In this third article in the series of praying for our leaders, we are looking at Christian praying for Judges—municipal, county, state and federal. When is the last time you prayed for the judges who preside over the courtrooms across our nation? I’m not talking about a specific judge who’s ruling over a case you or a loved one are involved with. I’m talking about judges in general who have been elected or appointed to make legal rulings for the citizenry.

Psalm 82 starts like this:

God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.
How long will you judge unjustly,
And show partiality to the wicked?

Psalm 82:1–2

The gods referenced here are human magistrates, judges, and rulers who have been granted authority in the earth. So, the whole point of Psalm 82 is that earthly judges must act with impartiality and true justice, because even judges must stand someday before the Judge of all the earth. Psalm 82:6-7 warns human magistrates that even they must be judged: “I said, ‘You are gods; you are all sons of the Most High.’ But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler.”

We can trust that in the end, God will judge the judges. But our job is to pray for them. It’s easy to scream about unfair rulings and overall injustice. However, we are called to pray for our judges. Before we complain about unfair rulings we must ask, “Are we doing OUR job?” As a sitting judge for the last fifteen years, I can tell you firsthand that judges desperately need your prayers to make just rulings and opinions. Here is how you can pray for judges:

1. Wisdom: Pray that God fills our judges with His wisdom. Wisdom, not ideology or partisanship, is vital to the intelligent administration of justice. Cause all judgments to come through Your pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable and merciful wisdom, James 3:17

2. Integrity: Pray that God gives judges integrity of heart and resist corruption and bribery. James 3:16 says, Cause there to be no jealousy or selfish ambition to exist in counsel. Give no ground to disorder or any evil thing.

3. Provide True Justice: Pray that God gives judges the firm desire to make rulings that honor Him and offer true justice. Deuteronomy 16:18b instructs judges: You shall judge the people with righteous judgment. Leviticus 19:15 says, You shall do no injustice in judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor nor defer to the great, but you are to judge your neighbor fairly. And Psalm 82:3–4 says, “Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless and uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. Rescue the poor and needy; save them from the power of the wicked.”

The prophet Amos says, Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream, Amos 5:24. That, dear reader, should be every Christian’s prayer.

Pr. Ray Ballmann
Glen Rose, Texas