Overview
A regency occurs when someone assumes royal authority on behalf of a reigning monarch who cannot govern. In Scripture, regencies typically arose during the reigns of Judah's kings when circumstances prevented direct rule. These instances demonstrate how God's kingdom continued despite human limitations and how leadership was exercised faithfully during transitions.
Key Scriptures
"Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" (1 Kings 22:45, ESV). "And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death: and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the household, judging the people of the land" (2 Kings 15:5, KJV). Here, King Uzziah's leprosy necessitated his son Jotham's regency over the kingdom's governance.
Application
Recognize that God ordains leadership structures and remains sovereign over transitions of power, calling us to trust His providence in all circumstances.