The Law of God and Public Policy: First Things (6)

God is glorified when people obey His Law.

“See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the LORD my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the LORD our God is to us, whenever we call upon him?” Deuteronomy 4.5-7

Believers live as Jesus did, learning, doing, and teaching the Law of God as defining aspects of their citizenship in the Kingdom of God (Matt. 5.17-19). As they walk in the Spirit, Who gave and teaches the Law, they discover new depths of the kind of love for God and neighbor which undergird the Law, and they are led through obedience to new ways of showing mercy and compassion and of achieving justice within their own communities and nations.

The believer’s hope in so living is that by his good works he might bring glory to God (Matt. 5.13-16). In everything Christians do the glory of God must be our pre-eminent concern (1 Cor. 10.31). When our neighbors approach us to ask about the wisdom and understanding and hope they observe in us, then we must glorify God by explaining what He has done for us through the work of His Son, our Lord and King Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 3.15). God is thus glorified when His people obey Him. But He is also glorified when, by His Law, even the lost and unbelieving live in conformity to His wisdom, understanding, goodness, and justice.

In Psalm 81.13-16 God explains how the obedience of His people brings Him glory even from His enemies: “Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!” Here is our most basic calling as citizens of the Kingdom and people of God through Jesus Christ: We must obey His Word, beginning with His Law (1 Jn. 2.1-6). “I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes.” This we may understand, in the first instance, as a reference to our spiritual warfare. We may expect to gain ground against the enemy of our souls, even as Jesus did (Matt. 4.1-11), by obedience to God’s Law and Word. At the same time, not even the most violent of human enemies can rob us of our blessings in the Lord. “Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever.” The NASB is more accurate here: the enemies of the Lord would “feign obedience” to Him – just as they do this day. Unbelievers may hate God, but they are happy to have the State protect them against thieves, slanderers, and murderers. Such “feigned obedience” does not save – their eternal fate is yet upon them – but it does honor God by bringing a modicum of justice and neighbor-love to society. “But he would satisfy you with the finest of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” God’s people will want for no good thing as they follow the path of obedience to His Law.

In a society where such justice is observed, the believer has the duty to make known the glory of God by reminding his neighbors of where such justice, wisdom, understanding, and goodness have their origin (Hab. 2.14). Moreover, believers must work, by the Law of God and all the means of persuasion, to bring more such blessings to their community, in ways appropriate to the needs of the day and the readiness of the community to submit to the wisdom and understanding of God.

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