The Role of Government Officials || Deuteronomy 16:18-20

Text: Deuteronomy 16:18-20

Moses now transitions into the government structure of Israel. He begins with government officials and their role.

God called for the appointment of judges and officers in each town and tribe. The judges were to carry out God’s Law. The officers were to assist them in this task. The modern equivalent would be clerks and bailiffs. The justice system was to be local, but there were higher courts for more difficult cases.

These judges were to enforce God’s Law. They were not given the authority to create law, modify law, or nullify law. They were not to twist judgments. They were to be impartial. Under no circumstances could they receive gifts, favors, or bribes. This would result in unrighteous judgments.

The judges had one job, enforce God’s Law. God nowhere gives any government official the authority to change His Law, ignore His Law, create new Laws, or modify His Law. They are to do justice and only justice. That is the only authority given to human government in the Bible. Romans 13 affirms this teaching. Government is to punish what God has declared to be evil and praise what God has declared to be good. Any government official who would seek to do more than this is wicked, arrogant, and cursed.

 

Throughout both the Old and New Testament you find God’s people actively ignoring the edicts of government officials that go beyond God’s Law. The number of instances is almost too many to count. Over and over again, from Daniel to Jesus to the Apostles, we find God’s people refusing to submit to laws that are not God’s Law.

We often neglect to understand the true ramifications of the Great Commission. Jesus declares that ALL authority IS His on earth. Jesus is King over all governments for all time. He has commissioned us as His ambassadors to teach all nations to obey everything He has commanded.

–          If you are guilty on earth, how will you escape the judgement of God?

–          Christians should seek that justice (God’s Law) is carried out in society

–          Human flourishing comes from the blessings of God upon a society that upholds His Law