The Law of God

Broadcaster

The Law, Part Five

by John David Clark, Sr. - July, 1990

In the book of Daniel, the fourth chapter, we are given the text of a letter written by King Nebuchadnezzar to all the inhabitants of his expansive kingdom. In this extraordinary letter, he relates events which happened to him, forever changing his character. The letter is easily read and understood, and you may want to take time now to do so. It is truly one of the most remarkable stories ever told. Part of the letter tells of how God turned this brilliant king's mind into that of an animal for seven long years, so that Nebuchadnezzar, the king before whom the mighty of the earth had bowed, "was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws."

Of course, God had a purpose in executing this severe judgment on King Nebuchadnezzar. That purpose, clearly stated four separate times in this one chapter, is that Nebuchadnezzar was to learn that God, not men, determines the course of human events. The king had become so great that he began to claim the glory for his greatness. But before he would be allowed to destroy the holy city of Jerusalem, butcher its inhabitants, and take captive those who managed to survive, Nebuchadnezzar had to be subdued under the mighty hand of God. The destruction of Judah and Jerusalem was the determined judgment of God upon His idolatrous and immoral people. He had chosen Nebuchadnezzar to be the instrument of His wrath. But he would not allow a vainglorious man to carry out the sentence. He humbled Nebuchadnezzar so that the king would not be overly cruel in the treatment of God's people. Only God knows how Nebuchadnezzar and his army would have treated the people of Israel had God not first dulled the sharp edge of pride in the heathen king's heart. At the end of those seven years in the pastures of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar wrote this testimony and commanded it to be published throughout the world:

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most high, and I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom is from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. And he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. And none can stay his hand, or say unto him, "What doest thou?"

At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor and brightness returned unto me, and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me, and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment. And those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Nebuchadnezzar learned that God works His will both in heaven and "among the inhabitants of the earth." This is consonant with the word of God which the Apostle Paul communicated to the saints at Rome:

Let every soul be subject to the higher powers. For there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God. And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Rom. 13:1-2

Do you believe this? Have you learned the lesson which King Nebuchadnezzar suffered seven years to learn? Every kingdom on earth, every nation, and every form of government, is the result of the work of God. Whether democracy or dictatorship, socialism, communism, or theocracy, all governments of earth are ordained by God. They are all being used by Him to accomplish His inscrutably wise purposes. None of them exists without His approval. All of them exist only at His pleasure. "He removeth kings and setteth up kings", wrote the prophet Daniel. Therefore, it is sin for the saints to become involved in any attempt to overthrow or slander any government on earth. All of them are God's servants. Paul called them God's "ministers."

What is the body of Christ's relationship then to be with the governments of this earth? The only directives given to the saints are in the vein of these words, from Paul to the pastor, Titus:

Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness to all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived.... Tit.3:1-3a; see also 1Tim.2:1-4

The congregation has absolutely no calling of God whatsoever to become embroiled in the political partisanships of this world. The extent of believers's involvement in politics is to pray for those who are already in authority, regardless of how they attained power: by election, or coup de taut, conquest, default, or inheritance. The saints are to understand that whatever it looks like, every man in authority came to that position only by the will of God.

During the time of the Law, the children of God were given civil authority. Israel was an earthly kingdom. It necessarily had to have ambassadors to deal with other earthly kingdoms. Earthly governments were Israel's enemies. Therefore, Israel was required to have a standing army. Israel's weapons were physical because her enemies were flesh and blood. But when Jesus came and fulfilled the Law, he left the congregation with no authority or permission to pursue earthly political power because our adversaries are no longer flesh and blood. Paul said it this way:

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are nor carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds...

Jesus said it this way:

My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is my kingdom not from hence.

Jesus did not come to establish another earthly kingdom. He did not come to resist any earthly kingdom. He came to create a new nation, consisting of every soul in any kingdom or nation on earth who believes the gospel and repents of his sin. "for the kingdom of God", explained Paul, "is not meat and drink [physical], but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Rom.14:17).

We who serve Christ are ambassadors from another world, aliens to this planet, and are to be, in all circumstances, absolutely impartial and unencumbered by taking sides with any one group of sinners against another group of sinners. Democratic sinners need their sins forgiven as much as do Republican sinners. Russian sinners need Jesus as much as American sinners need Jesus, or as much as do sinners in Iran. The purpose for our existence is to proclaim with equal compassion for all the saving grace of God. Political partisanships hinder that purpose.

God is worshiped and served only in spirit and truth during this time after the Law (Jn.4:23-24; Rom. 14:18). It is fruitless vanity to suppose that we are doing God a service by entangling ourselves in the political, military, or social affairs of this life. Extricate yourself from every earthly division. Be as available as you can to be a faithful witness to every man of the saving grace of God.