the Holy Scriptures on our country's leader

so this is a discussion many of us have had many times, and rather than trying to re-hash all the points (of which there are many), let's just jump right into a specific point, and then expand out from there, whether covering old or new territory.

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with the election coming up quickly, it was interesting that I came across this passage today. (I'm doing a study of the manners and customs of Biblical times.)

In Deuteronomy 17, God lays down the opportunity for Israel to get a King, once they are established in the Holy Land (of which they do in the days of Samuel, 1 Samuel 8, about 360 years later). [of course, a big aspect of this discussion could be whether or not we should even have a 'king' or let God speak through prophets (democracy vs theocracy). It appears God prefers the latter (1 Samuel 8:6-20)].

For now though, let's accept that we have a civil leader for our country and look at what God's expectations are for the leader. God sets down twelve Guidelines for who is to become King (Deut 17:14-20):

1. He is to be appointed by the people (whom the LORD chooses)
2. He is to be a native of the land, not a foreigner.
3. He is to not acquire many horses.
4. He is to not go back to Egypt.
5. He is to not acquire many wives (so his heart won't go astray).
6. He must not acquire large amounts of silver or gold for himself.
7. Once appointed, he must hand copy for himself these instructions in the presence of priests.
8. He is to read these instructions every day (to maintain a healthy fear of the LORD).
9. He is to observe these instructions and do these statutes.
10. He is to not exalt himself above his countrymen.
11. He must stay focused on his specific job, turning neither to the right nor left.
12. He is to pass his authority on to his sons.

before we can compare this list to our political situation, we must first understand the context of when this was written (somewhere between 1444 and 1406BC).

1. Appointed by the people AND chosen by God. This shows the dual-fold nuance of God's Sovereign Will and humans' free will. This could be a HUGE discussion. Suffice to say for now, somehow, both most happen.

2. Not a foreigner. God had set Israel apart as holy (ie, for a special purpose). He would use their human-ness and mistakes to show His Glory to the world. And so He wanted the leader of these people to be one of the 'set apart'. He likes consistency. ; )

3. Not acquire horses. My first guess was this was meant to refer to possession. But Vos points out that it refers to an army. So I did more research into other scholars' commentaries. I found:
-Albert Barnes: The horse was not anciently used in the East for purposes of agriculture or traveling, but ordinarily for war only. He appears constantly in Scripture as the symbol and embodiment of fleshly strength and the might of the creature (compare Psa_20:7; Psa_33:16-17; Psa_147:10; Job_39:19 ff), and is sometimes significantly spoken of simply as “the strong one” (compare Jer_8:16). The spirit of the prohibition therefore is that the king of Israel must not, like other earthly potentates, put his trust in costly and formidable preparations for war (compare Hos_1:7).
-Adam Clark: Lest the people might depend on a well-appointed cavalry as a means of security, and so cease from trusting in the strength and protection of God. And, That they might not be tempted to extend their dominion by means of cavalry, and so get scattered among the surrounding idolatrous nations, and thus cease, in process of time, to be that distinct and separate people which God intended they should be, and without which the prophecies relative to the Messiah could not be known to have their due and full accomplishment.
-John Gill: That he might not put his trust and confidence in outward things, as some are apt to trust in horses and chariots; and that he might not tyrannise over and distress his subjects by keeping a number of horses and chariots as a standing army, and chiefly for a reason that follows; he was to have no more than for his own chariot, so Jarchi, and so the Misnah (g) and Maimonides (h); the Targum of Jonathan restrains it to two:
-Matthew Henry: nor have many horses for his officers and guards (when God was their King, his judges rode on asses, Jdg_5:10; Jdg_12:14), nor must he multiply horses for war, lest he should trust too much to them, Psa_20:7; Psa_33:17; Hos_14:3.
-Jamiesson, Fausset & Brown: The use of these animals was not absolutely prohibited, nor is there any reason to conclude that they might not be employed as part of the state equipage. But the multiplication of horses would inevitably lead to many evils, to increased intercourse with foreign nations, especially with Egypt, to the importation of an animal to which the character of the country was not suited, to the establishment of an Oriental military despotism, to proud and pompous parade in peace, to a dependence upon Egypt in time of war, and a consequent withdrawal of trust and confidence in God. (2Sa_8:4; 1Ki_10:26; 2Ch_1:16; 2Ch_9:28; Isa_31:3).
-TSK: Multiplying horses for chariots of war and cavalry, or for luxury, would increase the splendour of a monarch, and form a ground of confidence distinct from a proper confidence in God, and inconsistent with it, and with considering him as the glory of Israel.
So we see here a Guideline to not trust in military capabilities but rather to put Israel's security in God's Hands.

