Topical Bible: King: Acts As Judge

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, the role of a king often extends beyond that of a mere ruler or military leader; it encompasses the responsibility of acting as a judge over the people. This judicial function is deeply rooted in the understanding of kingship as ordained by God, where the king is seen as an instrument of divine justice and order.

Old Testament Context

The concept of the king as a judge is evident in the Old Testament, where the king is expected to uphold justice and righteousness. This is seen in the example of King Solomon, whose wisdom in judgment is famously illustrated in the case of the two women who came to him with a dispute over a living child. Solomon's discerning judgment, which revealed the true mother, is recorded in 1 Kings 3:16-28. This passage highlights the king's role in rendering decisions that reflect divine wisdom and justice.

The king's judicial role is also emphasized in the Psalms and the Prophets. Psalm 72, traditionally attributed to Solomon, is a prayer for the king to judge the people with righteousness and the poor with justice. The psalmist writes, "May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice" (Psalm 72:2). This reflects the expectation that the king's judgments would mirror God's own justice.

Theocratic Kingship

In Israel, the king was seen as God's representative on earth, and his judicial role was part of the theocratic system where God was the ultimate judge. Deuteronomy 17:18-20 instructs the king to write for himself a copy of the law and to read it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord and carefully observe all the words of the law. This underscores the king's duty to administer justice in accordance with God's commandments.

New Testament Reflection

While the New Testament does not focus extensively on earthly kings acting as judges, it does reflect on the ultimate kingship and judgment of Christ. Jesus is portrayed as the King who will judge the nations. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes the final judgment, where the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne and separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. This passage underscores the belief that Christ, as the King of Kings, will execute perfect justice.

The Ideal of Justice

The biblical ideal of kingship includes the administration of justice as a reflection of God's own character. Proverbs 29:4 states, "By justice a king gives stability to the land, but a man who exacts tribute demolishes it" . This proverb highlights the stabilizing effect of righteous judgment and the destructive potential of corruption.

Historical Examples

Throughout Israel's history, the effectiveness of a king's judicial role varied. Some kings, like David and Solomon, are remembered for their commitment to justice, while others, such as Ahab, are noted for their failure to uphold righteousness, as seen in the account of Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21).

Conclusion

The role of the king as a judge is a significant aspect of biblical kingship, reflecting the divine mandate to uphold justice and righteousness. This function serves as a reminder of the ultimate justice that God will bring through His anointed King, Jesus Christ.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 8:15
And David reigned over all Israel; and David executed judgment and justice to all his people.
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2 Samuel 15:2
And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called to him, and said, Of what city are you? And he said, Your servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
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1 Kings 10:9
Blessed be the LORD your God, which delighted in you, to set you on the throne of Israel: because the LORD loved Israel for ever, therefore made he you king, to do judgment and justice.
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2 Kings 8:1-6
Then spoke Elisha to the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go you and your household, and sojourn wherever you can sojourn: for the LORD has called for a famine; and it shall also come on the land seven years.
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Psalm 72:1-4
Give the king your judgments, O God, and your righteousness to the king's son.
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Psalm 122:5
For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.
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Acts 25:11,12,20
For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.
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Library

He Ascended into Heaven, and Sitteth on the Right Hand of the ...
... into Heaven, and Sitteth on the Right Hand of the Father: from Thence He Shall Come
to Judge the Quick ... Who is the King of glory? ... Ps. lxviii.18[3376] Acts 2:33. ...
/.../31 he ascended into heaven.htm

The King and his Armies.
... the predicted events are represented by corresponding acts of symbolic ... the beast,
13:1. So, when "the King of kings ... of his coming, which is to "judge and make ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the king and his armies.htm

Acts XXIV
... Acts XXIV. ... him to speak): Knowing that you have been for many years a judge for this ...
was a woman of remarkable beauty, the lawful wife of Azizus, king of Emesa ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xxiv.htm

Acts of Sharbil, who was a Priest of Idols, and was Converted to ...
... of this world are conscious of this world only; but the King of all ... inflicted them
upon me, shouldest be called a murderer in thy acts and a ... The judge said: Lo ...
/.../unknown/the decretals/ancient syriac documents acts of.htm

Acts vii. 6, 7
... 6, 7. Acts VII.6, 7 ... "And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage I will judge,
said God ... "And gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xvi acts vii 6.htm

The King on his Judgment Throne
... And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I ... claims, and asserted His authority
as Judge over every ... the view here is rigidly limited to acts, and that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the king on his judgment.htm

Acts xxv. 23
... Acts XXV.23 ... brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O king Agrippa,
that ... too is a proof of Paul's spotlessness, that the judge found nothing ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily lii acts xxv 23.htm

Acts xxiv. 22, 23
... Acts XXIV.22, 23 ... They however were so urgent, that they again besought the judge. ...
And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto C??sarea to salute ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily li acts xxiv 22.htm

Acts VII
... Acts VII. ... (7) And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage, I will judge, said
God, and ... and gave him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts vii.htm

A New Kind of King
... We see the sorrowing King plunged in bitter grief in the ... the conviction of the pity
of the judge, and of ... two events are significant as His first and last acts. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/a new kind of king.htm