King Darius issued a decree that the Jews rebuilding the temple of the Lord were to make sacrifices to the Lord and to pray for him and his sons. Though he was a pagan king, the children of Israel would keep him and his royal family in prayer. Paul tells us that we are to pray for our leaders so that we may live quiet and peaceable lives (1 Timothy 2:2). The Bible tells us that all authority has been put in place by God. So what are we to do when those in power over us are ungodly, and rule with corruption and evil ways? We are to pray that the Holy Spirit will bring them to repentance, and if they refuse, we pray that God removes them and replaces them with leaders who will rule righteously. When Saul disobeyed God and fell into sin and disobedience, Samuel continued to pray all night for him (1 Samuel 15:11; 1 Samuel 16:1). Samuel had a heart of compassion for his leader, even though he had gone astray. In the same we should continue to lift our leaders in prayer. If they pass laws that entrap us to sin or make rulings that go against the instructions of God’s word, we are to submit to God instead of them and stand for righteousness. The same resolve that came on Daniel and the three Hebrew boys who were willing to die for their faith, will come on us if we choose to be loyal to God. No matter what, we are to fear God and not man as we follow His ways and stand for righteousness.