Deuteronomy 16:18-17:13
IN THE three great feasts earlier in the chapter the Lord had been guiding the religious life of the people when they got into the land. Now He makes provision for them in civil matters. "Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, . . . and they shall judge the people with just judgment."
Thus there would be many judges and civil authorities to see that righteousness was maintained for it was Jehovah's land. The smaller matters the judges would settle, but the difficult cases were to be referred to the sanctuary in the place which the Lord should choose. The priest and the judge that were there should give judgment about it.
The judges sat in the gates of the cities, so they could see every one going out or coming in. Justice was to be shown to all, and there was to be no respect of persons. The judge was not to take a gift or a bribe.
But it is remarkable that the very next verses are a warning against idolatry. "Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God, which thou shalt make thee. Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the Lord thy God hateth." God is a jealous God and in the maintenance of righteousness His claim comes first. If a man or woman had gone out and served other gods, or bowed down to an idol, or the sun, or the moon, when the thing was known, he or she was to be brought to the gate, and if proved guilty in the mouth of two or three witnesses, the guilty one was to be put to death. "So shalt thou put the evil away from among you."
Thus the civil authority was exercised in religious matters. So God ordained in. Israel but this does not carry through into Christianity. Before God there is no such a union of church and state now. The Lord's kingdom is "not of this world," and the Church His bride is called to be separate from the world and its politics all during the time of His rejection.
We are told to pray for kings and all that are in authority, "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty," but we are not to join with the world in its plans and activities. We are to shine for Christ as lights in the world's darkness, to carry the blessed message of His love to sinners everywhere, while waiting for His coming from heaven.
Messages of the Love of God 5/18/1975