Question: Who must obey God’s Law?

For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. Romans 13.3, 4

Civil governments – all civil governments – are appointed by God and accountable to Him. I know it doesn’t seem that this can possibly be so, but it is. Just because a government is wicked and oppressive does not mean it is not responsible to God (cf. Dan. 4). Government is God’s servant for good, and no government can fulfill that high and holy calling apart from the Law of God.

This is why the kings of Israel were required to write by hand their own copy of the Law of God, have it approved by the priests, and then read and meditate in it every day of their lives, so that they might rule the people for good (Deut. 17.14-20).

This is why John the Baptist challenged Herod – an Edomite puppet king of Rome – for his violation of the Law of God in taking his brother’s wife (cf. Lev. 20.21).

This is why the Apostle Paul denounced the high priest – the civil ruler of Israel in those days – for violating God’s Law in his treatment of Paul (Acts 23.1-5).

It matters not at all that civil magistrates either ignore or deny the validity of the Law of God. They will embrace and enforce it, to at least some extent, because it encodes the way of wisdom (you will note that the same American government which excludes religion from much of the public square still forbids perjury, theft, murder, and so forth). And when governments will not embrace and enforce the Law of God, they must expect the consequences threatened throughout Scripture against all who flout the will of God.

Christians who obey the Law of God, out of gratitude and unto righteousness and wisdom, are bound, like Daniel, John, and Paul, to work for public policies that reflect the will of God as revealed in His Law. We must be wise, patient, tactful, winsome, and skilled in how we approach this aspect of our calling, but if we refuse or neglect it, how will government fulfill its duty as a servant of God for good?

T. M. Moore

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