For the LORDis our judge, the LORDis our lawgiver, the LORDis our king; he will save us.
The LORD is judge and lawgiver and king, and He Himself will save His people. This is the security of forgiven Zion, a quiet and peaceful dwelling where iniquity is pardoned and, in the final deliverance, death is overcome under His authoritative rule. That ruler is Jesus Christ, through whom God speaks and judges impartially even hidden thoughts, in a divine government unlike any earthly one and marked by holy love, pity and compassion. He owns men by creation and redemption, and His principles are unchangeable, given in the ten commandments as the standard of His character for all life, for households, and for institutions, taught line upon line so none need err. Therefore no man, council, or earthly king is to rule the church or another's conscience, and judgment of brethren after a human pattern is forbidden, for God alone is to be looked to as source of strength and guide. As a never-mistaken Leader and a hearing Judge unlike the unjust judge, He gives strong ground for persistent prayer, reverent obedience, and confession and forsaking of sin.
God's Rule and Salvation
The Lord is judge, lawgiver, and king to Israel and Judah, and he himself will save his people, ruling them with authority. That promise belongs to the vision of Zion in which Jerusalem is made by his presence a quiet, secure, peaceful and joyful dwelling, and its inhabitants are forgiven.
In the promised day of redemption from idolatry, those who turn to God and whose sins are forgiven recognize him alone as their ruler, boast in him alone, and worship him rather than idols. This is the picture of God's final deliverance, when death is overcome and his people live in peace under his authoritative rule.
These offices belong to a divine government and kingdom of Christ unlike any earthly government, where holy love presides and its character is marked by pity and compassion. Its servants are therefore to carry out their work with pity and loving-kindness that reflects that character. The judge, lawgiver, and king is Jesus Christ, through whom God communicates with the world, and God judges without partiality, judging even hidden thoughts through him.
Life Under His Authority
He owns human beings by creation and by redemption, and they are therefore to place themselves under his control and keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. His instruction is given in the Word line upon line and precept upon precept so that no one need err, and to disregard his commands is to run a terrible risk, with everything in parental duty depending on right discharge of that trust.
The principles of truth he has laid down are unchangeable, given by Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud to Moses, respected and obeyed because they flow from the heart of infinite love. There can be no sinless departure or swerving from them, and nothing but blessing attends those who reverentially obey them in vital connection with him. The ten commandments give the principles of his character as the standard for all men, women, and children in all transactions, with not one rule of action for those in authority and another for those who submit. They are to be brought into practical life and especially to rule institutions, for his laws are wise and just and good, and to fail to bring God into human plans perverts truth and righteousness by crowding in human wisdom and making his wisdom stand aside to be questioned. Prosperity and happiness are found in no other path than the way of the Lord, and man-made laws that oppress and selfish practices that seek advantage will be judged by God.
Households are to be governed by him as guide, lawgiver, and king, with parents responsible to teach his laws and to command justice and judgment. As Abraham taught his household that God alone was their guide, so parents and children alike are accountable to his rule. Parents must not oppress their children and children must not disobey their parents, for his law, which is holy, just, and good, governs family life, and mercy and justice are to shape that life.
He desired Israel to look to him alone as lawgiver and source of strength, and feeling dependence on him would draw them constantly nearer to him, elevate and ennoble them, and fit them for their high destiny as his chosen people. Placing a man on the throne turns minds from God to human strength and trust in divine power lessens, and the errors of a king lead into sin and separate the nation from God. The church likewise is not to be governed by human rules or precedents, and human councils must not claim their decisions are the voice of God, for human beings are not capable of ruling it in his place.
No human position or authority gives the right to rule another person's conscience, for he alone is judge, lawgiver, and king to be honored and obeyed. All in every position of trust are to be ruled by him rather than by finite human wisdom, which means guarding every soul as his purchased possession, preventing oppression, manifesting unselfishness and self-denial in all dealings, and living as brethren under one ruler. Because judgment belongs to him, believers must not measure, criticize, condemn, or judge their brethren after a human pattern, for that work is forbidden and never delegated to search out imperfections and weigh them in human scales. His servants must guard their conduct and be clean in carrying out their work.
As king he is the people's leader who never makes a mistake and can be followed safely by placing themselves wholly under his guidance in constant dependence on the Holy Spirit, with prayer and humble hearts showing submission to divine leadership. In meetings Jesus should be recognized as present as judge and counselor to guide decisions and direct plans, keeping self-interest and lightness from prominence. Because he is both judge and lawgiver, his people have strong ground for confidence in him in prayer, for unlike the unjust judge who answered the widow only from selfishness and indifference to be relieved of importunity, he never turns away indifferently but hears even when he seems not to respond immediately. That confidence is shown by persistent, importunate prayer joined with good works, since faith without works is dead, being alone.
As the supreme Lawgiver and God of heaven, those who make national or human laws must take care that their words and actions agree with his will. As judge, lawgiver, and king who will save his people, he calls for reverence before him and for confessing and forsaking sin.
