Text: 1 Samuel 8:4-22
The Manner of a King
- He will take your sons to serve in his army & do his work (v. 11-12)
- He will take your daughters to work for him (v. 13)
- He will take your property (v. 14)
- He will tax your resources (v. 15)
- He will take your servants (v. 16)
- He will enslave you (v. 17)
The Divinely Ordained Role of Civil Government
- Punish evildoers (Romans 13:3-4)
- Protect the innocent (Romans 13:3)
- Provide & maintain a free environment (1 Timothy 2:2)
What Should We Expect as the Government becomes More Powerful?
- Expect less freedom
- Expect higher taxes — be prepared to work harder (2 Thessalonians 3:7-10) and to live with less (Philippians 4:11-12)
- Expect persecution — those who set themselves up as god persecute believers in the one true God (1 Peter 4:12,16); do not be intimidated (Acts 5:28-29)
What Do We Need to Do?
- Be subject to civil authorities (1 Peter 2:13-16)
- Pray for those in power (1 Timothy 2:2)
- Take care of yourself (2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:8) — if at all possible
- Be willing to help others (Ephesians 4:28) — don’t expect the government to do this (Ecclesiastes 5:8)
Read the article: The Perils of a Strong National Government
