I don’t know how closely you listen to current religious thought, but there has been an interesting theme echoing around Christendom. It began before the elections last month, but it has picked up steam since then. There are preachers comparing our President-elect with the Persian King Cyrus. Some of those preachers are merely noting curious similarities. Others are boldly saying that Cyrus is a divine prophecy of Donald Trump’s election. And then a third group are simply thinking, wouldn’t it be great if Mr. Trump was like Cyrus.
The theme of this message tonight is that we, as Christians, are commanded to pray for our presidents. In a few minutes, I’ll try to show you some of the scriptures which teach us how to pray for him. And it might be interesting to look at those scriptures in the light of King Cyrus.
But in the mean time, let’s consider whether or not Cyrus is a prophecy or even a type of Donald Trump.
Immediately, I need to point out that the United States is not a replacement for the old nation of Israel. It is theologically unsound to put America into the prophecies and histories of Israel. There are specific prophecies which God gave to Israel – they belong to Israel and not to America. The nation of Israel is its own entity, and the United States is another. Protestants and Catholics may blur the lines between these two nations, but the Bible doesn’t warrant it. Having said that, it needs to be said that Israel contained a remnant of the children of Abraham among her citizens, and there are some of the spiritual seed of Abraham in America. Just as there are children of God by faith in Christ Jesus in this country there were children of God in Israel circa 600 B.C. So at least in this way there are some similarities. By the days of Ezra and Cyrus, Israel had been in physical and spiritual captivity for at least 70 years. First, the 10 northern tribes of Israel went into Assyrian captivity, and then Judah was taken by Babylon. While in captivity, God’s people were not permitted to worship according to dictates of God’s Word. But the truth is, most of her citizens didn’t wish to worship God anyway. That was the cause of their captivity in the first place. In this way the United States parallels Israel. This country, as a nation, has ceased to serve God according to His Word; this is not a Christian nation. And we might say that we have been in captivity to an unbelieving, Christ-denying, “foreign power” for eight years – and off and on again for much longer than that. It needs to be remembered that Cyrus was not a Jew – he was not President of United Tribes of Israel. In this way he is not a true picture of our own president. Furthermore, he was not a Babylonian; he was Persian. Judah had been taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon. But Cyrus had conquered the Babylonians, and he had a different perspective on those captives. You might say that an ungodly man from one political party, Persia, had wrestled the kingdom away from another political party – Babylon. Now there is a new king, and it appears that he wishes to set the captives free at least to some degree.
Here are some other similarities and differences which I see in Cyrus and Mr. Trump. From your study of American politics, you may see far more than I do. There are obvious parallels – for example, they are both kings, and they are both extremely wealthy. And despite becoming a tool in the hand of Jehovah, Cyrus was essentially ignorant about the Lord. As well as several chapters in Ezra, Isaiah has a couple chapters dealing with Cyrus King of Persia. Isaiah 45:1 says, “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden. Four verses later God says, “For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me.” The Lord tells us that the king of Persia was ignorant of God – as it appears so is Donald Trump. Nebuchadnezzar had been a lifeless razor in the hand of the Lord, shaving Israel of all her pride. But eventually Nebuchadnezzar came to know the Lord. Perhaps that was true of Cyrus, and perhaps that will be true of the President-elect. But In his speeches, candidate Trump has said some rather dumb things about the Bible. And he uses the Lord’s name in vain, something which proves his ignorance of the Lord. There is no defamation in saying Cyrus and Trump are unbelievers – not spiritual children of Abraham.
Some people point out that both of those kings hoped to become builders. King Cyrus gave authority to Ezra and others to rebuild the temple. King Donald has said much about building a wall or two – and about rebuilding the economy. As far as walls are concerned, it was not Cyrus and Ezra who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem but Artaxerxes and Nehemiah. Even so, is there any similarity between a wall between Canada and the United States and a wall around Jerusalem? Cyrus wanted the Jew’s Temple to be rebuilt; does Donald really want God’s temple restored?
