God Works Out His Will Through Ordained Leaders

Excerpt #6 of “Analysis of Romans 13:1-7 in Light of the Analogy of Scripture”

Given the length of the full paper I recently published on this site, I am posting excerpts which emphasize specific principles within the paper. Hopefully, these excerpts will not only encourage you to read the actual paper, but also think more deeply about the role of Romans 13:1-7 in our response to both Godly and ungodly civil government in our day and time. A proper understanding and obedience to Scripture is critical today as always. This particular Scripture has been mishandled in so many ways that a methodical approach to its exegesis is needed to avoid further error by both individual Christians and the broader church. The pressures being exerted upon true Christianity by the contemporary civil government demand a Biblical response informed by Romans 13:1-7 and the other Scriptures addressed within this paper.

(These excerpts are posted in the order as found in the paper, but do not include the entirety of the paper which combined. Only the PDF contains all sections of the paper.)

God works out His Will through ordained leaders.

Having ordained governments and their rulers, God then directs their actions. God works out His Will through ordained leaders. Chapter five of the Westminster Confession of Faith reiterates this in broader, yet inclusive terms. This truth is revealed in His Word both in narrative accounts, prophecies, and propositional statements. Ezra 1:1-3 and 2 Chronicles 36:22 tell of how Isaiah’s prophecy (Is.: 44:28) regarding Cyrus and Jeremiah’s prophecy of the exile’s end was fulfilled (Jeremiah 29:10). This exemplifies God’s control over nations and kings in all places at all times. Such power to direct and determine the course of kingdoms is also mentioned in Daniel 2:21. Isaiah prophesied in 49:22-23 that God would move the nations along with their kings and queens to serve His people. Psalm 33:10 describes how “the LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.” The previously described rebellion of Jeroboam in I Kings 12:15 fulfilled God’s prior prophecy through Ahijah (I Kings 14:1-8) (Cole). Maybe such verses served as the reasoning why John Calvin argued that wicked rulers where one means of God by which He punish His people’s sins (Cole quoting Calvin’s Comm. p 480 in Baker). God ordains both institutions and individual rulers and directs them in His desired course.

God commands rulers not only generally through commands which apply to all people, but also particularly through commands specific to their positions. Having ordained leaders for Israel, in Deuteronomy 1:16-18, God, through Moses, commands them to “judge righteously”, to “not be partial in judgment”, and to “not be intimidated by anyone”. In Deuteronomy 16:18-20, having commanded the people to appoint leaders, God again gives commands to the people regarding how the leaders are to rule. In Zechariah 45:7-9, God commands the princes of Israel retrospectively, commanding them to put away violence and oppression as well as to “execute justice and righteousness”. Specific commands are given to princes in Ezekiel 45 in regard to their sinful actions of taking the property of their subjects. God’s words through Jeremiah in 22:1-5 also express clear commands to judges and rulers in Israel along with the people of Israel, demanding their obedience. Though spoken generally to stewards, I Corinthians 4:2 could properly apply to rulers in requiring that they be found faithful. Therefore, God does not leave rulers and leaders only with general commands that apply to all His people, but He repeatedly requires specific obedience from them in their appointed offices.