No nations are exempt from the purpose and working of the Lord: “The Lord is angry with all nations; his wrath is upon all their armies” (Is. 34:2)….The same is true for political rulers; God holds their destinies, including their rise and fall, in his hands: “He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.”

This is one installment of a series of studies in ancient Scripture that still provide guidance for today, modified from the author’s Biblical Patterns of Government; used with permission.

The Prophets

The OT prophets provide rich insights into God’s design for governance in general. Another testimony to the fact that God treats nations as corporate entities occurs at the beginning of Isaiah’s prophecy, as he laments a “sinful nation” that is loaded with guilt (Is. 1:4). Much of the problem in Israel at that time was that her leaders were rebels who loved bribes and did not defend the needy (Is. 1:23). God threatened to replace them with “judges as in the days of old” (Is. 1:26). The perspective of Isaiah depends on the transcendental reality of the Lord bringing about justice, peace, and international harmony (Is. 2:4). God is the one who ultimately brings these things about.

The leadership structure during Isaiah’s time consisted of judges, elders, prophets, rulers of fifty, counselors, and other officials (Is. 3:2-4). Yet, as a part of God’s judgment on this nation, he allowed inexperienced youths to govern (Is. 3:4-5). Even though youths and women would rule, God would arise to judge the leaders and leaders of his people (Is. 3:12-14).

Isaiah spoke of the Messiah as the Prince of peace whose government would have no end (Is. 9:6-7). Hence, it is impossible to dismiss government as inherently evil or to be shunned by Christians. The Messiah would be the perfect Governor, who would “reign on David’s throne…establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness…forever” (Is. 9:7).

One of the principal themes of the political theology of Isaiah was God’s use of other nations to accomplish his will, even if those nations were unbelieving states. As early as Isaiah 7:17, God spoke of raising up the hated Assyrians to humble Israel (Is. 7:18-20). No nation is secure if it acts contrary to God’s plan; nor is any state above God’s plan. God will use Assyria like a “razor” (Is. 7:20), like “mighty floodwaters” (Is. 8:7), and Isaiah warned his own patriots to be prepared for an unsuccessful battle: “Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand” (Is. 8:10). The Assyrian King is a “rod of my anger, a club of my wrath” (Is. 10:5) dispatched by God against Israel who was under the wrath of God. It is possible for nations to deteriorate so far as to come under the wrathful judgment of the Sovereign God. Later, Cyrus, who was used to humble Israel, is described favorably as a “Shepherd” (Is. 44:28), a term frequently used of good political rulers.

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