LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Samuel 23:2-3, “The Spirit of the Lord spoke by me, and His word was on my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me; ‘He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.’”

 

Can you guess where this is going today? I am not sure what I was reading yesterday but it contained this verse and it just leaped out at me. Verse 1 of this chapter state that the verses above were a part of David’s last words. They were words that God had spoken to him regarding His expectations of the man who was the leader of men. The emphasis must be placed on these words being God’s words. The commentaries I looked at to help write this today express the importance of David writing in the Psalms what God had spoken to Him; they were words written under the inspiration of God.

 

According to what David said, under the inspiration of God, a person, a king, a president, is to administer justice to those they rule or lead, “must rule not only according to the laws of the land, but according to the law of God; having His fear before their eyes, and acting with a view of honor and glory whose vicegenerents (a person regarded as an earthly representative of God) they are, and to whom they are accountable; they should rule with gentleness and humanity, considering they are men, and not brutes, they rule over” (John Gill Expository of the Bible). In other words, when the leader of a country rules by the fear of God and rules justly, the people being led will prosper.

 

“The just leader brings health and life” (from the notes of the David Jeremiah Study Bible). It is not difficult to reflect over the kings of Israel and Judah, world leaders in history and today and see that few have lived up to this high standard. Today men and women do not “rule” in our nation, a nation built on Christian principles, by the fear of God. Men and women who use Bible verses and try to hide behind their “religious beliefs” to support ungodly principles, does not add up to me. The attempts to tear down biblical principles for ungodly results only shows that there is no fear of God in their eyes nor in their hearts.

 

Go back and read the word of David. Righteousness towards men and reverence towards God are two essential characteristics in a good king, a good president. History has shown that where these essentials are lacking, people have been oppressed and the kingdoms have failed. History has also shown where the authority of God has been recognized and the rights of the people have been respected that nation has succeeded.

 

In verse 3, David continues prophetically about One who would be not just the Ruler over Israel but One who would be a Ruler over men. But that is for the next page of the blog.