On August 2, 1934, with the death of German President Paul von Hindenburg, Chancellor Adolf Hitler became absolute dictator of Germany under the title of Fuhrer, or “Leader.” The German army took an oath of allegiance to its new commander-in-chief, and the last remnants of Germany’s democratic government were dismantled to make way for Hitler’s Third Reich. The Fuhrer assured his people that the Third Reich would last for a thousand years, but Nazi Germany collapsed just 11 years later.
Planet Earth has, only a few times in its history, seen the level of atrocities that Hitler brought on Europe. And it’s a cautionary tale about the need of righteous rulers. Solomon wrote, “Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time — For strength and not for drunkenness!” (Ecclesiastes 10:17). This is why Paul encouraged saints to pray for rulers (1 Timothy 2:1-2). These prayers should be going up constantly, not only for our rulers, but for rulers wherever righteous people live.
Kyle Campbell
