He removes kings and appoints kings

Acts 23:11-35 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

But on the following night, the Lord stood near him and said, “Be courageous! For as you have testified to the truth about Me in Jerusalem, so you must testify in Rome also.”

¹² When it was day, the Jews formed a conspiracy and put themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. ¹³ There were more than forty who formed this plot. ¹⁴ They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have put ourselves under an oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place.”

¹⁶ But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. ¹⁷ Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” ¹⁸ So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me over to him and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” ¹⁹ The commander took him by the hand, and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” ²⁰ And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. ²¹ So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are in hiding to ambush him, and these men have put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” ²² Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.”

²³ And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.” ²⁴ They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor. ²⁵ And he wrote a letter with the following content:

²⁶ “Claudius Lysias, to the most excellent governor Felix: Greetings.

²⁷ When this man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, I came up to them with the troops and rescued him, after learning that he was a Roman. ²⁸ And wanting to ascertain the basis for the charges they were bringing against him, I brought him down to their Council; ²⁹ and I found that he was being accused regarding questions in their Law, but was not charged with anything deserving death or imprisonment.

³⁰ When I was informed that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, also instructing his accusers to bring charges against him before you.”

³¹ So the soldiers, in accordance with their orders, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. ³² But on the next day they let the horsemen go on with him, and they returned to the barracks. ³³ When these horsemen had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him. ³⁴ Now when he had read it, he also asked from what province Paul was, and when he learned that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive as well,” giving orders for Paul to be kept in Herod’s Praetorium.

Daniel 2:21-22 says: May the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the periods; He removes kings and appoints kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to people of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.  In today’s text it says: The Jews formed a conspiracy and put themselves under an oath, saying that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who formed this plot. They came to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have put ourselves under an oath to taste nothing until we have killed Paul. Now therefore, you and the Council notify the commander to bring him down to you, as though you were going to investigate his case more thoroughly; and as for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes near the place.” But the son of Paul’s sister heard about their ambush, and he came and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions to himself and said, “Take this young man to the commander, for he has something to report to him.” So he took him and led him to the commander and said, “Paul the prisoner called me over to him and asked me to bring this young man to you because he has something to tell you.” The commander took him by the hand, and stepping aside, began to inquire of him privately, “What is it that you have to report to me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down tomorrow to the Council, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more thoroughly about him. So do not listen to them, for more than forty of them are in hiding to ambush him, and these men have put themselves under an oath not to eat or drink until they kill him; and now they are ready and waiting for assurance from you.” Then the commander let the young man go, instructing him, “Tell no one that you have notified me of these things.” And he called to him two of the centurions and said, “Get two hundred soldiers ready by the third hour of the night to proceed to Caesarea, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen.” They were also to provide mounts to put Paul on and bring him safely to Felix the governor.  God used the same oppressive Roman government that was responsible for the crucifixion of Christ to protect Paul from the Jewish zealots who wanted to kill him. In John 19:10-11 it says: Pilate said to Him, “Are you not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over Me at all, if it had not been given to you from above; for this reason the one who handed Me over to you has the greater sin.” God is the one who raises up and gives authority to leaders. It is not always in alignment with His word, that leaders are raised up. Just as He has given us individually a free will, so He allows the collective free will of the people to choose leaders. Saul, the first king of Israel is an example of God allowing the people to have a king when it was against God’s better plan for them.

Here is the thing, there are times both individually and collectively that people make bad choices, but as romans 8:28-29 says:  We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Ultimately God will use both the good choices and the bad choices we make to work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Not everything may be better for everyone, but those who love God will become more and more conformed to His image, which is His ultimate plan and purpose. Romans 2:4 says: …the kindness of God leads you to repentance? When people reject God’s love and kindness, He will allow the consequences of their own choices to try to lead them to repentance. Throughout history the church has grown both in numbers and in spiritual strength in times of persecution. Perhaps the saying is true, “you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.” It may take the persecution of evil governments to make people appreciate the love and kindness of God, to repent and become conformed to the image of Christ.

2 Peter 3:9 says: The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.  The promise this speaks of is not for His blessings, but rather the promise that He will return as the full and final authority, as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, not as a sacrificial savior, but as a righteous judge. God’s grace is given to us in this time, as additional time for all to recognize the kindness of God in comparison to the evil and darkness of people and repent.

Revelation 22:12-21 says: “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they will have the right to the tree of life, and may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral persons, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.  “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you of these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires, take the water of life without cost…” He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.