TRUSTING IN HORSEMEN

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Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.
Ezra 8:21‭-‬23 ESV
¶Is it now to our shame that we put our trust in armed men who patrol our highways to protect us, even to the neglect of prayer for our own safety, and prayer for the success of those who watch over it? They need our prayers, not only for their own protection, but for the protection of the democratic freedoms they swear to defend. In Exodus 18:21, Moses is encouraged to look for "able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times." A society is blessed which is able to find men (and women) in such an abundance that they can be released among us to make the minute-by-minute judgements needed to keep peace. This too amounts to trusting God over "horses and chariots". Rulers can be bribed, but a society can be bribed as well. Rulers can attain and maintain power with bribes of welfare benefits and wealth redistribution. To succeed, society must itself be not subject to officials who bribe their supporters with inducements and benefits. Pray for leaders who hate bribes, both in the giving and the receiving.

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