59 Bible Verses about Leaders, Political

Nevertheless Jehovah established judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them.

Now Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet, and she was serving as a judge for the Israelites at that time.

When Samuel was old, he appointed his sons judges over Israel. The name of his firstborn son was Joel. He named his second son Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. The sons did not follow their father's example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.read more.
One day the nation's elders came to Samuel at Ramah. They said: You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us! Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king. So he prayed about it. Jehovah answered: Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king. Ever since the day I rescued my people from Egypt, they have turned from me to worship idols. Now they are turning away from you. Listen to them. But be sure to warn them and tell them about the behavior and rights of a king who rules over them. Then Samuel told the people who had asked him for a king everything Jehovah said. Samuel said: These are the rights of a king: He will draft your sons and make them serve on his chariots and horses, and make them run ahead of his chariots. He will appoint them to be his officers over one thousand or over fifty soldiers. He will have them plow his ground and harvest his crops. He will require them to make weapons and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters from you and force them to make perfumes, cook, and bake. He will take away the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and wine and give it to his aids and officials. He will confiscate your male and female slaves, your best cattle, and your donkeys for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks. In addition, you will be his servants. You will cry out because of the king whom you have chosen for yourselves. Jehovah will not answer you when that day comes. But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said: We want a king! We want to be like other nations, with our own king to rule us and to lead us out to war and to fight our battles. Samuel listened to everything they said. Then he repeated it to Jehovah.

Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it on Saul's head. He kissed him and said: Jehovah has anointed you to be ruler of his people Israel. You will rule his people. You will save them from all their enemies. This will be the sign that Jehovah has anointed you to be ruler of his people.

Jehovah said to Samuel: How long will you mourn for Saul? After all I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Take oil in your vessel and go. I will send you to Jesse, the Beth-lehemite. I have a king from among his sons. How can I go? Samuel asked. When Saul hears about it he will kill me Jehovah said: Take a heifer with you and say: 'I have come to sacrifice to Jehovah.' Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice. I will reveal to you what you should do. You will anoint the one I point out to you.read more.
Samuel did what Jehovah told him. When he came to Bethlehem the elders of the city trembled at his coming. They greeted him and said: May peace be with you. Greetings, he replied, I have come to sacrifice to Jehovah. Perform the ceremonies to make yourselves holy, and come with me to the sacrifice. He performed the ceremonies for Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they entered he looked at Eliab and thought: Surely Jehovah's anointed is before Him. But Jehovah said to Samuel: Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature. I have rejected him. God does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearance. Jehovah looks at the heart (inner man). Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. Samuel said: Jehovah has not chosen this one either. Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. He said: Jehovah has not chosen this one either. So Jesse brought seven more of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel told Jesse: Jehovah has not chosen any of these. Are these all the sons you have? Samuel asked. There is still the youngest one, Jesse answered. He is tending sheep. Samuel responded: Send someone to get him. We will not continue until he gets here. Jesse sent for him. He was a handsome, healthy young man, and his eyes sparkled. Jehovah said to Samuel: This is the one. Anoint him! Samuel took the olive oil and anointed David in front of his brothers. Immediately the Spirit of Jehovah took control of David and was with him from that day on. Then Samuel returned to Ramah.

I will choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I will make him a strong ruler.

King David said: Ask Bathsheba to come back in. She came and stood before him. Then he said to her: I promise you by the living God Jehovah (YHWH), who has rescued me from all my troubles, that today I will keep the promise I made to you in the name of Jehovah the God of Israel, that your son Solomon would succeed me as king.read more.
Bathsheba bowed low and said: May my lord the king live a very long time! Then King David sent for Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah. When they came in, he said to them: Take my court officials with you; have my son Solomon ride my own mule, and escort him to Gihon Spring, Zadok and Nathan are to anoint him as king of Israel. Then blow the trumpet and shout: Long live King Solomon! Follow him back here when he comes to sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king. He is the one I have chosen to be the ruler over Israel and Judah. It will be done, answered Benaiah, and may Jehovah your God confirm it! Jehovah has been with Your Majesty. May he also be with Solomon and make his reign even more prosperous than yours. So Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the royal bodyguards put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon Spring. Zadok took the container of olive oil that he had brought from the Tent of Jehovah's presence, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet, and all the people shouted: Long live King Solomon! All the people followed him. They blew flutes and celebrated so loudly that their voices shook the ground.

Moses went down the mountain and called for the elders of the people. He repeated to them all the words that Jehovah had commanded him.

This is what you must do if you find a murder victim lying in a field in the land that Jehovah your God is giving you. If no one knows who committed the murder, your elders and judges must go and measure the distance from the body to each of the neighboring cities.

Boaz went to the public place in the town and sat down. When the kinsman-redeemer came along, the one he had mentioned, Boaz said: Come here, and sit down. He came and was seated. Then he got ten of the responsible men of the town, and said: Be seated here. And they took their seats.

