What Happened?
Understanding The 2024 Presidential Election From A Biblical Perspective
Early Wednesday morning, Former president Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election. Republicans also claimed control of the Senate, and the House. Mr. Trump’s victory was decisive as he won all of the battle ground states and increased his vote totals in the blue states won by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Given the results of the election what are Christians who were not supporters of the President Elect are to do? How do we process what has happened? What Is it that God wants us to do?
In a departure from this week scheduled Bible Study, Pastor Marben Bland invites you to a Bible Study only on Zoom as we explore 8 questions with Biblical answers as try to get at the root of the question, we are all asking, “What Happened?
1. Who Is In Control Of Our Lives And The World?
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Questions
A. What does it mean that God is in control of your life?
B. If God is in control why do “ungodly” things happen?
2. Do You Believe That In God’s Control He Has Given Us His Highest Creation Humankind Freewill To Do As We Please?
• God has given us free will to decide who we will serve.
Joshua 24:14-15
“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”.
• God has given us free will to decide if we will obey or disobey.
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God”.
Deuteronomy 28:15
“However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you”
• God has given us free will to decide between life or death.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob”.
3. In Secular Societies Which Element Plays A Higher Priority In Selecting A Leader: Economics, Or Allegiance To God?
Use This Link To Watch – Exit Polling https://vimeo.com/1027340892
Question
A. President Elect Trump won a deceive victory winning the popular and Electoral College vote, making major inroads with core Democratic states and groups like Hispanics and Black Men. According to exit polling what was the number one issue for Trump voters? What was the number one issue for Vice-President Harris’s voters?
B. Where did allegiance to God rank in the exit polling?
Read: Matthew 13:1-9
Matthew 13:1-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brough t forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 If you have ears,[a] hear!”
Read: Matthew 13:18-23
Matthew 13:18-23
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Parable of the Sower Explained 18 “Hear, then, the parable of the sower. 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was
sown on the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet such a person has no root but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away.[a] 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of this[b] age and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Read: Matthew 13:24-30
Matthew 13:24-30
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat 24 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An
enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No, for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
4. Is The United States Of America A Secular Democracy Or A Christian Nation?
Read: 1st Samuel 8:1-9
1 Samuel 8:1-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Israel Demands a King
8 When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 Yet his sons did not follow in his ways but turned aside after gain; they took bribes and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow in your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations.” 6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to govern us.” Samuel
prayed to the Lord, 7 and the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8 Just as they have done to me[a] from the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. 9 Now then, listen to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.”
Questions
A. Who governed Israel prior to their request for a king?
B. Why did the Israelites want a king? (Hint: look at verses 1-5) What does this tell us about the duties of leaders who are called to lead?
C. In asking for a king who did Israel reject? (Hint: look verses at 6-8)
D. Did God give the Israelites free will in selecting a king? If so how? (Hint: look a verse 9)
Read: 1st Samuel 10-18
1 Samuel 8:10-18
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 10 So Samuel reported all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. 11 He
said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots, 12 and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. 13 He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. 15 He will take one-tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers. 16 He will take your male and female slaves and the best of your cattle[a] and donkeys and put them to his work. 17 He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves. 18 And on that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the Lord will not answer you on that day.”
Question
Use This Link To Watch – General Kelley
https://vimeo.com/1027382570
Was America warned about its choices for a leader?
Read: 1st Samuel 8:19-22
1 Samuel 8:19-22
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Israel’s Request for a King Granted 19 But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, “No! We are determined to have a king over us, 20 so that we also may be like other nations and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.” 21 When Samuel heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the Lord. 22 The Lord said to Samuel,
“Listen to their voice and set a king over them.” Samuel then said to the Israelites, “Each of you return home.”
Questions
A. What were the reasons the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel? (Hint look at verses 19-20) What do you think of these reasons?
B. Why do you think God granted Israel’s request for a king?
6. What Are God’s Requirements For A Leader?
Micah 6:8
Read: Micah 6:8
Micah 6:8 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?
Use This Link To Watch -President Carter & Micah 6:8
https://vimeo.com/1027396261
Questions
1. What are the three requirements for Godly leadership outlined in Micah 6:8?
2. Did you use those requirements in your selection of a leader for the United States?
3. Given the exit surveys and the outcome did most voters in the United Sates use the leadership requirements of Micah 6:8 in their selection?
