The Government

Acts 17:31

Acts 17:31 NKJV

31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”

God’s gracious rule over the nations, particularly Israel. Also, the divinely established ruling of people by God’s appointed authorities for the good of society and to prevent anarchy.

God governs the nations

Psalm 22:28 NKJV

28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s, And He rules over the nations.

1 Chronicles 29:12 NKJV

12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.

Psalm 9:7–8 NKJV

7 But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. 8 He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.

Psalm 103:19 NKJV

19 The Lord has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

1 Timothy 6:15 NKJV

15 which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

Jesus Christ also governs the nations

Isaiah 9:6 NKJV

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Psalm 72:8–11 NKJV

8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, And from the River to the ends of the earth. 9 Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him, And His enemies will lick the dust. 10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles Will bring presents; The kings of Sheba and Seba Will offer gifts. 11 Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him; All nations shall serve Him.

Revelation 2:27 NKJV

27 ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father;

Revelation 12:5 NKJV

5 She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne.

The manner of God’s government of Israel was unique

Judges 8:23 NKJV

23 But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.”

God governs individuals

Proverbs 21:1 NKJV

1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

Acts 17:26 NKJV

26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,

James 4:13–15 NKJV

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

God has established human agencies for the government of people

Romans 13:1 NKJV

1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

Genesis 9:5–6 NKJV

5 Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.

Matthew 22:17–21 NKJV

17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 Show Me the tax money.” So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” 21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

1 Peter 2:13 NKJV

13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme,

Government is for the good of society

Romans 13:4 NKJV

4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Psalm 72:12–14 NKJV

12 For He will deliver the needy when he cries, The poor also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will spare the poor and needy, And will save the souls of the needy. 14 He will redeem their life from oppression and violence; And precious shall be their blood in His sight.

In Conclusion:

Government is established to prevent lawlessness

Romans 13:2–3 NKJV

2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

Romans 13:4 NKJV

4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

1 Peter 2:14 NKJV

14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.