🏛 Government
up:: Domains of Society
I provide and ensure justice and equity for all citizens through executive, judicial, military, law enforcement, and central community services (e.g. water, power, roads, education).
An authority domain. 👑 (Max Weber: The state has the monopoly on violence)
- Reveals: The King of Kings
- Primary attribute of God: Justice
- Institutional authority: To make and enforce law
- God governs: People up – Consensus
”Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne …” –14
Deals with:
- Judicial
- Executive
- Legislative
- Roles and actions of Kings and Judges
- Military functions
Read about political Israel:
Biblical politicians:
- Nehemiah
- Esther
- Daniel
- Distinguished because of an ‘excellent spirit’ (Dan 6:1–5)
- He let God’s character shape him and that made the difference
God’s first Government
Deuteronomy 1:9–18
- v13: Wise, understanding and experienced men
- v13: From each tribe – Equal representation
- v14: Consensus
- v15: Broad structure
- v17: Impartial, Equality before the law
- v17: Process of appeal
All of these were radical new ideas.
Kings?
Transclude of 1-Sam-8#6==—6==
Transclude of 1-Sam-8#7==—7==
- “Honour the people’s will”: Because God placed authority on the individual. They chose a far inferior system
- ”All nations around have a King, we want one too!“
- 24: The people are giving away their authority
Mercy or Justice?
Although there is forgiveness (mercy), there still are consequences (justice). If I hit someone with a car, the family may forgive me but I still have a debt to society to atone.
- God is merciful: Extends mercy through the domain of Church
- God is just: Extends justice through the domain of Government
Law tracks with moral of the people
The Government can not be more moral than the people.
- Law is based on the consensus of the people
- This is because God placed authority on the people
The Governments job is not to show people what is morally right or wrong. That is the job of the Church.
Moral Law: Fixed, eternal principles of morality coming from God Civil Law: Changes. We want this to most closely affect moral law as possible.