Bible and Civil Government
God's Plan for Civil Government – Part 15 -
Did our Founding Fathers deliberately violate God's Word?
In January through April of 2012 I led a Bible Study on the Bible and Civil Government. It lasted 13 weeks. These lessons are being posted on a website (link below)
The Lessons were a bit long for people to read on facebook, so the lessons are being posted on facebook in shorter pieces.
Bible and Civil Government # 15 - A Biblical Covenant or Compact
Parts # 13 and # 14 you will see the thought process that prompted our independence. In this Part # 15, we will look at the Scripture that is the basis for a covenant or compact. It was the position of our Founding Fathers that the English Crown and Parliament had violated the original Charters.
Let’s look at the Scripture for a definition of a Biblical based compact (contract or covenant). Joshua 2:10-21
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Verse |
King James Version |
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10 |
For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. |
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11 |
And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. |
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12 |
Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: |
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13 |
And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. |
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14 |
And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. |
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15 |
Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. |
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16 |
And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. |
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17 |
And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. |
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18 |
Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. |
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19 |
And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. |
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20 |
And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear. |
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21 |
And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. |
If either party does not uphold their end of the conditions agreed upon the other party is no longer obligated to uphold theirs. Does the Scripture say anything about covenants and kings? II Kings 11:17
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Verse |
King James Version |
Holman Christian Standard Bible |
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17 |
And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD's people; between the king also and the people. |
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people that they would be the LORD’s people and another covenant between the king and the people. |
There are two covenants: 1) Between the Lord, king and people – that the people are still the Lord’s people – not the kings people. 2) Between the king and the people – note the Lord’s people. II Samuel 5:3
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Verse |
King James Version |
English Standard Version |
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3 |
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel. |
So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. |
Joshua 9:14-15 Compact with the Gibeonites
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Verse |
King James Version |
English Standard Version |
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14 |
And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. |
So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. |
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15 |
And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. |
And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. |
Note that in Joshua 9:1-13 it is clearly shown that the Gibeonites deceived Joshua. How binding was the covenant made with the Gibeonites.
2 Samuel 21:1-3 answers that question.
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Verse |
King James Version |
American Standard Version (ASV) |
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1 |
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites. |
And there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David sought the face of Jehovah. And Jehovah said, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he put to death the Gibeonites. |
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2 |
And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.) |
And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah); |
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3 |
Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the LORD? |
and David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of Jehovah? |
Apparently the covenant, even though the Gibeonites were deceitful and lied, was binding. Also note that even though it was Saul who ordered the slaying of the Gibeonites, God’s judgment was rendered corporately. The Lord’s people had a duty to check the king, but did not - so joined in the punishment from the Lord.
Another example is King Ahab and Elijah: I Kings 17 and 18. I Kings 17:1
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Verse |
King James version |
New Kings James version |
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1 |
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. |
And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.” |
I Kings 18:17-18a
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Verse |
King James Version |
New King James Version |
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17 |
And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? |
Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” |
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18a |
18And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. |
And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals. |
In verse 18:5 it is pointed out that the drought was so bad that even the animals were dying. So the people of Israel were punished for allowing King Ahab to defile their covenant with the Lord.
A New Testament example is located in Matthew 27:24-25
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Verse |
King James Version |
New Living Translation (NLT) |
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24 |
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. |
Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” |
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25 |
25Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. |
And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!” |
In 70 AD Titus destroyed Jerusalem and most of the population. So the local Jewish civil government and the people who condoned this act were corporately punished.
I Samuel 12:24-25
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Verse |
King James version |
Good News Translation (GNT) |
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24 |
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. |
Obey the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you. |
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25 |
25But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king. |
But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be destroyed. |
The covenantal aspect of civil government does have validity in Scripture and our country’s history. The statements of our forefathers of the colonial period also show that they considered it their Christian duty to resist the violation of the covenant between the king and the colonies.
For those who want to look ahead, find and read the Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death speech of Patrick Henry.
Next part we will continue looking at the fourth question:
Next: Part 15 - Did our Founding Fathers deliberately violate God's Word? (2nd Session)
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