GOD AND GOVERNMENT

Proverbs 20:2, 8, 26, 28

Solomon writes as a king to his son.  From that perspective, he mentions numerous times how a ruler should reign. In chapter twenty, Solomon presents four proverbs that underscore a king’s responsibility. Although a monarchy is not our form of government in America, there are still principles that we can learn concerning God and government.

1.  THE REASON FOR GOVERNMENT.  “The wrath of a king is like the roaring of a lion; Whoever provokes him to anger sins against his own life.” (v.2‬). We see the word “sins,” reminding us that we live in a fallen world.  Because of that, there is evil which must be punished.  God has ordained government to this end. “The wrath of a king,” conveys the purpose of government. Because of sin, there are bad government systems. Because of sin, even in a good system by design, there is bad that is sometimes done by government. Yet, the worst of all is anarchy—where there is no government. Then, each man becomes his own law, and our depraved heart will guarantee evil.

2.  THE RESTRAINT OF GOVERNMENT. “A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes. A wise king sifts out the wicked, And brings the threshing wheel over them.” (v.8, 26‬). Evil is to be punished. Law and order must be established or wickedness will run amok. Justice is to be extended as judgment is passed. Law cannot make someone righteous, for only God’s work in Christ can do that, but what it can do is restrain the proliferation of sin. The founding fathers of America, in wisdom and Biblical understanding, knew government itself would need restraint.  They established a country because of tyranny they had known.  So, checks and balances were put in place. It is not a perfect system—only the eternal reign of God is—and so even the best system must be revisited at times.  The founders even gave us a process for this. Sadly, ours has degenerated for the lack of this.  Judicial activism rather than constitutional application has been at the root of this deterioration. We have failed to restrain the restrainers.

3.  THE REWARD BY GOVERNMENT.  “Mercy and truth preserve the king, And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.” (v.28‬). The function of government, then is not only to punish evil, but to praise good. In so doing it restrains wrong conduct, and reinforces right behavior. Therefore, government ought to be marked by “mercy and truth,” as well as “lovingkindness.”  To be a citizen in such a civil society is the best government we can experience until Christ returns and the perfect King reigns.

So, let us pray for government leaders to be led by Scriptural principles. Let us vote for leaders who will follow Biblical tenets. Let us lobby for laws that fulfill God’s intent for government. Good government can make life better, and bad government is guaranteed to make it worse.