When I went out to the gate of the city, when I took my seat in the square, the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose up and stood. The nobles refrained from talking, and laid their hands on their mouths.read more.
The voices of princes were hushed. Their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths. When the ear heard, it commended me, and when the eye saw, it approved. This is because I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper.

It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea. Herod served as tetrarch of Galilee. Herod's brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis. Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene.

Samuel judged Israel as long as he lived.

Jehovah said to Moses: Cut two more stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets that you smashed.

He removed the high places. He broke the stone pillars to bits, and cut down the Asherah poles. The brass snake that Moses had made was crushed to powder at his command, because in those days the children of Israel had offerings burned before it, and he gave it the name Nehushtan.

When this ended, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah, broke the pillars in pieces, cut down the Asherim and pulled down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh. They destroyed them all. Then all the sons of Israel returned to their cities, each to his possession.

These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of Jehovah after the ark came to rest there.

He said to Jeroboam: Take ten of the parts, for this is what Jehovah said: 'I will take the kingdom away from Solomon by force. I will give ten tribes to you.

Now go to Pharaoh! I am sending you to lead my people out of his country.

Jehovah answered him: Go in the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you.

Jehovah said to Samuel: How long will you mourn for Saul? After all I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Take oil in your vessel and go. I will send you to Jesse, the Beth-lehemite. I have a king from among his sons.

Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king. So he prayed about it. Jehovah answered: Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king. Ever since the day I rescued my people from Egypt, they have turned from me to worship idols. Now they are turning away from you.

They said: You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons. But they have not followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader like all the other nations. Choose one for us!

When he cries he will deliver the needy and the poor who have no helper. He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the needy. He will redeem (rescue) them from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.

He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice.

When a king sits on the throne of judgment he scatters away evil with his eyes.

The king establishes the land by justice. He who receives gifts overthrows it.

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of Jehovah of Hosts will accomplish this.

He will delight in the reverence of Jehovah. He will not judge by what his eyes see, nor make a decision by what his ears hear. But with righteousness he will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth (power of his words), and with the spirit (breath) of his lips he will destroy the wicked.

He chose his servant David. He took him from the sheep pens. He brought him from tending the ewes that had lambs so that David could be the shepherd of the people of Jacob, of Israel, the people who belonged to Jehovah. With unselfish devotion David became their shepherd. With skill he guided them.

Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy to these shepherds. Tell them: 'The Lord Jehovah says: How horrible it will be for the shepherds of Israel who have been taking care of only themselves. Should shepherds take care of the sheep? You eat the best parts of the sheep, dress in the wool, and butcher the finest sheep. Yet, you do not take care of the sheep. You have not strengthened those that were weak, healed those who were sick, or bandaged those who were injured. You have not brought back those who strayed away or looked for those who were lost. You have ruled them harshly and violently.read more.
They were scattered because there was no shepherd. They became food for every wild animal at the time they were scattered. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered throughout the entire earth. No one searched or looked for them.

There must go forth a twig out of the stump of Jesse. A branch (sprout) (shoot) (descendant) from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of Jehovah will rest on him. The spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and respect for Jehovah will be his.

When he first sits on the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself a copy of this law on a scroll taken in the presence of the Levitical priests. He should keep it with him. He should read from it all the days of his life. In this way he will learn to respect Jehovah his God by carefully observing all the words of this Law and these statutes. He must not think he is better than the rest of his people. He will not disobey these commandments in any way. So he and his sons will rule for a long time in Israel.

He will delight in the reverence of Jehovah. He will not judge by what his eyes see, nor make a decision by what his ears hear.

Righteousness will be the belt around his loins. Faithfulness will be the belt around His waist.

Kings reign by me, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

Jesus called them to himself and said: You know that the rulers of the nations exercise absolute dominion over them. They lord it over them and behave like tyrants.

He must not increase his herd of horses. He must not send the people to return to Egypt to get more horses. For Jehovah said to you: You should never again return that way. He must not take many wives or his heart will turn astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Samuel said: These are the rights of a king: He will draft your sons and make them serve on his chariots and horses, and make them run ahead of his chariots. He will appoint them to be his officers over one thousand or over fifty soldiers. He will have them plow his ground and harvest his crops. He will require them to make weapons and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters from you and force them to make perfumes, cook, and bake.read more.
He will take away the best of your fields, vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and wine and give it to his aids and officials. He will confiscate your male and female slaves, your best cattle, and your donkeys for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks. In addition, you will be his servants.

Your father Solomon treated us harshly and placed heavy burdens on us. If you make these burdens lighter and make life easier for us, we will be your loyal subjects.

Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice. Woe to him who uses his neighbor's services without pay and does not give him his wages.

