Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Sunday, October 26, 2008 4:17:43 PM
‘We are not left in doubt concerning the wisdom and salutary [useful] nature of that constitution under which the Hebrews were placed, as it proceeded immediately from God; and in reference to the particular circumstances of that people, was the result of unerring perfection. It was a free constitution in which all the valuable rights of the community were most happily secure. The public good was the great object in view, and the most effectual care was taken to preserve the rights of individuals. Proper rewards were promised to the obedient and righteous punishments allotted for the disobedient [Deuteronomy 28:1,15]. God designed for special reasons that [the] seed of Abraham should be distinguished in a peculiar manner from all other nations; He therefore undertook the government of them Himself in all matters respecting religion, civil policy, and that military establishment which he saw to be necessary for their happiness and defense. We find Moses — who received this constitution from God and delivered it to his people — frequently exhorting them to maintain a sacred regard for this Divine institution and to pay a conscientious obedience to all its laws, in doing of which they might secure to themselves national prosperity and enjoy the unfailing protection of Almighty God’ [Deuteronomy 28:1-14; Leviticus 26:3-12; Deuteronomy 4:5-8].
In this introduction Pastor Stone gives us the characteristics of Constitutional government as given to the ancient Hebrews though Moses the prophet and man of God.
This is the perfect model for the Reformation principle of rule of law because it is based on divine Law and knowledge of what is good for man in his fallen state.
This was the view of our forefathers and served as the basis for the American Constitution. We need not look to the pagan philosophy of the Greeks and Romans to serve as the foundation of American constitutionalism. We look to the ancient record of the seed of Abraham, the Old Covenant people of God.
The Hebrew people were given a constitution to distinguish them from the nations of men in their religion, civil policy and security in order to promote their well being and happiness.
The public good was the great object in view, and the most effectual care was taken to preserve the rights of individuals. Proper rewards were promised to the obedient and righteous punishments allotted for the disobedient according to divine law.
Moses exhorted the people to consider the high privilege of being under the government of God through the constitution given to him from God and therefore to pursue obedience to the Laws of God to order to insure their national prosperity under divine protection.
It should be of no surprise that the New Covenant people of God would find their greatest happiness in ordering themselves in civil affairs according to the divine pattern given to the Hebrews. This is what happened in the founding of America. This is what separates America from the other nations. The exhortation that Moses made to the Hebrews applies to us as well.
Next Post: In what doth the true wisdom of a civil community consist?