7. Does God Use Bad People Who Are Leaders For His Purposes?
Points For Consideration:
A. Romans 13 teaches that God established governmental authority to accomplish his purposes:
1 Peter 2:13-17
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 13 For the Lord’s sake be subject to every human authority,[a] whether to the emperor as supreme 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish. 16 As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. 17 Honor everyone. Love the family of believers.[b] Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Note: This is an astonishing statement, for Paul wrote it when the evil Roman Emperor Nero, who persecuted Christians, ruled. 1 Peter 2:13-17 is also important for understanding this.
1 Peter 2:13–17
Respecting People in Authority
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.* Fear God, and respect the king.
B. God has the power to install and depose kings.
Daniel 2:20–21
20 He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power
21 He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.
Note: God can use good as well as bad people to accomplish his will in the world so that his highest good will ultimately take place.
C. God has raised up wicked leaders in the past. Chronicles 36:22-23
The Message King Cyrus – Delivers the Jews out of Babylon 22-23 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia this fulfilled the message of God preached by Jeremiah God moved Cyrus king of Persia to make an official announcement throughout his kingdom; he wrote it out as follows: “From Cyrus king of Persia a proclamation: God, the God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has also assigned me to build him a Temple of worship at Jerusalem in Judah. All who belong to God’s people are urged to return—and may your God be with you! Move forward!”
Note: Cyrus was not a follower of the God of the Bible, but instead, he was a pagan king used by God to help His people. Just as God had used pagan kings from the Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Babylonians to chasten his people when they refused to repent of their idolatries, now He used a pagan king to help them return to their promised
land and begin to rebuild. Many Christians view Donald Trump as a Cyrus type figure.
7. Given The Results Of The Election What Are We To Do?
Read: Jeremiah 29:1-14
Jeremiah 29:1-14
The Message Plans to Give You the Future You Hope For
29 1-2 This is the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to what was left of the elders among the exiles, to the priests and prophets and all the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken to Babylon from Jerusalem, including King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the government leaders, and all the skilled laborers and craftsmen.
3 The letter was carried by Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The letter said:
4 This is the Message from God-of-the-AngelArmies, Israel’s God, to all the exiles I’ve taken from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 “Build houses and make yourselves at home. “Put in gardens and eat what grows in that country.
6 “Marry and have children. Encourage your children to marry and have children so that you’ll thrive in that country and not waste away.
7 “Make yourselves at home there and work for the country’s welfare.
“Pray for Babylon’s well-being. If things go well for Babylon, things will go well for you.”
8-9 Yes. Believe it or not, this is the Message from God-of-the-Angel-Armies, Israel’s God: “Don’t let all those so-called preachers and know-it-alls who are all over the place there take you in with their lies. Don’t pay any attention to the fantasies they keep coming up with to please you. They’re a bunch of liars preaching lies—and claiming I sent them! I never sent them, believe me.” God’s Decree!
10-11 This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
12 “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.
13-14 “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.
“Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. “I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you”—God’s Decree “bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.
Questions
A. What is Jeremiah 29:1-14 telling us to do during this time of political exile?
B. Do Christians have a duty to support the government? Do Christians have a duty to oppose the government?
8. Is God Still In Charge? If so what are we to do?
Read: Ezekiel 2:3-7
Ezekiel 2:3-7
The Message 3-7 He said, “Son of man, I’m sending you to the family of Israel, a rebellious nation if there ever was
one. They and their ancestors have fomented rebellion right up to the present. They’re a hard case, these people to whom I’m sending you — hardened in their sin. Tell them, ‘This is the Message of God, the Master.’ They are a defiant bunch. Whether or not they listen, at least they’ll know that a prophet’s been here. But don’t be afraid of them, son of man, and don’t be afraid of anything they say. Don’t be afraid when living among them is like stepping on thorns or finding scorpions in your bed. Don’t be afraid of their mean words or their hard looks. They’re a bunch of rebels. Your job is to speak to them. Whether they listen is not your concern. They’re hardened rebels.
https://vimeo.com/1026900962
In Ezekiel 2:3-7 God lays out his marching orders telling his servant three things that we should remember today.
• First: Do not to be afraid for fear will get you nowhere
• Second: Do not be dismayed, regardless of the situation we need to have an attitude of gratitude.
• Third: Continue to speak the words of God for there is power in the name of the Lord In this moment of defeat God’s word is clear, we are not to be afraid, we are not to be dismayed, and we are to continue to speak the words of God for like the Jews our time of liberation will come.