REFLECTIONS

In the ancient world, it was not uncommon for rulers to describe themselves as gods, claiming to have certain divine powers and qualities. The people of Israel would never allow their rulers to be called gods. There is only one God, the Lord. Their faith is expressed in today's psalm: ‘The Lord is great and worthy of praise, to be feared above all gods (pagan rulers). The gods of heathens are naught. It was the

Lord who made the heavens’.

The people of Israel were, however, tolerant of pagan rulers calling themselves gods. They saw these rulers as having a subordinate role in God's governance in the world. Through them God's will could be accomplished among the peoples. A good example was Cyrus, the Persian king mentioned in today's first reading, whom the Jews saw as God's chosen instrument to liberate them from their exile in Babylon.

In our own day the leaders of nations have the power to effect good and promote the values of the kingdom of God. Not all leaders do this but there are many who strive to exercise wise and just leadership. There need not to be an unbridgeable gulf between civil governance and the governance of God. In fulfilling our obligations toward the state, we can in fact be promoting the values of the Kingdom of God. Respecting legitimate temporal authority is one means of paying homage to God, the only One to whom all praise and honour are due.

~ God’s Word Daily Reflection 2026