Amidah 11 – Prayer for the righteous reign of God

“Restore our judges as in former times, and our counselors as at the beginning; remove from us sorrow and sighing; reign over us, O Lord, You alone, in lovingkindness and tender mercy, and clear us in judgment. Blessed art thou, O Lord, the King who loves righteousness and judgment.”

For the Jewish people, and for all of us, there has always been the desire to live under rulers who are completely fair and honest. We want leaders who have no ulterior motives other than ruling with justice, fairness, and for the good of the common man.

This kind of government is hard to find because we are led by men. Because we are men, there is always a self-serving side to us. God reminds us of this in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, as we are told what to look for in a ruler, and instructions are given as to how a ruler is to begin his reign.

Through history (especially the history of the Jewish people), different parts of the populace face persecution and hardship caused by their leaders. Because of this there is a yearning for the righteous reign of God.

What would the ideal leader be like? Isaiah writes: “See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice. Each man will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land. Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.” (Isaiah 32:1-3)

This prayer comes from Isaiah 1:26: “I will restore your judges as in days of old, your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.” Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.”

We want leaders who will look to God for answers to difficult questions … and even simple decrees. We want leaders like Moses and Samuel who lead as God directs. But it is hard to find such leaders. We look to the future, and the righteous reign of God Himself.

Jesus prayed, ““Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Mt 6:10)

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Paul prayed the prayer in this way, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:14-18)