Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath.

He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.
2Kings 22:1-2 (NASB)

Portia Lucretia Simpson-Miller is neither eight years old nor likely to reign as the first female prime minister of Jamaica for 31 years, but at age 60, she does sound determined to do right in the LORD’S sight. In her inauguration speech she repeatedly glorified the Most High and expressed reliance in Him.

“I want to begin by recognizing the source of my strength, Almighty God,” her speech began. Then she led the audience in a prayer that acknowledged the Almighty as “the Sovereign and Supreme Lord God in this island and all the world,” and beseeched God to lay the foundations of the Jamaican government. She asked Him to use her and the people for His purpose and peace.

In a parliamentary system, the head of the party that dominates the legislature becomes the head of state. Simpson-Miller – familiarly called “Portia” in the press earlier this year became president of the People’s National Party (PNP) when its former president, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, retired. Since the PNP controls Jamaican parliament, Simpson-Miller subsequently became prime minister of Jamaica.

While running for party head, at least one competitor questioned her intellectual capacity. Without specific knowledge of Simpson-Miller’s IQ or past grade point average, let’s analyze the competitor’s questioning in light of scripture. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;” (Proverbs 1:7). “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Proverbs 2:6). “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Given the ultimate Source of knowledge and wisdom, given Simpson-Miller’s acknowledgement that Source, and trusting God more than men, we should prefer Simpson-Miller’s thinking method.

Right now, some readers are likely conjuring, with fear or abhorrence, images of a Black female George Bush citing God and nurturing Christian conservative connections while making war and neglecting the poor and oppressed. But Simpson Miller’s inaugural address was no Religious Right polemic implying strong allegiance to a wealthy ruling class and advocacy of militaristic world domination based on half-developed Biblical fragments.

On the contrary, throughout the speech, Simpson Miller discussed removing poverty, crime, violence, and corruption. These themes extend throughout the Old and New Testaments and Jamaica definitely has too much of at least the first three. (And if the fourth is there, it should be removed also.)

Another theme within Simpson-Miller’s inaugural speech was unity. She spoke to cooperation between the ruling party and the opposition, unity within the Jamaican nation, “dynamic integration” within the community of Caribbean nations, and deeper involvement of Jamaicans in the Diaspora.

She asked Jamaicans who “worship on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday” – apparently referring to various God-centered religions and denominations – to pray for Jamaican prosperity and peace.

She also advocated a partnership for nurturing and educating children and restoring “the centrality of family life in Jamaica”.

Portia Simpson-Miller is one of three woman heads of state in the recent history of the Caribbean and one of two women who currently head predominantly Black nations on the planet. The other is Ellen Johnson-Serleaf who was elected president of Liberia earlier this year.

But female national chief executives are not new in Black history. Queen mothers called “kantakes” (“candaces” in ancient Greek writing) directly ruled the Black nation of Kush during the centuries spanning B.C. to A.D. The treasury minister of one of these kantakes was the African recorded as accepting Christ in Acts chapter 8. The God-centric inaugural address of Jamaica’s female head of state is interesting in this light.

May other Black leaders follow Simpson-Miller’s example of seeking God’s guidance, and thereby begin paths for Him to heal our lands, which, in too many cases, desperately need healing.

“If…My people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
--2Chronicles 14 (NASB)