Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Correct Question, Correct Answer

The correction question is "What is God’s ideal form of government?"

The answer to this question is that God’s ideal for human society is government by his law. His law is the only system that can provide peace on earth, but it must be supported by two human activities. The first is wise judges who apply his law to resolve legal disputes and punish evildoers. The second human activity is temporary military leaders raised up in response to threats of invasion by an external enemy. The Old Testament polity consisted of judges and military leaders. Isaiah described these two roles in the same passage.

He will be a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate (Is 28:6).
These two governing roles are described in detail in the Old Testament.

The first role is that of judges who settle legal disputes based on God’s law. Moses and Samuel took this role. The second role is the military commander who calls soldiers together to defend the nation when it is attacked by an enemy. This is probably not a permanent position, but only comes about when the nation is attacked. Moses, Joshua and David took this role.

Military leaders are only needed during a time of crisis. Judges are more important, because they will be needed all the time.

Judges applying God's law are his ideal government.


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