Old Testament
Proverbs 16:10-13
10 Inspired judgements are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11 Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
New Testament
James 1:5-8
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
6 But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.
7 For that man shouldn’t think that he will receive anything from the Lord.
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
Proverbs dares to speak of kings and justice without cynicism. The ruler’s lips, it says, should not betray justice; they should delight in truth; they should keep faith with what is right. The proverb is not naïve about power. It is disciplining it.
Lord, give wisdom to those who decide. Make them teachable. Surround them with counsellors who speak truth and refuse corruption. Guard them from pride and panic. And give your people clarity to pray without partisanship, longing for justice and for peace together.
James offers the plainest prayer for those in authority and those who advise them: if anyone lacks wisdom, let them ask God, who gives generously and without reproach. Wisdom is not merely expertise. It is the ability to choose rightly under pressure, to weigh lives rather than arguments, to resist flattery and fear.
National defence is a place where words can become weapons: threats, propaganda, half-truths, bravado. It is also a place where quiet integrity can protect the vulnerable. Christians may disagree about particulars, but we can pray for leaders to be restrained, truthful, and accountable; to keep promises; to avoid needless escalation; to pursue peace without surrendering justice. And we can pray for single-heartedness: not the divided heart that wants wisdom and glory at once.