According
to the Bible, all government authority "comes from God, and those in positions
of authority have been placed there by God” (Romans 13:1). This means that it
is God who has ordained the institution of government and that the role and
purpose of government is mandated by Him.
The
essential role and purpose of government is to exercise equity and justice
amongst its citizens. Based on the truth that every human being has dignity and
value, justice means to give each person that which is due with fairness to
all. This justice can be expressed negatively or positively. Negatively,
government is to punish evil. Positively, it is to promote good.
As
David rose to power as Israel’s king, he understood his role as the “minister
of God” (Romans 13:6). He recognized that, as king, he was to act as God’s
agent of justice. Thus, he administered justice and equity to all his people.
When he returned from defending Israel in war, he heard and tried civil and
criminal cases. He did so impartially and gave sentence consistent with the
laws of God. Whether high or low, strong or weak, rich or poor, black or white,
David enacted God’s justice fairly to all without bias.
For
any government to succeed in bringing justice and equity to its citizens, the
leaders of that government must be submitted to God’s truth and His laws. There
is no true justice apart from God. All human beings are infected with a corrupt
nature and governments will tend to deteriorate into corruption unless God and
His truth are revered and submitted to by the leaders. When ungodly leaders are
in power, justice deteriorates. Immoral laws are passed. Corrupt behavior takes
over. Man’s greed and lust for power begins to rule and justice deteriorates.
We
cannot understand true justice apart from God. We cannot enforce justice and
equity without faith in Him. David understood his role as God’s servant. He
realized that the Lord must guide the affairs of nations for those nations to
prosper and be an influence for good in our corrupt world.
Pray
for godly leaders to rule at all levels of our government. Pray that we, as a
nation, would be ruled by men and women like David who will administer justice
and equity to all the people. When those in office won’t do it, then it is time
for you to step out in faith and become the ruler you long to see.