Civil Government (15) - Democracy

Democracy often led to idolatry.

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from themountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will gobefore us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don'tknow what has happened to him" (Ex 32:1).

Aaron took their jewelry and built a golden calf.

So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings andpresented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and gotup to indulge in revelry (Ex 32:6).

This pattern continued throughout the history of Israel.

This is what the LORD says about this people: They greatly love towander; they do not restrain their feet (Jer 14:10).

The people frequently voted with their feet for the worship of idols. In the modern world, we have made an idol of democracy.Gideon understood this problem well.

The Israelites said to Gideon, "Rule over us—you, your son and yourgrandson—because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian." But Gideon toldthem, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The LORD willrule over you" (Jud 8:22,23).

This is a good example of democracy getting things wrong. The people voted Gideon for president, but that was not God’s will. Gideon understood the issues better and reminded them that God was their ruler.The decision by Israel was to have a king was contrary to God’s will, but it was a democratic decision.

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want aking over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king tolead us and to go out before us and fight our battles" (1 Sam 8:19,20).

The people voted to be like the other nations, despite Samuel warning that this would not led to blessing. Democratic elections do not bring forth the best leaders.

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