Commandments for Kings

It has often been noted that here in America, "we the people" are truly its "kings and queens". This statement is of no small significance as it properly defines the line of authority in our system of government.

The founders of our country rightly understood that, in order for us to live quiet and peaceable lives, the people must reign supreme over the government. They also understood that they had a duty to God as a matter of first priority, and that conforming government according to His precepts created the best possible case for obedience while still being subject to the legitimate requirements of just civil government.

As a matter of stewardship of citizenship, it is incumbent on each of us to fulfill our duty to God by exercising proper control over the civil government as a sacred trust. That we have failed to do so is in evidence everywhere we look in our culture today.

It is almost certain you have never heard a sermon on the stewardship of citizenship so here are a few brief observations for your consideration. Since the founders got the basic principles of our federal and state governments from Holy Scripture, it is only appropriate that we look to the same source as a matter of first priority. The books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy were most often the sources cited.

Since we are dealing with the subject of our responsibility, let's focus on what God required of the kings of Israel. To be sure, God never intended for them to have an physical earthly king; His desire was for them to accept His Sovereign rule from the heavenly realm. Nevertheless, He knew they would reject Him in favor of a king like the other nations of the earth. Consequently, God prescribed requirements for kings that, though specific to Israel, are instructive to us in our day. Let's look at them very briefly.

"When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, 'I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,' you may indeed set a king over you whom the LORD your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the LORD has said to you, 'You shall never return that way again.'

And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away, nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20

1. A king was to be of the people and their culture, not a foreigner (there was no question about birth certificates here!).
2. He was not to amass horses (i.e. to depend on such as a means for strength and protection, or expanding his dominion).
3. He was to keep his heart pure by
   1. not taking multiple wives; or
   2. amassing wealth.

4. Each king was to be required to personally write a copy of the law under the supervision of the Priests.
1. a. He was to keep it with him:
2. read it "all the days of his life"; in order to learn reverence for God by being obedient to its commands.

Doing so would prolong his kingdom and the rule of his family in Israel.

Maybe you don't think about it often, or at all, but you are a ruler in this country - you don't have a choice! The question is, "What kind of ruler are you?" It grieves me to tell you, but there was a time when I abdicated that responsibility. The condition of our republic is compelling evidence that many if not most Americans have done the same thing. God convicted me of my sin and brought me to my knees in tearful repentance in 1996. If you need to repent, I pray you will do it now.

Once we are convicted of our need to be involved in the process of Godly governance, we need to turn conviction into action. I can think of no better way to begin than to head the requirements God gave the Kings of Israel. First and foremost, trust and fear him, not men. Second, don't put yourself in a position to be compromised because of relationships or seeking personal riches or recognition.

Lastly, as kings and queens in America, I challenge you to write a copy of our Law, the U. S. Constitution, in your own handwriting. That's not a typo, I really mean by hand with pen and paper, not typed out on a computer or typewriter: including the Amendments. Yes, I'm serious!!!

Though I have urged others to do this for years, only recently did I take my own advice and write my own copy. My testimony to you is that it is a worthwhile exercise. In fact, I plan on doing it again, perhaps even annually. Maybe someday I'll give each of my grandchildren one in my own hand as I encourage them to carry on the tradition.

When you finish yours, write to us to let us know. Include a signed statement from two witnesses affirming they have seen your handwritten copy and we'll add your name to a roster on the website with everyone who has taken the challenge.

Finally, use your copy to challenge others to do the same thing. As the rulers of this country it is imperative for us to know the supreme Law of the land. We cannot govern properly as long as we remain ignorant of it.

©Jim Wade, 2009. See www.cptexas.us for information about how you can get more involved. Permission to reprint this article is granted provided that 1) it is printed in its entirety, 2) no fee is charged for it publication or distribution, and 3) provided this notice is included with any such printing or distribution.