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A Bible Study of The Scripture

MeWe Bible Study Part 21 - Review of Biblical Foundtion 3 - from Lesson 9

To fully understand Romans 13:1-7 we need to cover or refresh on four Biblical foundations.

Foundation 3: Civil Government has limitations on the authority derived from God.

God has established civil government to order man. But just as a church or a family can be in disobedience to God so can civil government. Scripture is very clear that civil government has limitations on its Biblical authority. Just as man lives in disobedience to God until he receives salvation by God’s Grace, the same applies to civil government.

Psalm 2

Verse

King James Version

English Standard Version (ESV)

1

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

2

The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

The kings of the earth set themselves,  and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,

3

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 

“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

4

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. 

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

5

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 

Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6

6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

7

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 

I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

8

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.

9

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 

You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

10

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

12

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Warning that the kings of the earth, of the world take counsel against the Lord. The reference to bands are God’s limitations on civil government. These limitations represent being subject to God and earthly kings and want to place themselves above God.

Hosea 5:10-11

Verse

King James Version

English Standard Version (ESV)

10

The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

The princes of Judah have become like those who move the landmark; upon them I will pour out my wrath like water.

11

Ephraim is oppressed and broken in judgment, because he willingly walked after the commandment.

Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment, because he was determined to go after filth.

Remove the bound or landmark (ESV) references not a physical boundary but the bands in Psalm 2. They are moving the boundary that God has places on civil government away from worship of God to worship of the world. Note that through the prophet Hosea the people of the Northern Kingdom were warned that they would be held accountable for the actions of their kings if they condoned them. They were judged corporately.

Next week we will look at the Fourth Foundation - Requirements for magistrate

 

 

 

Next: Part 22 - Paart 22 from Lesson 10: God’s (Biblical) Requirements for magistrates

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