4. Go not to Egypt. The commentators state that to go back to Egypt (to get horses or for any other reason) would create an inter-depencecy and intimacy with a nation know for idolatory.

5. Have not many wives. One can take from this that many wives cause problems such as 1) physical pleasures becoming a priority in time and focus, 2) debilitating loyalty and focus to running the kingdom and serving God, 3) an increase in chances of being drawn away from God, enticed by the religions of the wives (if they were foreign).

6. Collect not large amounts of gold or silver. We know the Bible's teachings on money, that while necessary and not evil itself, it is the #1 precursor to greed. We cannot serve both God and Money.

7. Hand copy the instructions. Hand-copying something helps plant that knowledge in the memory (educational studies have shown this). And it creates personal accountability.

8. Read it every day. Habit-forming, practice makes perfect, etc.

9. Observe its instructions and obey it. Practice what we preach. Live out our faith, etc. Take it seriously, don't give it lip-service, etc.

10. Authority comes down to the sons. While we may not understand the logic behind this (seeing too many mistakes in generational leading), God has apparently chosen this as the method. (Of course we see examples such as Moses, Joshua and the Apostles that appear to 'contradict' this.) If it is God's Chosen method (at least for civil authority), it shows the importance of parents teaching children. And of course, if the children are following the same rules, then all would be ok.


So can we apply these Bibilical principles to our situation today. Most conservative Christians want to consider the USA a 'Christian country', so yes it would make sense to apply these principles. Also, many conservative Christians who support war tend to go to the OT for their reasonings, so again, we can apply these principles to our situation.

1. We appoint whom God chooses. Our government is set up on a democracy of us electing our leaders, so it seems we're good here.

2. Not a foreigner. Our laws call for a natural citizen, so again, we're good.

3. Collect not horses. Well, as you guys already know, this is something I've been commenting on for some time. What are your guys' thoughts on this?

4. Go not to Egypt. I would take this as we are not to seek intimacy or dependency on other countries that are idolatrous or wicked. Of our treaties and allies, some of them could be considered 'Christian nations' (Australia and strong Catholic Latin countries come to mind), while others are clearly not or just-as-dangerously-apostatic (Saudi Arabia and Great Britain). What are your guys' thoughts on this?

5. Gather not many wives. While this obviously doesn't apply to our leaders today, we could still 'add' the idea that our leaders not be promiscuous. A thorough look at our Presidency shows us this to be a problem with many of our leaders.

6. Collect not large amounts of money. A big one we consistently break, as almost all of our Presidents (candidates included) are wealthy men. We could try to justify it by saying that money is needed for campaining etc, but we are just trying to justify our disobedience to God's principles. What do you guys suggest?

7. Hand copy this instruction. It appears from the text it is referring to this specific list, but many commentators include the whole of the Law (which would definitely be a good idea at the least). What do you guys think? Should our leader hand-copy this specific list or all the Bible or what?

8. Read the instructions daily. I think our leader should definitely read the List and I personally think it would be a great idea for them to study the Word every day (gosh- what an awesome job that would be to be a teacher or shurpa for the President of the United States!). If we look at some of our past Presidents, Adams and Lincoln for example, they did just that!

9. Obey the instructions. I don't know the Presidents as well as some of you. Which ones would you guys say more completely and consistently followed these rules?

10. Pass the authority on to the sons. This seems to somewhat contradict #1, where we elect our leaders. And the history of our country shows an aversion to the rule of royalty. Out of our 42 presidents, only two have been sons, right? What are your thoughts on this?


Any other comments, questions, etc on this topic?