Some current preachers are saying that Cyrus went about to re-establish the worship of Jehovah. Again, is it the intent and policy of Donald Trump to restore America’s freedom of worship? What most of those preachers fail to mention about Cyrus is that he restored the temples and legalized the worship of other captive nations as well. This is proven by the 1879 archeological discovery called the “Cyrus Cylinder.” Cyrus was encouraging ecumenical religion as well as the worship of God. It apparently made little difference to the man who was the god of the various people in his realm. But this doesn’t destroy a possible similarity with Mr. Trump. Donald doesn’t appear to want bless our church per se, but it may be over the next decade that some of his appointees may make it easier to worship Christ and to preach the entire Word of God. Donald may pull out some of the “vessels of the house of the Lord, which Nebuchanezaar had brought forth out of Jerusalem and put them in the house of his gods” giving them back to the children of God. Those original vessels, while made of gold and silver may have been valuable, but their value was more in the freedom of their use than in their value on the open market. While it might become easier for the Lord’s people to serve Him, over the next few years, it will also be easier for the Mormons and Catholics to do whatever it is that they do. I don’t imagine Trump will outlaw Satan worship, Campbellism, Wiccans or Seventh Day Adventists. In blessing the true worship of God, he will be opening the doors for heretical worship as well. But that is okay; that is a part of the Baptist definition of “liberty.” Either way, once again we can see a similarity between the two kings. Something else to consider is that Israel continued to find resistence from the society dwelling in the land. The new king does not guarantee that the world and its spiritual ruler will leave God’s people alone.
Despite Cyrus’ unregenerated condition, it doesn’t negate some of God’s gracious blessings on the man. “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” God said of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure; even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.” Isaiah 45:1 says, “Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden… I will go before thee….And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.”
One of the similarities between Cyrus and Mr. Trump stands out in sharp contrast to the past president and his female heir apparent. Donald Trump appears to be pro-Israel. Whether that was simple verbiage for the sake of votes remains to be seen, but I’d like to think it is real. And Jehovah has promised that when kings or commoners try to be blessing to Israel, God will be a blessing to them.
Could it be that President Donald Trump will become the Lord’s shepherd and a blessing to God’s people? He certainly could. Is Cyrus an actual prophecy of the 2016 presidential election? I don’t believe so. Is he a type of the President, in the same way that Joseph was a type of Christ? I don’t think so. But could there be ongoing parallels between these two kings? Yes there is that potential.
Keeping these parallels in mind, how should we pray for President-elect Trump?
Did Ezra pray for Cyrus? I have no proof that he did, but I’d like to believe that he did. Should we pray for Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton? Yes we should. Should we pray for Donald Trump? Absolutely.
As I searched the scriptures and thought about how to approach those scriptures, I wondered about the order in which I should present them. I think that they are basically from the most important to the least – or perhaps I should say “the lesser.” But you might disagree with my order. Should we start with thanksgiving? Isn’t it always right to begin with praise for what the Lord has done? In Daniel 4 we have a description of the fall and rise of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Daniel was given a revelation of what was to be given to Nebuchadnezzar, and he was concerned. But he was encouraged by both his boss and his God. In Daniel 4:17 God reminded him and us, “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.” A few months ago, the media was pronouncing the political doom of candidate Donald Trump. During the evening of the election, some new media were in denial that Clinton could possibly lose. Some people are still saying it is almost miraculous that we have Trump headed to the White House. But I say, “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” Jehovah may set up whomsoever He chooses over this nation and every other nation. Therefore we are obligated to be thankful for whomever the Lord gives us.
