The Bible On Human Government: Principles Drawn from 1 Samuel 8 and Other Scriptures

Chapter 17 - A Practical Study of 1 Samuel - 1 Samuel 8

1. The LORD is the King of the whole earth and of all the nations in the earth. All people are subject to His law and commandments (Zechariah 14:9; Psalm 2; 24:1, 7-10; 93:1-2, 5; 45:6; Jeremiah 10:7; Revelation 1:5-6; 19:16; 15:3-4; Malachi 1:14; Daniel 4:37; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2:5-6; Romans 1:18-20; 2:14-15; 3:19, 29-30.

2. Human government is appointed by God to reward the good and punish the evil; therefore, we should obey our government's laws and pay taxes (Romans 13:1-7; Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26).

3. Human government is necessary only because people are evil. They fail to acknowledge God as King. Neither do they obey His commands, nor submit to His law (1 Samuel 8:6-9; 10:17-19; Judges 17:6; 21:25; 2:19; 18:1; 19:1; Genesis 9:5-6).

4. The worse the people are, the more human government is needed (Romans 13:3-4; Exodus 18:13-26; Genesis 9:5-6).

5. Although human government is not inherently or necessarily evil, having a human government is a "necessary evil" because human government has a tendency to become corrupt and oppressive. It has this tendency because it is made up of sinful men (1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 Samuel 8:10-18; 13:13-14; 15:10-11, 23; 2 Samuel 11; 1 Kings 11:11; 12:13-14; 15:3, 26, 34; 16:13, 19, 25-26, 30; 22:52-53; 2 Kings 8:18, 27; 13:2; 11; 14:24; 15:18, 24, 28; 16:2-4; 17:2; 21:2, 20; 23:32, 37; 24:9, 19).

6. When the commands of a corrupt human government contradict the commandments of God given in the Scriptures, we should obey God's commandments and disobey the contradictory human commands (Acts 4:18-20; 5:27-29; Joshua 2:3-4; Hebrews 11:31; Esther 4:11, 16).

7. People often turn to human government for security and prosperity when they should turn to the LORD for these things (1 Samuel 8:4-5, 7-8, 19-20; Isaiah 31:1; Deuteronomy 28; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 20:7; 33:16-22; 37; Proverbs 21:31; Deuteronomy 20:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3).

8. In times of turmoil, people are willing to give up their liberties to government in exchange for security and prosperity, but security and prosperity can come at a high cost--the loss of liberty (1 Samuel 8:10-20; Genesis 47:4, 15-25; Exodus 1:8-22).

9. People need protection and deliverance from corrupt government, which takes away their liberties and enslaves them (1 Samuel 8:10-18; Exodus 1:8-22; 3:7-10; Judges 2:18-19).