THESIS 38: THE STATE AS THE ANSWER TO THE PRAYERS OF REBELS

The monarchy in Israel was a result of rebellion in families,[124] a desire to be like the demonic States around Israel,[125] a rejection of the Lord's priestly calling to be a holy nation,[126] and a rejection of God's Law as given to the Patriarchs.[127] When the people desire centralized political structures it is because they desire to flee personal patriarchal responsibility.[128] God judges their sin by granting their wish, and inflicting upon these covetous, irresponsible Families the curse of the State.[129] Empire is a substitute for Godly Families: The alternative is always Patriarchy (government by Godly Families) or the Paternalistic State ("the government" instead of Godly Families).[130] Political officers were therefore at all times to be called "father" and "mother"[131] to remind both citizen and officer of the Patriarchal ideal in God's Law.

Exposition

Implications

What this Thesis means; how it should affect your life; how our lives should affect the world.

Clarifications

What this Thesis does NOT mean; how it should NOT affect your life; how the Old World distorted the truth.

Confirmations

How "mainstream" evangelical or orthodox commentators have confirmed this Thesis (without accepting the overall paradigm)

Deliberations

Readers' questions, complaints, allegations, flames, threats

         -- answered, adjusted, denied, blessed, filed.

Prooftexts

124. 1 Samuel 2:12ff.,29; 3:13; 8:2-5

125. 1 Samuel 8:5,20

126. Numbers 23:9; Exodus 33:16

127. 1 Samuel 8:7,18[LXX]-19; 10:19; 12:12, 17,19; Hosea 13:11; Ezekiel 20:24-25

128. 1 Samuel 8:20

129. 1 Samuel 8:11-18; Ezekiel 20:25.

130. Genesis 41:43

131. Cf. references in Westminster Larger Catechism, qq. 124-125.

Vine & Fig Tree
12314 Palm Dr. #107
Desert Hot Springs, CA 92240
[e-mail to V&FT]
[V&FT Home Page]