After that thanksgiving, we must pray for that man’s salvation. Do you suppose that Daniel prayed for the salvation of Nebuchadnezzar? One of God’s great scriptures is Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” The ruler of Babylon was one of the kings whose heart God reduced to ashes and rebuilt again. I believe that man was born again, so I expect to be able to fellowship with him before the Saviour. Did Daniel pray for him? Did Daniel believe that the man could be saved? Is there a possible parallel between Daniel and Vice President Elect Mike Pence? If the internet can be trusted, Pence is a born-again evangelical, who believes in freedom of religion. Is it possible that Mike could be Donald’s Daniel? Whether that is the case or not, we have the obligation and responsibility to pray for the President’s salvation. Paul told Timothy, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority.” You may have your doubts, but if Nebuchadnezzar could be saved by God’s grace then so can Donald, Hillary and even Obama. And we have an obligation to beseech the Lord on their behalf. And remember, salvation is for THEIR eternal welfare, not for our own.
In this regard we need to pray that the Lord give that man repentance and faith. What do you give a man who has everything? The assets of the Trump family would make a long, long list. But he lacks the greatest of all gifts, and laying just under salvation itself, he appears to lack humility before God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is not going to find these under his Christmas Tree, and they are not going to come by way of UPS or the USPS; they will not seep into him as he puts his hand on some Bible at his inauguration. They will come to him as miraculously as the sanity returned to Nebuchadnezzar so many years ago.
As we pray for his salvation, we should also pray for the man’s safety and protection. As we are all aware, we live in dangerous times, and wickedness prevails and surrounds us. It doesn’t matter how many secret service men protect any public figure, the enemy can just make bigger and bigger bombs, putting any life in jeopardy. By Ezra 6 Cyrus had passed away and there was a new king on the throne of Persia – one Darius. Israel’s enemies were working hard to disrupt her worship of the Lord, and an appeal was made to the new king for the protection which had been earlier promised. “Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded…” Darius then commanded that the reconstruction continue, adding “that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.” The Bible teaches us to pray for safety – for our own; for our family; and for our leaders.
Romans 13:3-4 teach us to pray that the President will execute judgment and justice. Paul says, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil… He is the minister of God to thee for good… He beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” Proverbs 20:26 says “A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.” Obviously, not every ruler has been this kind of man, so this is an area about which we should pray. Proverbs 16:12 adds – “It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for the throne is established by righteousness.” We know what it is to have wickedness on the throne. Pray that we might experience just the opposite. And of course, “righteousness exalteth a nation” so this should be a part of our prayers for our leadership. It’s not so much that we covet exaltation, but the idea is that God will bless a people who live according to the principles of the Word of God.
A related area about which to pray regards the people who the President-elect puts around him. God told Moses, when he was worried about the government of Israel – “Thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.” In addition to those whom Mr. Trump will put into the Supreme Court are those people in places in high and powerful positions in his cabinet. What sort of person should be Secretary of State and the Attorney General? Oh God, give that man your leadership in the many choices and decisions he must make. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.” Pray that our new king will “Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that (he) mayest be wise….” “Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king, who will no more be admonished.”
When the government is properly governing and judging the man who doeth evil, peace should be a result. But peace is not really a matter which any one person can control. There will always be another evil-doer, and other thief and another man high on meth. Despite one nation’s desire for peace with her neighbors there will always be a Babylon and North Korea. Therefore we must listen to Jeremiah 29:7 and be ready to implement its command. “Seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.” I Timothy 2:1-2 once again – “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” You may try to live peaceably with your neighbor, but if he doesn’t want it, then you will not have it. However the sovereign God can create peace in the midst of the wildest tempest – just as he did on the Sea of Galilee. Of course, the President of the United States has much to say about whether you and your grand-children will live in peace. Pray that the Lord will lead him in a peaceful direction. And that brings up once again the verse in Proverbs 21 – God’s sovereign control. “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be a peace with him.” Why can not – why should we not – pray that the new king’s ways please the Lord?
I am sure that we could probably double the scriptures which I have dug out so far. But what I intended to show you is that we should add President Donald Trump to our prayer list. And there are many specific things about which we should pray in regard to that man.