All executive authority resides in Almighty God and is, therefore, vested in Almighty God by Almighty God.
Isaiah 33:221 declares Yahweh2 is King. He has never abdicated His throne.3 He is as much King now as He was at creation and at the time Isaiah affirmed His sovereignty. As perpetual King, the kingdom He rules over is also perpetual.4
When, in 1 Samuel 8, the Israelites sought an earthly king, Yahweh gave them the desires of their hearts. Nevertheless, they were punished for seeking a covering other than His5 and paid a dear price for their lack of faith in and fidelity to Him.6
We therefore have no need of an earthly king (president or monarch) to reside over kingdom affairs.7 In the tradition of our 17th-century Christian American forebears, we commit ourselves to Yahweh alone as our sovereign.8
__________________________
1. “For YHWH is our judge, YHWH is our lawgiver, YHWH is our king….” (Isaiah 33:22)
2. YHWH, the English transliteration of the Tetragrammaton, is most often pronounced Yahweh. It is the principal Hebrew name of the God of the Bible and was inspired to appear nearly 7,000 times in the Old Testament. It was unlawfully deleted by the English translators. In obedience to the Third Commandment and the many Scriptures that charge us to proclaim, swear by, praise, extol, call upon, bless, glorify, and hold fast to His name, we have chosen to memorialize His name here in this document and in our lives. For a more thorough explanation concerning important reasons for using the sacred name of God, see “The Third Commandment.”
3. “…YHWH sitteth King for ever.” (Psalm 29:10)
“But YHWH is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king….” (Jeremiah 10:10)
“Behold, the days come, saith YHWH, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, YHWH our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17)
4. “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.” (Psalm 145:13)
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever….” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:25)
5. “Woe to the rebellious children, saith YHWH, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin.” (Isaiah 30:1)
The Hebrew word nacak, translated “covering,” is indicative of anointing a king (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).
6. 1 Samuel 8; 1 Samuel 10:17-19; Hosea 13:9-11
7. “…[Yahweh] who is the blessed and only Potentate [Sovereign, NASB], the King of kings, and Lord of lords.” (1 Timothy 6:15)
8. “God was their King; and they regarded him as truly and literally so….” William Holmes McGuffey, McGuffey’s Sixth Eclectic Reader (New York, NY: American Book Company, 1879) p. 225.
Related Posts:
Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant
Bible Law vs. the United States Constitution: The Christian Perspective
Sounds great! I certainly cannot improve on it…
Very good start, Pastor Ted. I have posted a Iink to this page on my Twitter account and our website. I hope you proceed with additional Articles for the proposed constitution, although in my opinion Article One should specifically mention Jesus (Yahshua) Christ as Lord and Savior, by name in Article One.
Michael, great to have you join us, and thank you for sharing the link with your list.
I don’t know if you’ve read my proposed Preamble (http://www.constitutionmythbusters.org/preamble/), but Christ is mentioned therein. Of course, I’m not opposed to mentioning Him here in Article 1. If you have something in mind as to how or where, I’ll be pleased to consider your suggestion.
God is at all times sovereign. But He is allowing His fallen, disobedient creatures to “play their hand” so to speak. We have the freedom to establish earthly rules and government as we see fit. Even so it is He who raises up and takes down the nations. He has also declared His plans and purposes for the course of human history. The end result has been declared to us.
Meanwhile, Scripture presents the term “kingdom” in several ways. It’s important to discern and clarify the distinctions. At a minimum there are His universal rule, the “kingdom of His dear Son” which refers to redemption, and the future, literal millennial kingdom on earth.
In terms of nations there two kinds from God’s perspective: His sovereign elect ethnic national Israel, presently temporarily dispersed for disobedience, and there are the Gentile nations, which includes the USA.
Those who have been redeemed come from every tribe and tongue and nation and people. These Redeemed have no land covenant with the Creator. It matters not to what degree God may have been involved in the founding of the USA. This nation is a Gentile nation and when these “times of the Gentiles” are fulfilled things will change.
While the USA has stood firm for over two centuries (dare we suggest primarily to the advantage of the white man?) no establishment of man can continue indefinitely.
As we work for good we must not neglect what He has declared to be the inevitable end, and we must not neglect His primary call of the Redeemed to proclaim to everyone, the gospel that brings individual, eternal redemption
Duane, thanks for joining the conversation.
Concerning the kingdom, I would encourage you to consider “Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant” at http://www.bibleversusconstitution.org/law-kingdomFrame.html.
Concerning Israel and the gentiles, I would encourage you to consider “The Mystery of the Gentiles: Who Are They and Where Are They Now?” at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/mystery-of-gentiles/index.php.
If, instead, you would like the books themselves, I will be pleased to send you complimentary copies. Using the Contact Button at the bottom of either home page, provide me with your address, and I’ll get copies right out to you.
Having God as the only executive in your government is a noble idea, but I think that you may have overlooked a few things. The purpose of the executive branch is to “ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.” How do you envision God doing this in your government? Do you expect God to appear to the citizens of this government in physical manifestations as He did in leading the Children of Israel in the wilderness? Will He enforce the Law by speaking directly through the mouths of prophets as He did during the reigns of the Hebrew Kings? What steps do you think that God will take to “ensure that the laws are faithfully executed”?
