Topical Bible: Constitution: Agreement Between the Ruler and People

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In the context of biblical history and theology, the concept of a constitution as an agreement between a ruler and the people can be seen through various covenants and laws established by God with His people. While the term "constitution" is not explicitly used in the Bible, the principles of governance, law, and mutual agreement are evident throughout the Scriptures.

Covenantal Foundations

The Bible presents several covenants that function as divine constitutions, establishing the terms of the relationship between God (the ultimate Ruler) and His people. These covenants outline the responsibilities, blessings, and consequences associated with obedience or disobedience.

1. The Noahic Covenant: After the flood, God established a covenant with Noah and his descendants, promising never to destroy the earth with a flood again. This covenant included the establishment of human government and the principle of justice (Genesis 9:1-17). It serves as a foundational agreement between God and humanity, emphasizing the sanctity of life and the rule of law.

2. The Mosaic Covenant: The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai represents a formal constitution for the nation of Israel. God, as the sovereign ruler, provided the Ten Commandments and other laws to guide the moral, civil, and ceremonial life of His people (Exodus 19-24). This covenant was a binding agreement, with blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28).

3. The Davidic Covenant: God's promise to David established a royal dynasty, with the assurance that his throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16). This covenant highlights the relationship between the ruler and the people, with the king serving as God's representative on earth.

Theocratic Governance

In ancient Israel, the concept of theocracy—where God is recognized as the supreme ruler—was central. The judges, prophets, and kings were seen as instruments through which God's will was executed. The people were expected to adhere to the divine laws, and the rulers were accountable to God for their leadership.

1. Judges and Kings: The period of the judges and the establishment of the monarchy illustrate the dynamics of governance in Israel. The people desired a king to lead them like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5), and God granted their request, establishing Saul and later David as kings. The king was to rule according to God's law, serving as a mediator between God and the people.

2. Prophetic Role: Prophets played a crucial role in holding rulers accountable to the divine constitution. They reminded kings and the people of their covenantal obligations and called for repentance and reform when they strayed from God's commands (e.g., Nathan confronting David in 2 Samuel 12).

New Covenant

The New Testament introduces the New Covenant, established through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This covenant is not based on a written law but on the internal transformation of the heart through the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:6-13). Jesus, as the King of Kings, fulfills the role of the ultimate ruler, and believers are called to live in accordance with His teachings.

Biblical Principles of Governance

The Bible provides several principles that can be applied to the concept of a constitution as an agreement between a ruler and the people:

1. Justice and Righteousness: The foundation of any godly governance is justice and righteousness. Proverbs 29:2 states, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan."

2. Accountability: Leaders are accountable to God and the people. They are to serve with integrity and humility, recognizing their role as stewards of God's authority (Romans 13:1-7).

3. Covenantal Faithfulness: Both rulers and the people are called to be faithful to their covenantal obligations, reflecting God's faithfulness to His promises (Deuteronomy 7:9).

In summary, while the Bible does not explicitly mention a "constitution" in the modern sense, it provides a rich tapestry of covenants and principles that illustrate the relationship between the ruler and the people under God's sovereign rule.

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Deuteronomy 17:18-20
And it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
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2 Samuel 5:3
So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.
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2 Chronicles 23:2,3
And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
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Jeremiah 34:8-11
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them;
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Daniel 6:12-15
Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's decree; Have you not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which alters not.
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Library

The Second Sermon, in the Afternoon.
... I know there can be no agreement between these two, as ... But to what end this chiding
between the children ... as our ancestors made this constitution: "We command ...
/.../latimer/sermons on the card and other discourses/the second sermon in the.htm

The Ecclesiastical Canons of the Same Holy Apostles.
... of heretics, be deprived: "For what agreement is there ... of the Lord, and not
distinguishing between real priests ... the will of Christ, and our constitution by the ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/the ecclesiastical canons of the.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... CHAPTER I"THE POLITICAL CONSTITUTION OF EGYPT. ... scribes, and slaves, or else made
an agreement with the ... opened into a long narrow passage between the external ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

ii.
... established, and Germany received a new Imperial constitution. ... inflicted by a tyrannical
ruler on his ... purpose of effecting an agreement between the contending ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/first principles of the reformation/ii.htm

A Nation's Duty in a War for Freedom.
... in order to institute a comparison between ourselves and ... praise and approval, nay,
even agreement and friendship ... character, our laws, our constitution and our ...
/.../schleiermacher/selected sermons of schleiermacher/iii a nations duty in.htm

The Papacy
... and once the politico-religious constitution of the ... Convinced that disputes between
the civil and ... had still greater difficulties, but an agreement was arrived ...
/.../chapter ix the papacy.htm

Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire ...
... To this we add that henceforward no constitution can be ... book, then, and putting either
my finger between, or some ... some in more, some in less agreement, but all ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period ii the church from.htm

The Scheme of Necessity Makes God the Author of Sin.
... doubt whether there is a real agreement between these tenets ... vice comes from the
original constitution of some ... rid of the seeming antagonism between the scheme ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter ii the scheme of.htm

The Westminster Standards in America.
... the sacred function but what declares his agreement in opinion ... Plan of Union formed
in 1801 between the General ... lay in the absence from its constitution of any ...
/.../ 98 the westminster standards.htm

The Counter-Reformation
... reform an opportunity of wrecking the divine constitution that Christ ... the King of
France were in agreement, though for ... an end to the struggle between these two ...
/.../chapter iv the counter-reformation.htm