They were starting to run off and leave him. Saul waited there seven days, just as Samuel had ordered him to do. But Samuel did not come. Saul commanded: Bring me some animals so we can offer sacrifices to please Jehovah. Then we can ask for his help. Saul slaughtered one of the animals, and just as he was placing it on the altar, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to welcome him.read more.
Samuel asked: What have you done? Saul replied: I saw the troops were scattering. You did not come when you said you would and the Philistines were assembling at Michmash. So I thought the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal. I have not sought Jehovah's favor. I felt pressured into sacrificing the burnt offering. You did a foolish thing, Samuel told Saul. You did not follow the command of Jehovah your God. If you had, Jehovah would have established your kingdom over Israel from generation to generation (for a very long time).

However when he became powerful, his pride destroyed him. He was unfaithful to Jehovah his God. He went into Jehovah's Temple to burn incense on the incense altar. Azariah the priest went in after him with eighty of Jehovah's courageous priests. They opposed King Uzziah. They said to him: Uzziah, you have no right to burn incense as an offering to Jehovah. That right belongs to the priests, Aaron's descendants, who have been given the holy task of burning incense. Get out of the holy place because you have been unfaithful. Jehovah God will not honor you for this.

Then Solomon put up a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting god of Moab, in the mountain near Jerusalem. And for Molech, the disgusting god worshipped by the children of Ammon. He did likewise for all his strange wives, who made offerings with burning of perfumes to their gods.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. He did evil in the eyes of Jehovah. He copied the disgusting ways of those nations Jehovah sent out before the children of Israel. He built the high places that Hezekiah his father destroyed. He made altars for Baal. Then he made an Asherah as Ahab, king of Israel, had done. Manasseh was a worshipper and servant of all the stars of heaven.read more.
He built heathen altars in the Temple of Jehovah. The same Temple that Jehovah spoke of when he said: In Jerusalem will I put my name. And he built altars for all the stars of heaven in the two outer courts of the Temple of Jehovah. He made his own son pass through fire. He burned him as an offering to Molech. He practiced reading the future; gave positions to those who had control of spirits and to wonder-workers. He did much evil in the eyes of Jehovah and provoked him to anger.

How horrible it will be for those who go to Egypt for help! Cursed are those who rely on very strong warhorses, who depend on many chariots. They do not look to the Holy One of Israel. They do not seek Jehovah.

The king of Babylonia, Merodach Baladan son of Baladan heard that King Hezekiah was sick. So he sent him a letter and a present.

Suffer you unwilling children, says Jehovah. You pursue a purpose that is not mine. You make a covenant sacrifice without my Spirit. You add sin to sin. You go to Egypt for help without asking for my advice. You want Egypt to protect you. You put your trust in Egypt's military might.

Ephraim, you are like a simpleminded, senseless dove. You call to Egypt and run to Assyria for help.

Jesus told them: Go tell that fox I cast out demons and heal people today and tomorrow. On the third day my work will be finished.

Daniel had a dream and visions. He wrote the summery of the dream that came to his mind while he was in bed. It was the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon. Daniel said: I saw in my vision by night, the four winds of heaven blew upon the great sea. Four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other.read more.
The first was like a LION. It had eagle's wings. I watched till the wings were pulled off. It was lifted up from the earth and made to stand upon two feet like a man. A man's heart and mind was given to it. Look, a second beast, like a BEAR. It was raised up on one side. Three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth. They said to it, 'Arise and devour much flesh.' I saw another beast. It was like a LEOPARD. It had four wings as a bird on its back. The beast also had four heads. Dominion (ruling authority) was given to it. After this I saw more visions in the night. I saw a FOURTH BEAST terrible and powerful, and exceedingly strong! It had great iron teeth. It devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet. It was different from the beasts that came before it. It had ten horns!

The dragon stood on the shore by the sea. I saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns. His horns had ten crowns on them. Blasphemous names were on his heads. The beast I saw looked like a leopard. His feet were like the feet of a bear. His mouth was like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power, his throne, and great authority. One of his heads appeared to have had a fatal wound. His fatal wound had healed, and the entire world followed the beast with admiration.

Let every person be subject to superior authorities. For there is no authority except by God. God allows the authorities to serve in their positions.

You must be in subjection, not only because of that wrath, but also for the sake of your conscience.

Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it is to the king, or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evildoers and for praise to those who do good. It is God's will that you do the right things and that this will silence the ignorance of foolish men.read more.
Be free, and yet do not use your freedom for a covering for evil, but as servants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Reverence and respect God. Honor the king.

Peter and the other apostles answered: We must obey God rather than men.

If not you should know O king that we will not serve your gods. We will not worship the golden image that you set up!

Then they said: Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, does not show you respect, O king, nor the decree that you signed. He offers his prayer three times a day.

I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, They should be made for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.