John 7.24; Acts 14.23; Titus 1.5

Rulers in the communities of ancient Israel were “appointed” to their posts; they had to have the approval of the community to serve in this capacity, which meant they had to be trustworthy men, godly in all their ways, and capable of interpreting the Law of the Lord to the people.

Rulers met in the gates of the city, for both practical and symbolic reasons. Meeting in the gates symbolized their guardianship over what came into the community, as well as their approval of what went out from it. Like shepherds, sitting in the entrance to the sheepfold, the rulers judged the people at the gates of the city and guarded the city from sin. But their deliberations would also have been open for all to see (cf. Ruth 4). Thus, the people would learn how to think about the application of God’s Law to their own lives by listening to the rulers and judges of the city as they deliberated various cases and reached decisions. Their charge was to seek justice, the righteous will of God, so that the good purposes of God – love for God and neighbor – could flourish in each community of the land.

We note that Jesus extended the charge given to rulers to the people of God generally in John 7.24. All God’s people must judge with righteous judgment in their dealings with one another. Thus we may expect to stimulate one another to love and good works (Heb. 10.24), to deliver one who has fallen into sin (Gal. 6.1), and to exercise our gifts in ministry unto love for God and neighbor and the building-up of the Body of Christ.

God’s promise is that, when His people thus live in justice, according to all His Word, as faithfully taught and judged by the rulers of each community, they will know the fullness of His covenant blessings. Here is all the more reason for every believer to take seriously the Lord’s command to learn, obey, and teach His Law, for the progress of His Kingdom and the glory of His Name (Matt. 5.17-19).

T. M. Moore

The Law of God is the soil which, fertilized by the rest of God’s Word and watered by His Spirit, brings forth the fruit of Christian life. If you’d like to understand this process better, and how to make best use of the Law in your walk with and work for the Lord, order the book, The Ground for Christian Ethics, from our online store.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.