October 3rd, 2013
Ecclesiastes 5:8 — If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.
(Don’t worry, this is not a partisan piece!)
The Federal Government of the USA has closed down. The world has not ended. We really shouldn’t be surprised when human governments fail. David Jeremiah has a wonderful comment on governments, based on the verse above.
The government’s problem is the same as mine and yours: It’s human. Sometimes they do good and sometimes they don’t. Solomon says not to invest your energy in criticizing human corruption. Instead, recognize it’s going to happen and do what you can to fix it. As bad as government can be, it is better than lawlessness. Bad government is better than no government. We should try to make it better, but we should not pin any of our hopes on it. It is a flawed, human institution.
The good news is that there is a government that is not going to close down anytime soon.
Psalm 22:28 says “For the kingdom is the Lord’s : and he is the governor among the nations.” and Proverbs 8:15-16 “By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.” These are just two of the many declarations in scripture as to the sovereignty of God.
The Christian is challenged by Governments. Both Paul and Peter, though living in the time of the tyrannical Roman emperor Nero, stressed the obligation to honor and obey the government of the day. But there are times when human governments are so foul that resistance seems a duty. And for (nearly) all of us there are times when the government of the day seems so plain irritating that it’s really hard to remain appropriately respectful! Why is it this way?
David Jeremiah makes two key points.
The first is that those in government are, indeed, only human. The second point is also about humanity. Modern governments are HUMAN institutions, not divine. Remember the history …
Human government, flawed though it is, is part of God’s providence. Under His direction, there is always some sort of government. That direction is part of His government which provides everything — from the movement of the planets to the ebbing and flowing of the tides to the minutest of genetic components — to provide the orderly framework for life.
Man’s government is temporary. God’s is permanent. Don’t let the current hiatus disturb you!