Dictionary of Bible Themes: 7735 leaders, political

7735 leaders, political

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7700 Leadership and the people of God » 7733 leaders » 7735 leaders, political

Since God is the ultimate ruler of all things, earthly authority derives from him. Although political leadership was exercised in various ways in Israel, there was always some overlap between political and spiritual leadership.

Israel had a variety of political leaders

Judges

Judges 2:16; Judges 4:4

Kings

1 Samuel 8:1-21; Samuel 10:1; Samuel 16:1-13; 2 Samuel 7:12; 1 Kings 1:28-40

Tribal elders and judges

Exodus 19:7; Deuteronomy 21:1-2; Ruth 4:1-2; Job 29:7-12

Foreign powers imposed rulers on Israel

Luke 3:1

Examples of those who were both political and spiritual leaders

1 Samuel 7:15 Samuel was both prophet and judge.

Moses:

Exodus 34:1,27-28 Judges 6:25-27 Gideon; 2 Kings 18:4 pp 2 Chronicles 31:1 Hezekiah; 1 Chronicles 6:31 David

Political leaders, like spiritual ones, were called by God

1 Kings 11:31 The prophet Ahijah confers authority on the leader of a revolt. See also Exodus 3:10 Moses; Judges 6:14 Gideon

David:

1 Samuel 16:1,6-12 Isaiah 45:1-2 Cyrus was a Persian king, yet he is described as God's “anointed”.

To reject God's leadership is to reject God

1 Samuel 8:6-8 See also 1 Samuel 8:5,19-20 Israel wanted a human ruler so that they might be like the surrounding nations.

Responsibilities of leaders

To protect the weak

Psalm 72:12-14

To administer justice

Psalm 72:2; Proverbs 20:8; Proverbs 29:4,14; Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 11:3-4

To shepherd the people

Psalm 78:70-72; Ezekiel 34:2-6

Attributes required in leaders

Isaiah 11:1-2 Being anointed by the Spirit of God.

Reverence:

Deuteronomy 17:18-20; Isaiah 11:3 Isaiah 11:5 trustworthiness; Proverbs 8:15-16 wisdom

The failure of leaders

Through exploiting their subjects

Matthew 20:25 See also Deuteronomy 17:16-17; 1 Samuel 8:11-17; 1 Kings 12:4; Jeremiah 22:13

Through usurping religious authority

1 Samuel 13:8-13; 2 Chronicles 26:16-18

Through apostasy

1 Kings 11:7-8; 2 Kings 21:1-6

Through trusting in alliances with heathen powers

Isaiah 31:1 See also 2 Kings 20:12,17-18; Isaiah 30:1-2; Hosea 7:11

Godless leadership is evil

People must have a right attitude to political leaders

They are to be obeyed

Romans 13:1 See also Romans 13:5; 1 Peter 2:13-17

But obedience to God must come first

Acts 5:29 See also Daniel 3:18; Daniel 6:13

Prayers are to be made for them

1 Timothy 2:1-2