GOVERNMENT. Paternal functions of, Gen.
41:25–57. Civil service school provided by, Dan. 1:3–20. Maintains a
system of public instruction, 2 Chr. 17:7–9.
Swanson, James ; Nave, Orville:
New Nave's. Oak Harbor : Logos Research Systems, 1994
...[E]arthly authority; those who rule over others
in order to keep society stable and orderly. Only God is the sovereign ruler
of all. When human governments exalt themselves above God, they go beyond
their legitimate function in society (Dan. 5:31). In Bible times God
exercised government through many persons and institutions.
The basic unit of government among the Hebrews was the
“father’s house” or primary family (Gen. 12:1; Num. 1:4). Above this was the
clan (Num. 36:6) and then the tribe, governed by a leader who was chosen by
representatives from the tribes (Num. 1:4–16). Over all these units was a
central leader. In early days, Moses or Joshua (and Aaron and his
descendants in the religious sphere) served as central leaders among the
Israelites. After Joshua’s death, numerous local or tribal leaders known as
Judges stepped forward to
lead. These judges exercised many governmental functions, but no central
leadership existed during those days. Only Samuel approached national status
as a leader.
The possibility of a king as central leader of the nation
was foreseen as early as Genesis 17:6; Deuteronomy 17:14–20. The kings
governed by using bureaucracies similar to those of other ancient Near
Eastern kingdoms. Kings who overstepped the legitimate bounds of “government
under God” were often confronted by prophets such as Nathan, Elijah, or
Jeremiah (2 Sam. 12:1–15a). Isaiah the prophet pointed to the coming Messiah
who would be the supreme ruling king and agency of God’s government of His
people (Is. 9:6–7).
After the fall of Jerusalem in 586
b.c., the Jews were ruled by
foreign powers such as Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome. During most of
these times, however, the Jews were allowed a measure of self-government. In
time the office of High Priest
took on political as well as religious dimensions. At most times there was
also a group of local Jewish leaders that formed a governing council. In
Jesus’ day, this body was called the
Sanhedrin. Made up of both
Sadducees and Pharisees,
it was presided over by the high priest.
Jesus taught that earthly governments exist by God’s will
(John 19:11) and are legitimate as long as they do not take over the role
reserved for God (Mark 12:13–17). Romans 13 discusses human government as
ordained by God. Revelation 13, on the other hand, discusses it as
degenerate and demonic. Christians live in the tension created by the fact
that governments can be good (Rom. 13) or evil (Rev. 13). When governments
promote good and suppress evil, they fulfill their God-given function (Titus
3:1; 1 Pet. 2:13–14). But if government exalts itself as sovereign over all
life, then it has overstepped its bounds and is a handmaid of evil.
Youngblood, Ronald F. ; Bruce, F. F. ;
Harrison, R. K. ; Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nelson's New
Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Nashville : T. Nelson, 1995