Praying for Those God Has Chosen – Psalm 69 and Spiritual Leadership | Harvest of Asher

Psalm 69 opens a window into the inner world of David as a leader chosen by God, yet one who finds himself exposed to criticism, mockery, and a lack of support. He is not describing only a distant enemy, but a deep sense of loneliness even within his own people, to the point that he says, “I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons.” His words reveal a painful truth about spiritual leadership: divine calling does not guarantee human approval, and often those sent on a mission carry the heavy burden of rejection and misunderstanding.

David does not hide his pain. He admits that disgrace has broken his heart and that he looked for comforters but found none. Yet instead of sinking into bitterness or responding with hostility, he chooses a different path and says, “But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord.” Prayer becomes the place where he lays down the burden, the place where he leans on God when the people around him do not carry him. In this, David teaches that it is not the role itself that sustains a leader, but the relationship with God, and that when human support is lacking, prayer becomes even more essential.

This call is directed not only to leaders, but also to the people around them. Human nature tends toward complaining, talking, criticizing, and analyzing decisions from a distance. It is easy to sit “at the gate” and speak about the leader; it is much harder to stop and pray for him. Psalm 69 invites us to examine our own hearts and ask where we add to the burden instead of strengthening, and where we demand perfection from those who carry heavy responsibility.

The New Testament sheds clear and direct light on this same principle. In the First Epistle to Timothy, believers are urged, first of all, to offer prayers, petitions, and intercessions for all people, for kings and for all those in authority, so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity. Praying for authorities does not depend on agreement with their ways or identification with their decisions, but on the recognition that God is sovereign and that He permits them to be in their place. When the community prays for its authorities, it participates in the spiritual order God has established and asks for wisdom, justice, and divine guidance for those who bear responsibility.

The connection between Psalm 69 and the New Testament reveals that the issue is not only how leaders cope with loneliness, but also how the people choose to respond to leadership. We have a responsibility to pray according to God's will, trusting He will direct our leaders. It is an act of spiritual responsibility on our part, which changes complaints and judgement into prayer and petition. A leader who must carry his role alone is forced to lead while carrying a heavy burden, but a leader who receives spiritual support can lead with joy, stability and strength, for the good of the whole community.

In the end, Scripture places us before a simple yet profound choice. Will our voice be part of the noise of criticism and behind-the-scenes talk, or part of standing before God in praying for those God has chosen. Will we be a watching audience or a participating people. Praying for leaders and authorities is not weakness, but trust, trust that God works even through imperfect people, and that He calls us to be part of the support rather than part of the burden.