Government in Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:10-22
After Israel commits a form of idolatry in asking for a king, God decides to give them one more chance to change their minds.
God, in his mercy, warns the Israelites about what having a king, a formal government like the other nations, really means. Let’s break down the list. And remember, God is trying to essentially scare the Israelites into changing their mind.
- Verse 11: “This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and horses, and they will run in front of his chariots.”
Modern Day Equivalent: There will be military drafts. - Verse 14: “He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants.”
Modern Day Equivalent: The best land and resources will be given to his political cronies, either to buy support or reward past support. The current abuses of Eminent Domain come to mind. - Verses 15-17: “He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants. Your menservants and maidservants and the best of your cattle and donkeys he will take for his own use. He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.”
Modern Day Equivalent: Taxes, of course. But it’s not really equivalent. While a 10% oppressive tax was a horror story to try and scare people 3000 years ago, we go about our daily lives happily giving up 30-50% of our income to the government.
Also notice what God says the result of these taxes will be. They would become the king’s slaves. If a 10% tax can help foster that slavery, what can a 30-50% tax do?
And when all of these horrible things begin to happen, “you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the LORD will not answer you in that day.” (verse 18)
But Israel doesn’t take the escape route God provides. Instead, they want to be like the other nations, with an earthly King to “protect” them and fight their wars.
So as punishment for Israel’s idolatry and lack of faith, he gives them what they want, because the natural consequences will be punishment enough. Shouldn’t this give us pause when we seek to put our trust and faith in the governments of man? It’s time Christians took to heart the warning God has already given us.
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This section of scripture reads like an ancient Public Choice Primer, Gordon Tullock wouldn’t be surprised! I think this passage gives deep insight into human nature and the wisdom of the Lord. The preceding period of the judges offers no discernible central governing authority outside of YHWH. Is it any wonder, there is none other!
Christians need not argue that this doesn’t apply in democracies, republics and socialist strains of the modern era. The despot kings of yesteryear are perfectly in parallel with centralized authorities that concentrate power-over-many within a small, minority group.
I’ve actually heard someone say that tyranny was of course possible in older governments, but is simply not possible in a democracy like we have today, so we shouldn’t worry.
It is precisely that type of thinking and apathy that breeds the rot of tyranny!
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