We've all spent enough time and energy either lamenting the fact that the American people are considering Hillary Clinton as a political option, or lamenting the fact that the American people are considering Donald Trump as a political option. Or, what seems to be most popularly, lamenting that either of these people made it to this stage of the election.

So, the only logical conclusion is to take some time and think about how awesome Abraham Lincoln was.

Lincoln seems to me not only the model president, but also would have made a pretty fine King of Israel. Throughout the books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles, we see that the nation of Israel revolves around their relationship with God as manifested in the Temple (My thoughts here). The purpose of the King is so closely tied to the Temple — their rule depends on whether or not they do a good job instigating the correct officials and musicians in the Temple. In other words, their rule depends on how well they can lead their people in worship of God. We see a great example of this in Hezekiah, who leads his people in repentance and purification in 2 Chronicles 29:3-5:

"In the first month of the first year of his reign, he opened the doors of the temple of the Lord and repaired them.He brought in the priests and the Levites, assembled them in the square on the east sideand said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary."

Hezekiah goes on to lead the people in collective repentance before God.

In August of 1861, Lincoln issues his Proclamation of a National Fast-Day, "Reccomend(ing) a day of public humiliation, prayer and fasting, to be observed by the people of the United states with religious solemnities, and the offering of fervent supplications to the Almighty God for the safety and welfare of these States; His blessings on their arms, and a speedy restoration of peace." He goes on to say that "It is particularly fit for us to recognize the hand of God in this terrible visitation (the Civil War), and in sorrowful remembrance of our own faults and crimes as a nation and as individuals, to humble ourselves before Him and to pray for His mercy,"

What an amazing man of God, to be able to call his proud nation to fall to their knees in submission to the Almighty God.

Let us pray with Lincoln, then, in this election season these things.

"Pray for his mercy — to pray that we may be spared further punishment, though most justly deserved, that our arms may be blessed and made effectual for the reestablishment of the law, order and peace, throughout the wide extent of our country; and that inestimable boon of civil and religious liberty, earned under his guidance and blessing, by the labors and sufferings of our fathers, may be restored in all of its original excellence."

Whatever the outcome of this election (and by the time some of you read this you'll already know), God is sovereign. His rule and reign will never end. We can follow Lincoln's lead, as he intended us to, and continue to pray for our leaders, our country, in a position of humility and awe.