Doubtless many a Christian—surrounded as he is, in this or in other civilized countries, by various commotions and conflicts between the rulers of the land, and those who are ruled—has turned his eye toward scripture to see if that gives any key to the cause of these contentions.
Happily we are relieved by God from taking any part in the politics of the world. “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil. 3:2020For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (Philippians 3:20)), and we cannot be a citizen of two places at the same time. We must renounce the one before we can take up the other. God has delivered us from the earthly citizenship, and given us that of heaven. This is also seen in the division of mankind into Jews, Gentiles, and the church of God (1 Cor. 10:3232Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: (1 Corinthians 10:32)), “the church of God” is distinct from the Jews and the nations, out of which it is gathered.
Doubtless some would have been pleased to have enlisted our Lord, when on earth, to take up the cause of the Jews against the bondage of the Romans. On one occasion they related to Him how Pilate had committed the grave desecration of mingling the blood of some Galileans with their sacrifices. It was an event that was well calculated to arouse the spirit of a Jewish patriot. But our Lord turned their attention at once from the outrage of Pilate to the sin of the Galileans, and from thence to that of His hearers, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” The people did not repent, and perished at the destruction of Jerusalem, by the same Roman power. Pilate may have abused his power, as, we know he did in condemning our Lord; but it was a part of God’s dispensation that the Jews should be subject to the Romans at that time.
This is further seen when the Pharisees and the Herodians tried to entangle the Lord in His talk by asking, “What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?” If He said, Yes, how could He be a good Jew? and if He said, No, they would have something to accuse Him of to the governor. The money the people were using settled the question as far as the Romans were concerned. The inscription on the money was acknowledged to be Caesar’s. Then our Lord said to them, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.” (Matt, 22:15-22.) How simple the answer, but how wise! There are certain things, as tribute, custom, honor, obedience, &c, that are due to Caesar: let them be given to him; and this will in no way clash with what is due to God.
The great image, seen by Nebuchadnezzar, and explained by Daniel, clearly points to different forms of governmental power. The head of the image was of fine gold; his arms of silver, his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, and his feet part of iron and part of clay. These referred to different kingdoms, and the kingdoms that succeed the first are explained as being “inferior.”
It is to be remarked that Nebuchadnezzar—who was described as “a king of kings;” for the God of heaven had given him a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory, and had made him ruler over the beasts of the field, and fowls of heaven—was declared to be the “head of gold.” He was an absolute sovereign: “all people, nations and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.” (Dan. 5:1919And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. (Daniel 5:19).)
This is the form of government that God compares to gold. The people had simply to obey; the responsibility of what was commanded rested with the monarch, and as we know, God called him to account, and punished him severely.
We will pass over the silver and brass and look at the iron and clay. The last of the four kingdoms is, we know, the Roman empire, the relics of which yet remain, and we also learn from scripture that it will be again revived in a future day. Its a ten horns “exactly agree with the ten toes of the great image. The way the emperors were often set up by the army, the contests they had with the people, and the violent death many of them endured, are vividly portrayed by what we read of the iron and clay: “Whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided: but there shall be in it of the strength of iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of man: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” (Dan. 2:41-4341And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (Daniel 2:41‑43).)
Surely this is a true picture of what we see all around us. It is not to be mistaken as to the iron representing those in power, and the clay representing the people. Well, God tells us that “they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” We need not wonder then at the conflicts that exist in so many places. God has forewarned us respecting it. We read of some in the New Testament who “despise government,” and “are not afraid to speak evil of dignities “ (2 Pet. 2:1010But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. (2 Peter 2:10)); and even some inside the professing church “despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities” (Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)), usurping an authority which even the angels which excel in strength would not venture to exercise. Such is man in his pride; and yet he is but “miry clay.”
Thank God, that amid all the contentions around, the Christian’s duty is simple, and the spirit he should manifest is plainly revealed in scripture. “Let every soul be subject unto 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 [judgment].” (Rom. 13:1, 21Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. (Romans 13:1‑2).)
This was written to the Christians at Rome about a.d. 59, when Nero was emperor, which makes it clear that the injunction to obey “the powers that be” had nothing to do with the character of the ruler. Nero was a notoriously wicked man, and yet it was true of him that “the powers that be are ordained of God.” All rulers are of course answerable to God for how they rule the people, while it is the people’s duty to obey those whom God has ordained.
There is, as we know, one exception to obeying the civil authorities, namely, when their orders clash with what God has bid us do. Peter, when commanded by the rulers of Israel not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus, said, “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” And on another occasion he said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 4:19, 20; 5:2919But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. (Acts 4:19‑20)
29Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)). On both these occasions it was the religious rulers that ordered them to be silent; but there have been instances in which the civil powers have given similar orders.
This in no way clashes with the general instruction to obey those in authority. And this simple rule is a great blessing. Many of God’s beloved people, not seeing this, mix themselves up in the various commotions, and deem themselves competent to judge of what the rulers do, and thus get entangled with all the political questions of the day, to the great detriment of their spiritual progress.
As we have seen, our citizenship is in heaven, and God has graciously relieved us of all care and anxiety as to national matters. We have nothing whatever to do with them: we belong to another country, and are only strangers and pilgrims here. And what have strangers and pilgrims to do with the politics of the land through which they are passing, in which they lodge, but to which they do not belong?
May God open the eyes of all His beloved people to see this happy liberty He has brought about for them, and may they walk as a heavenly people, even as the blessed Lord Himself walked when He trod this earth. It will surely be for His glory, and their own blessing.