The LORD is judge and lawgiver and king, and He Himself will save His people. This is the security of forgiven Zion, a quiet and peaceful dwelling where iniquity is pardoned and, in the final deliverance, death is overcome under His authoritative rule. That ruler is Jesus Christ, through whom God speaks and judges impartially even hidden thoughts, in a divine government unlike any earthly one and marked by holy love, pity and compassion. He owns men by creation and redemption, and His principles are unchangeable, given in the ten commandments as the standard of His character for all life, for households, and for institutions, taught line upon line so none need err. Therefore no man, council, or earthly king is to rule the church or another's conscience, and judgment of brethren after a human pattern is forbidden, for God alone is to be looked to as source of strength and guide. As a never-mistaken Leader and a hearing Judge unlike the unjust judge, He gives strong ground for persistent prayer, reverent obedience, and confession and forsaking of sin.
God's Rule and Salvation
The Lord is judge, lawgiver, and king to Israel and Judah, and he himself will save his people, ruling them with authority. That promise belongs to the vision of Zion in which Jerusalem is made by his presence a quiet, secure, peaceful and joyful dwelling, and its inhabitants are forgiven.
In the promised day of redemption from idolatry, those who turn to God and whose sins are forgiven recognize him alone as their ruler, boast in him alone, and worship him rather than idols. This is the picture of God's final deliverance, when death is overcome and his people live in peace under his authoritative rule.
These offices belong to a divine government and kingdom of Christ unlike any earthly government, where holy love presides and its character is marked by pity and compassion. Its servants are therefore to carry out their work with pity and loving-kindness that reflects that character. The judge, lawgiver, and king is Jesus Christ, through whom God communicates with the world, and God judges without partiality, judging even hidden thoughts through him.
Life Under His Authority
He owns human beings by creation and by redemption, and they are therefore to place themselves under his control and keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. His instruction is given in the Word line upon line and precept upon precept so that no one need err, and to disregard his commands is to run a terrible risk, with everything in parental duty depending on right discharge of that trust.
The principles of truth he has laid down are unchangeable, given by Christ enshrouded in the pillar of cloud to Moses, respected and obeyed because they flow from the heart of infinite love. There can be no sinless departure or swerving from them, and nothing but blessing attends those who reverentially obey them in vital connection with him. The ten commandments give the principles of his character as the standard for all men, women, and children in all transactions, with not one rule of action for those in authority and another for those who submit. They are to be brought into practical life and especially to rule institutions, for his laws are wise and just and good, and to fail to bring God into human plans perverts truth and righteousness by crowding in human wisdom and making his wisdom stand aside to be questioned. Prosperity and happiness are found in no other path than the way of the Lord, and man-made laws that oppress and selfish practices that seek advantage will be judged by God.
Households are to be governed by him as guide, lawgiver, and king, with parents responsible to teach his laws and to command justice and judgment. As Abraham taught his household that God alone was their guide, so parents and children alike are accountable to his rule. Parents must not oppress their children and children must not disobey their parents, for his law, which is holy, just, and good, governs family life, and mercy and justice are to shape that life.
He desired Israel to look to him alone as lawgiver and source of strength, and feeling dependence on him would draw them constantly nearer to him, elevate and ennoble them, and fit them for their high destiny as his chosen people. Placing a man on the throne turns minds from God to human strength and trust in divine power lessens, and the errors of a king lead into sin and separate the nation from God. The church likewise is not to be governed by human rules or precedents, and human councils must not claim their decisions are the voice of God, for human beings are not capable of ruling it in his place.
No human position or authority gives the right to rule another person's conscience, for he alone is judge, lawgiver, and king to be honored and obeyed. All in every position of trust are to be ruled by him rather than by finite human wisdom, which means guarding every soul as his purchased possession, preventing oppression, manifesting unselfishness and self-denial in all dealings, and living as brethren under one ruler. Because judgment belongs to him, believers must not measure, criticize, condemn, or judge their brethren after a human pattern, for that work is forbidden and never delegated to search out imperfections and weigh them in human scales. His servants must guard their conduct and be clean in carrying out their work.
As king he is the people's leader who never makes a mistake and can be followed safely by placing themselves wholly under his guidance in constant dependence on the Holy Spirit, with prayer and humble hearts showing submission to divine leadership. In meetings Jesus should be recognized as present as judge and counselor to guide decisions and direct plans, keeping self-interest and lightness from prominence. Because he is both judge and lawgiver, his people have strong ground for confidence in him in prayer, for unlike the unjust judge who answered the widow only from selfishness and indifference to be relieved of importunity, he never turns away indifferently but hears even when he seems not to respond immediately. That confidence is shown by persistent, importunate prayer joined with good works, since faith without works is dead, being alone.
As the supreme Lawgiver and God of heaven, those who make national or human laws must take care that their words and actions agree with his will. As judge, lawgiver, and king who will save his people, he calls for reverence before him and for confessing and forsaking sin.