In 1 Timothy 2 we’re encouraged to pray for and on behalf of kings and those in authority over us. Can we expect peace, tranquillity and quietness as a result?
'First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way' (1 Timothy 2:1–2).
There would be no point in God telling us to pray, unless he was prepared to hear those prayers. However, I don't think he has told us to pray for these things as a guarantee that at all times there will be peace. This is a complicated world. We're to pray for peace, but let us help ourselves by remembering what happened to Daniel.
Daniel chapters 10–12 are exceedingly instructive and illuminating on this matter. Daniel prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and for the fulfilling of God's purposes. Presently the angel—perhaps even the pre-incarnate Lord Jesus—came and explained to Daniel that the purposes of God had been, so to speak, held up and frustrated for a while by the opposition of great spiritual powers in heavenly places. So Daniel had to wait for the answers to his prayers. That doesn't mean therefore that the moment Daniel set himself to pray there would immediately be peace. On the other hand, it doesn't mean that Daniel's prayers were of no use. I will quote you one other thing that you might care to consider.
In Revelation 8 John was given to see a scene in heaven, and it's put before us in picture language:
And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. (Revelation 8:3–4)
An angel came to the golden altar of incense, the altar of prayer, and we're told that at this particular juncture, when he offered the incense, things began to happen. Here are prayers that had been asked and asked and asked and asked again, perhaps, and there came a point when God remembered them. Incense was added and the prayers were answered.
So, we are to pray. God isn't saying that he's going to answer our prayers at once. But I think the world owes a lot more to the prayers of believers than it realizes. It's important to add that when we pray we are to pray for all men, all kings, all rulers, all that are in authority. When Paul urged the believers to pray for all the rulers, at that particular time they had to pray for none less than Nero Caesar. Of all the horrible brutes that ever were, Nero was one of them, yet they were told to pray for him. We are to pray for all in authority, and may God help us to be wide hearted in our prayers.
