How should Ezekiel 11:2 influence our prayers for government leaders today? Setting Ezekiel 11:2 in Context • “And He said to me, ‘Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and give wicked counsel in this city.’” (Ezekiel 11:2) • Ezekiel is shown twenty-five influential leaders in Jerusalem. God calls them out for steering the nation toward rebellion and ruin. • The verse reveals three realities: – Leaders can actively plot evil. – God sees and names their schemes. – The prophet is expected to respond to God’s revelation, not ignore it. What the Verse Teaches about Leadership • Influence is real: leaders “devise” and “give counsel.” • Accountability is certain: God addresses them personally. • Moral alignment matters: counsel can be wicked or righteous; neutrality does not exist. Principles to Shape Our Intercession • Pray with eyes open to moral reality. Just as God exposed wicked counsel, we ask Him to expose policies and motives contrary to His righteousness (Psalm 94:20–23). • Pray for conviction and repentance. God identified leaders so they might still turn; He “takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezekiel 33:11). • Pray for protection of the innocent. Wicked counsel harms citizens; we ask God to shield those affected (Psalm 82:3–4). • Pray for courageous prophets today—pastors, legislators, citizens—who will speak truth as Ezekiel did (Jeremiah 1:17-19). Biblical Balance: Honor and Discernment • 1 Timothy 2:1-2—intercede “for kings and all who are in authority,” that we may live peaceful, godly lives. • Romans 13:1-4—governing authorities are “God’s servant for your good,” yet those who “do wrong” face judgment. • Proverbs 21:1—“The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases.” • Combining these passages with Ezekiel 11:2 means we pray both respectfully and realistically—honoring the office while pleading for righteous policy and personal integrity. Practical Prayer Focus for Today’s Leaders • Exposure of hidden corruption and abandonment of ungodly agendas. • Softened hearts responsive to godly counsel rather than “wicked counsel.” • Wisdom and courage to enact justice, protect life, and uphold truth. • Surrounding advisers who fear the Lord rather than promote self-interest. • Preservation of religious liberty so that the gospel may advance unhindered. Encouragement for the Intercessor • God still reveals what is unseen; Scripture is our lens. • He remains sovereign over all rulers (Daniel 2:21). • Faithful, informed prayer joins heaven’s perspective with earthly need, shaping nations one request at a time. |
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