Part of executing the laws is, of course, the appointment of ambassadors, public ministers, consuls, judges and officers. You neglected to include any method by which God would make these appointments.
The executive also has the responsibility of meeting with the ambassadors and foreign ministers of other nations. How do you expect God to fulfill this role in your government?
Bill, there’s no question that I’ve overlooked some things. Mine is just one man’s proposal as a possible guideline for a future generation of our posterity to put to use, if they’re so inclined.
You stated that the “purpose of the executive branch is to ‘ensure that the [Constitution’s, not Yahweh’s] laws are faithfully executed.'” You’re correct that is purpose of the U.S. CONSTITUTION’s executive branch that you’re so intent on defending and quoting. However, such is nowhere stated in the Bible (the 1600 Colonials identified as their Constitution).
From a Biblical perspective, it’s the judicial branch of each community set up under God’s law that’s responsible for ensuring that YAHWEH’s laws are faithfully executed. It’s also the men of each community who are responsible to ensure that their judges do just that.
Your other questions will be better answered in future articles.
Well, Ted, I refrained from providing the dictionary definition of the word “executive” because I thought that it would be too demeaning of your character to assume that you were ignorant of such a simple concept. Perhaps I was mistaken. The very word “executive” means “designed or fitted for or relating to execution or carrying into effect; concerned with, or relating to the execution of the laws or the conduct of public and national affairs.” Therefore, to say that “all executive authority” of your proposed government “resides in Almighty God” is the very same thing as saying that God will “ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.” Of course, you are certainly free to propose that the judicial branch be responsible for the execution of the laws, but that would mean that the judicial branch has the executive authority in your government rather than God. The only way for God to have “all executive authority” is for Him to be the one who ensures that the laws are carried into effect.
Bill, thank you for, once again, honing my finite and thus limited understanding.
OF COURSE, Yahweh, as God and King (or executive, if you prefer), has ultimate authority over the affairs of the kingdom and the execution of everything therein. This is a given from both the perspective of His sovereignty and from the authority of His Word. In other words, His Word (already definitively) dictates what His will is and His sovereignty (definitively, progressively, and finally) insures His will will be carried out.
However, on a day-to-day practical level, it’s my perspective (along with administrators, as will be explained in my Article 2 proposal) that it’s the judicial branch on a community level that’s responsible for making sure His moral will (as prescribed in His commandments, statutes, and judgments) is practically carried out, either through judgments rendered or their deterrent effect upon others in the community.
What you have described is God’s sovereignty over your government not His role as the sole executive authority. I have no problem with this recognition of God’s sovereignty. In fact, I agree with it, but it is incorrect to refer to His position as Sovereign as if it fulfills the role of the executive branch of the government. If you want to establish that role with the judiciary, that is fine with me. I will wait until to post that segment of your constitution and discern its validity at that time.
By the way, you may want to read the works of the 17th century author, James Harrington especially the second book in his work, “The Art of Lawgiving.” That book is entitled:
“THE SECOND BOOK, CONTAINING THE COMMONWEALTHS OF THE HEBREWS; NAMELY, ELOHIM, or the Commonwealth of Israel; AND CABALA, or the Commonwealth of the Jews”
You can find it online at: http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=916&chapter=75672&layout=html&Itemid=27
Also, my own study of the government of the nation of Israel is available as an ebook from: http://www.thefederalistpapers.org/ebooks/we-the-people-the-biblical-precedent-for-popular-sovereignty
Well, I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, once again.
Bill, will you please KNOCK IT OFF!. You continually demean and insult Mr. Weiland’s character and intelligence. It serves absolutely NO purpose, other than to expose your seeming lack of humility. This is not meant to be insulting. But, there are MANY ways your reply could have been articulated. Either you attempted to position yourself as the superior intellect, or you just exercised poor judgment. I’m sure Ted appreciates ANY intelligent and engaging dialogue, whether it agrees with, or counters his view. We could all benefit from the exercise of “iron sharpening iron”. We all have something to offer, and MUCH to learn. I have been rebuked by several others (and rightly so), for ofttimes being a little too heavy handed with the biting sarcasm. That is not my intent here. However, Ted will be the last person to defend himself from such baseless and unwarranted remarks. They do absolutely NOTHING to promote the furtherance of God’s Kingdom, and, in fact, run the risk of turning away (from EITHER of you), someone who may be on the cusp of committing one’s life’s to Christ. I am certain that is something neither of you wish to occur.
It is not necessary to outdo one another with intellectual gymnastics. Being a classically trained musician, and having studied Johannes Kepler’s “Harmonices mundi”, I could offer some minor critiques of your defense of Dr. Garlock. But I won’t because I thought it was, for the most part, outstanding, and the few minor issues I saw are not important. I am biased, and could easily be wrong. And since the subject is not the most pressing issue, it would not serve to admonish, edify, instruct, rebuke. or lead one to Christ. That IS the most pressing issue.
So, please keep the insults to a minimum, and try to focus on participating in courteous, respectful. constructive and instructive discourse.
The one writing our laws today, came from Satan, he denies our true LAWMAKER, YAHWEH