Topical Bible: Government: God In in Magnifying Him

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The concept of government in the Bible is deeply intertwined with the sovereignty and majesty of God. Throughout Scripture, God is depicted as the ultimate ruler and authority over all creation, and human governments are seen as instruments through which His divine purposes are fulfilled. This entry explores the biblical understanding of God's role in government, highlighting how His governance magnifies His glory and righteousness.

Divine Sovereignty and Authority

The Bible begins with the affirmation of God's supreme authority over the universe. Genesis 1:1 declares, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This foundational truth establishes God as the ultimate sovereign, whose authority surpasses all earthly powers. Psalm 103:19 further emphasizes this, stating, "The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all."

God's sovereignty is not limited to the spiritual realm but extends to earthly governments. Proverbs 21:1 illustrates this by stating, "The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases." This verse underscores the belief that God guides and influences the decisions of rulers, ensuring that His divine will is accomplished.

God's Purpose in Human Government

Human governments are portrayed in Scripture as instruments through which God administers justice and order. Romans 13:1-2 instructs believers to submit to governing authorities, for "there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God." This passage highlights the divine origin of governmental authority and the responsibility of rulers to act as God's servants for the good of society.

The role of government in executing justice is further emphasized in Romans 13:4, which states, "For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." Here, government is seen as a means through which God maintains order and punishes evil, reflecting His righteous character.

God's Glory in Governance

The governance of God is ultimately aimed at magnifying His glory. Throughout the Bible, God's interventions in the affairs of nations serve to reveal His power and holiness. In Daniel 4:34-35, King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God's eternal dominion, declaring, "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as He pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth."

The prophetic literature also highlights God's sovereignty over nations, as seen in Isaiah 40:15, "Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales." This imagery underscores the insignificance of human power compared to the majesty of God, whose purposes prevail over all.

The Kingdom of God

The ultimate expression of God's government is found in the concept of the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ, in His earthly ministry, proclaimed the coming of this kingdom, which embodies God's perfect rule. In Matthew 6:10, Jesus teaches His disciples to pray, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." This prayer reflects the longing for God's righteous governance to be fully realized on earth.

Revelation 11:15 proclaims the culmination of God's government, stating, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign forever and ever." This eschatological vision affirms the ultimate triumph of God's rule, where His glory is fully manifested and acknowledged by all creation.

In summary, the Bible presents God as the supreme ruler whose governance is characterized by justice, righteousness, and the magnification of His glory. Human governments, while flawed, are seen as instruments through which God's purposes are accomplished, pointing ultimately to the perfect and eternal reign of His Kingdom.

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1 Chronicles 29:25
And the LORD magnified Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.
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Library

Of the Use of Speech.
The Government of the Tongue. ... uses of it in respect to man, we may collect another
in relation to God, that is in praising and magnifying his goodness, as ...
/.../allestree/the government of the tongue/section i of the use.htm

A Man, Born Blind, Healed on the Sabbath. --Christ's Conversation ...
... by their contracted Jewish ideas of the government of God ... that through himself the
works of God were revealed ... tends to diminish, instead of magnifying the miracle ...
/.../the life of jesus christ in its historical connexion/section 198 a man born.htm

What Sort of Prayer the Gnostic Employs, and How it is Heard by ...
... instruction, and knowledge teach me," [3565] magnifying the supremacy ... then, an unworthy
opinion of God preserves no ... but to know; or a right government, but to ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter vii what sort of prayer.htm

Internal Affective Prayer of Contemplation Hath Always Been ...
... and as for the defects of those under his government, he found ... humble confession
of his own defects and misery, and a magnifying of God's liberal goodness ...
/.../chapter vii internal affective prayer.htm

Coming to Christ
... If the Government were to announce that there ... eternally resting, eternally feasting,
eternally magnifying him; being filled ... So God grant it to us, that we may ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/coming to christ.htm

The Ascension of Messiah to Glory
... discerned without the assistance of a magnifying glass. ... exalted to the administration
of all dominion and government. ... when applied to the blessed God, seems to ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxvi the ascension of.htm

Messiah Unpitied, and Without a Comforter
... inviolable truth, and the honour of His government engage Him ... of the law for us,
He looked to God for pity ... In this glass [magnifying glass of Gods Word] we are ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xxii messiah unpitied and.htm

Messiah Worshipped by Angels
... the saved amongst men to say, This God shines glorious ... In the glass [magnifying glass]
of His Word, and ... wield the sceptre of universal government; and, instead ...
/.../newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxviii messiah worshipped by.htm

The Exile --Continued.
... risen to the contemplation of a great law of the Divine government, and at ... for his
own deliverance, he thinks of it rather as the magnifying of God, than as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/vii the exilecontinued.htm

Home-Discipline.
... That discipline, therefore, which is ever magnifying trifles, finding ... of the parent,
according to the laws of home-government. ... "I know him," says God, "that he ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xix home-discipline.htm