The Government of God
“For I, the Lord, love justice,” Isaiah 61:8 NASB
Justice– Today the West is obsessed with democracy. It so strongly believes in this Greek invention of self-governance that it celebrates when “democratically elected” officials are put into office even if those officials represent Islamic Jihadists. Extending the Greek idea of populist power, the West sinks into political correctness on the backs of political corruption. Marching hand-in-hand with religion, Church and government assume that the rise of the common political man will somehow overcome the resident evil of power. After centuries of experiments in democracy, we see the results – and they are not to our liking.
The biblical view of government is entirely different. There is not a single shred of democracy to be found in Scripture. No word captures the difference more clearly than the Hebrew word mishpat. This is one of those cases where the English translation pulls us into a context that does not fit the word at all. We must always keep in mind that the Hebrew culture is a culture of Near Eastern nomadic tribes, not of city-states or empires. For us, justice is a concept that falls within the legal system, one branch of our government. But mishpat doesn’t imply a branch of government. In the tribal system, mishpat is a word that covers all the government functions of the tribe. Even more important is the difference in the concept of law and government. We think of law the way that the Greeks thought of law – a system of rules that stands above any individual to which all are accountable. But the people of the tribe do not think of themselves under the overarching laws of a government. All of the law is contained within the leader of the tribe. They are a people governed by a person. Their leader who is the chief or the elder of the tribe rules everything about them. His decisions are the Law.
In the Hebrew culture, God is the leader, the tribal chief and the king. He is the personal representation of all governance. He is the source and the administration of Law. The word shapat really means “government” in this sense. God controls life, administers life and makes the decisions regarding life. He is the holy, benevolent, righteous dictator.
Now we can understand the wonderful passage in Isaiah, “the government shall be upon his shoulders.” The Messiah will assume the role of the chief of the tribe – the tribe of God’s people under the leadership of the Messiah. Now we see why God says, “I love government.” It is a statement of His rightful authority over life.
If you belong to His tribe, He is your King. His government is your code of right-living. Live your life under Him. His government is the government of glory.
Topical Index: government, democracy, mishpat, shapat, Isaiah 61:8, Isaiah 9:6
Amein v’Amein, Skip!
“If you belong to His tribe, He is your King. His government is your code of right-living.” !!!!!
Who is man to excercise their authority over folks when they are not upholding true justice and righteousness according to the Creator’s law of governing?
So in the Messianic Movement is the Government of God on the earth administered through::Ephesians 4::11-13:: Apostles-Prophets-etc::::
Wow…how clear and amazing! All America is doing is trying
To “present, convince, all of us, about their guy”! How pathetic and
sad! Messiah, Yeshua is altogether WORTHY
Thank you for this teaching, today!
I’m a recovering political junkie, and I love this perspective – it gives further clarity to the gospel of the kingdom of heaven. Both capitalism and communism are corrupted by an unconverted heart, therefor, the more important things is the heart of the people. Yeshua bypassed the political movements and went straight to the hearts of those He came in contact with — His movement has outlasted them all.
How often I hear the United States referred to as a Democracy. When was the last time you read or repeated the Pledge of Allegiance?
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, ……”
The Founders were extremely knowledgeable about the issue of democracy and feared a democracy as much as a monarchy.
They knew very well the meaning of the word “democracy”, and the history of democracies; and they were deliberately doing everything in their power to prevent having a democracy. The goal of a Constitutional Republic was to avoid the dangerous extreme of either tyranny or mobocracy but what exists in the U.S. today is a far cry from the Constitutional Republic our forefathers brought forth.
*Sigh…..I do admit it has been brought around to all the evil and purposes of a democracy by now. But just so, I will defned the honor she once had, fifthly wench laying in the gutter of sin now, — but she didn’t always.
Article IV Section 4 of the Constitution states: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion . . .
But invasion has come and his name is (evil in the heart of man), and the devil, the same that ruled over the world empires and pulled the puppet strings of Tiberius of Rome and offered Jesus the whole world if He’d bow to him. (What did Jesus answer?, “it is written”!!!)
When we were founded God’s ways WERE chosen. The trouble is, people have to choose Him in their hearts, everyday. I do choose Him and His ways.
I wish the laws of our country were obeyed, they are built on the Ten Commandments.
God is no respecter of persons. He will be your Lord, your God, your King now and forever. He looks for cleaned hearts to set up His throne, (….not polluted, stinking, Wash DC, uugh.)
The US is my country temporarily, but my home is heaven with God, and it is there where all my hope and longings lie. I grow more homesick everyday.
I am not a history or government expert, but the way I understand it, the battle-cry of many of the founders of our country was ‘No king but King Jesus’. I think our free country (democracy) allows us to live with God as our King and elect officials who believe the same. I think many of our founders understood the Biblical principle and warned that democracy would not work without it. See below:
http://www.truthinhistory.org/no-king-but-jesus-2.html
Lois
Hi Lois, good article!
