By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
The speaker is heavenly wisdom addressing the human family with wonderful instruction to be valued. What is shown is what true wisdom is, which by a faith that takes in the whole person lifts the soul out of an imperfect and undeveloped state to understand.
By wisdom princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth, because God gives them their authority to rule. This does not make monarchy God's preference, for when Israel first asked for a king God was greatly displeased because they were rejecting Him as their theocratic governor, yet He gave them a king as they wished, just as He now gives a president according to the people's wish. God ordains that no nation can exist without an authoritative head, but He leaves each nation to decide whether that head will be emperor, king, president, or democratic judge, so that the voice of the people in choosing magistrates becomes the voice of God.
Citizens are therefore required to give magistrates respect, reverence, and obedience within just limits, and to resist a magistrate in the just and lawful exercise of power is to resist God and is sin deserving God's judgment. That obedience has limits, for Caesar is supreme within civil relations but God alone is supreme within moral and religious duties, so when a magistrate goes beyond civil authority and requires what is wrong against conscience enlightened by the clear Word of God, the citizen must rise to the higher law and refuse obedience. The Lord is earnestly seeking to instruct every soul who will be taught, and because many things remain to be set in order, prayer is needed for the Lord to guide with wisdom.
The speaker is heavenly wisdom addressing the human family with wonderful instruction to be valued. What is shown is what true wisdom is, which by a faith that takes in the whole person lifts the soul out of an imperfect and undeveloped state to understand.
By wisdom princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth, because God gives them their authority to rule. This does not make monarchy God's preference, for when Israel first asked for a king God was greatly displeased because they were rejecting Him as their theocratic governor, yet He gave them a king as they wished, just as He now gives a president according to the people's wish. God ordains that no nation can exist without an authoritative head, but He leaves each nation to decide whether that head will be emperor, king, president, or democratic judge, so that the voice of the people in choosing magistrates becomes the voice of God.
Citizens are therefore required to give magistrates respect, reverence, and obedience within just limits, and to resist a magistrate in the just and lawful exercise of power is to resist God and is sin deserving God's judgment. That obedience has limits, for Caesar is supreme within civil relations but God alone is supreme within moral and religious duties, so when a magistrate goes beyond civil authority and requires what is wrong against conscience enlightened by the clear Word of God, the citizen must rise to the higher law and refuse obedience. The Lord is earnestly seeking to instruct every soul who will be taught, and because many things remain to be set in order, prayer is needed for the Lord to guide with wisdom.