every age has its unique challenges, and  the challenge is basically  always the same— to  understand the times  and to know  what to do in such times .  Those who understand the times  within the framework of    biblical wisdom,   will be  our wisest  leaders.  Namibia  is  standing on the threshold of  a new era  and of  another   election  in which a  new president and  a  new national assembly  are elected. 

In  1 Chronicles 12:32   we find   this  interesting verse.  Soon after  Saul’s death the  nation of Israel  was in turmoil.   A change in leadership  always  has the potential to disturb the peace of  a nation. Saul’s  tribe, the Benjamites,  had their own  ideas about who was to be the successor  to the throne in Israel.  The majority of  Israel  however were not of the same mind, and so  they  aligned themselves  with a rising star in their midst,  whom God actually had chosen prior to this-  David, the son of Jesse  of the tribe of Judah (1 Samuel 16). They  were  now  assembling in  Hebron to  make  David  their  new king.   

Now,  at that point in Israel’s history,  there were  two hundred leaders of the tribe of Issachar  of whom we are told that they  were  “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”

Two hundred  wise  men – what a  dream  - what a bonus!  Blessed is that nation that has such men.   It shall be well with that nation, and so it proved to be under the leadership of David.

The outgoing president  : Mr H. Pohamba

The ability to correctly analyze contemporary situations and to know what to do  is what good  leadership is all about. Every generation needs such  leaders who can understand the times and  who  know what to do in the light of  such times.

The God who has created this world and all there is in it (Psalm 24:1) has given us  a Word about  wise governance as well as many warnings  concerning abuse. Now,  Namibia is not a Theocracy  like Israel, and Namibia may  well consider itself to be a secular state but this fact does not  impress God.  God remains the rightful owner of this earth, and He will hold the nations of the world, including  Namibia,   accountable. (Psalm 2)

It is  right therefore that  we should seek the LORD  in seasons  of prayers  in these days. We  must  pray  for  future leaders  to be endowed with   an understanding  of, and a commitment  to  biblical  wisdom as applied  to the issues of our day.  Wise men need to know that “true truth”  needs to be fought for in every new generation.  The current war  against   a distinctly biblical world view  needs to be  discerned.  Evil is never distant.   We need  people  of the statue of the  sons of Issachar , “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do .”