For you and anybody else who may be interested here is another great site:
http://www.wallbuilders.com/
Those with political leanings check out this article: http://www.wallbuilders.com/
Love this!
“In the Hebrew culture, God controls life, administers life and makes the decisions regarding life. He is the holy, benevolent, righteous dictator.”
Hi Skip,
I’m not sure if I understand the statement above, but I guess my question would be
What person or group in Hebrew culture mediates between God and that diverse group
Of people who want to be part of Hebrew culture and need to know what exactly the correct decisions are?
On questions of, for example, the ethics of Obama’s decision to assassinate Osama bin Laden
We might get a different view, depending upon which Rabbi we studied under
And it seems to me if the Hebrew culture includes Jesus as Messiah
We have two conflicting views of the Hebrew culture
Isn’t Hebrew culture diverse and contradictory?
“In the Hebrew culture, God controls life, administers life and makes the decisions regarding life. He is the holy, benevolent, righteous dictator.”
The Christian view is similar, only we call Him LORD! ~ for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things! ~
(Romans 11.36)
~ He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not ~ (John 1.10)
~ Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made ~ (John 1:3)
~ yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one LORD, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live ~
(1 Corinthians 8:6)
~ For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him ~
(Colossians 1:16)
~You are worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: for You have created all things, and for Your pleasure they are and were created ~ (Revelation 4.11)
~ And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that has been slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. ~ (Revelation 5.11,12)
“The Christian view is similar, only we call Him LORD! ~ for of Him and through Him and to Him are all things! ~”
Hi Carl,
For me there is a big difference
If I understand you correctly, Him LORD is Jesus and God
For most Jews, Him LORD is God, but Jesus is not God, and Jesus is not going to save us
In Hebrew culture, as I understand it, there is a primary focus on God’s laws (not faith)
In Hebrew culture, they have a group of academically inclined folks called Rabbis
The Rabbis serve as mediators, in my view, between God and Jewish society
The Rabbis spend their lives mastering the Hebrew bible and teaching
God “dictates the law,” but in Hebrew culture man is responsible
Adam was responsible, because he was free to choose
Jesus refers to himself as the Son of God
If God is the sender and Jesus is the messenger
Then the message is one of peace and love
The meek shall inherit the earth
As a woman, I would say the elders at the city gate, who seek God and are wise, would make governing decisions.
Pr 31:23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
Pr 24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.
–For most Jews, Him LORD is God, but Jesus is not God, and Jesus is not going to save us.–
The very Name of Jesus (Yeshua- “YHWH saves”) is Salvation. When Rabbi Sha’ul (the apostle Paul) asked the question, “who shall deliver me..?” (Romans 7.24)- did he have trouble remembering whose very Name is Deliverer/Savior? Mary knew it, (up close and personal)- for she heard (and obeyed) the instructions of the messenger- ~you shall call His Name Jesus, (Savior) for He will save His people from their sins..~ (Matthew 1.21)
The name Jesus means “Savior.” It is the same name as Joshua (Yeshua) in the Old Testament. It is given to our LORD because “He saves His people from their sins.” This is His special role. He saves them from the guilt of sin, by cleansing them in His own atoning blood. He saves them from the dominion of sin by putting in their hearts the sanctifying Spirit. He saves them from the presence of sin, when He takes them out of this world to rest with Him. He will save them from all the consequences of sin, when He shall give them a glorious body at the last day.
“Jesus is a very encouraging name to weighted-down sinners. He, who is the King of kings and the LORD of lords, might lawfully have taken some more high-sounding title. But He does not do so. The rulers of this world have often called themselves great, conquerors, bold, magnificent, and the like. The Son of God is content to call Himself Savior. Those seeking salvation may draw near to the Father with boldness, and have access with confidence through Christ. It is His role and His delight to show mercy. “For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him” (John 3:17).
Jesus is the Name, which is especially sweet and precious to believers. It has often done them good. It has given them what money cannot buy – that is, inward peace. It has eased their wearied consciences and given rest to their heavy hearts. The Song of Solomon describes the experience of many, when it says, “Your Name is oil poured forth” (Song of Solomon 1:3). Happy is the person who trusts not merely in vague notions of G✡d’s mercy and goodness, but in “Jesus.”
Adapted from The Gospel of Matthew by J.C. Ryle (Chapter 1).
Salvation/deliverance is a three-part process. It is a crisis, followed by a process. We have been saved/delivered from the penalty of sin. We are being saved from the power/dominion of sin. And we will be saved (one day soon, I hope) from the presence of sin. Salvation is a one time event, but Sanctification (the process of holiness) occurs until we draw our last breath, until G✡d says “it is time.” We are being conformed and transformed into the image (likeness) of the Son. Just as in our physical birth- so it is in our spiritual birth – it is a process. A process of growth. We “grow up” into Christ. Feeling any “growing pains?” Good. (ouch) So am I. It is a process, and nothing “good” comes easy.