In its setting, the chapter presents true wisdom as what true faith enables the whole person to grasp, lifting the soul out of an imperfect, undeveloped state. The speaker is heavenly wisdom addressing the human family with wonderful instruction. The Lord earnestly seeks to teach every willing soul by it, in order to set many things in order and to guide with wisdom.
The authority by which kings reign and princes decree justice comes from God through Christ. This does not make monarchy His preference, for He ordains that no nation can exist without an authoritative head while leaving each nation to determine for itself whether that head shall be emperor or king or president or democratic judge, giving a king then and a president now in accordance with the people's wishes. When Israel first asked for a king He was greatly displeased, because they were declaring that they no longer desired Him as their theocratic governor. Because authority is so given in accordance with the people's wishes, the people's voice in choosing magistrates becomes God's voice.
Citizens therefore owe magistrates respect, reverence, and obedience within limits, so that to resist a magistrate in the just and lawful exercise of his power is to resist God and is sin deserving judgment under God's disapprobation. Christ appoints people to carry out just principles and to uphold His principles in human affairs. Those entrusted with correction and the decreeing of justice should act with His wisdom, kindness, discretion, and fairness. Obedience ends where civil authority is transcended: if the magistrate acts against conscience enlightened by the clear Word of God and requires wrong things, the citizen must rise to the higher law and refuse, for within civil relations Caesar is supreme but within moral and religious duties God alone is supreme.
In its setting, the chapter presents true wisdom as what true faith enables the whole person to grasp, lifting the soul out of an imperfect, undeveloped state. The speaker is heavenly wisdom addressing the human family with wonderful instruction. The Lord earnestly seeks to teach every willing soul by it, in order to set many things in order and to guide with wisdom.
The authority by which kings reign and princes decree justice comes from God through Christ. This does not make monarchy His preference, for He ordains that no nation can exist without an authoritative head while leaving each nation to determine for itself whether that head shall be emperor or king or president or democratic judge, giving a king then and a president now in accordance with the people's wishes. When Israel first asked for a king He was greatly displeased, because they were declaring that they no longer desired Him as their theocratic governor. Because authority is so given in accordance with the people's wishes, the people's voice in choosing magistrates becomes God's voice.
Citizens therefore owe magistrates respect, reverence, and obedience within limits, so that to resist a magistrate in the just and lawful exercise of his power is to resist God and is sin deserving judgment under God's disapprobation. Christ appoints people to carry out just principles and to uphold His principles in human affairs. Those entrusted with correction and the decreeing of justice should act with His wisdom, kindness, discretion, and fairness. Obedience ends where civil authority is transcended: if the magistrate acts against conscience enlightened by the clear Word of God and requires wrong things, the citizen must rise to the higher law and refuse, for within civil relations Caesar is supreme but within moral and religious duties God alone is supreme.