They had asked for a king, and God gave them a king. The prophet Samuel was also a judge (1 Samuel 3:20 7:15). Notice that God says they had asked the judges for a king. Later in Hosea 13:9-11, God rebukes Israel for rejecting Him as their king. Yet, God would establish his throne, but he would not be God’s choice. The ruler would be an evil one who would oppress them. They would be allowed to select their ruler, but it was not the ruler God wanted for them. Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day. 1 Samuel 8:18 (NASB) The entire description is negative and in verse 18 we read this, Verses 10-18 record what God told Samuel to communicate to Israel that they would experience with their new king. The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.” 1 Samuel 8:7 (NASB)Ĭonsequently, God allowed Israel to have their own king.

In 1 Samuel 8:1-7 we are told that the nation of Israel had rejected God as their king. In 1 Samuel 8 an amazing event is described that illustrates how God establishes or appoints rulers over nations. God Allows Nations To Select Rulers and Then He Establishes Them The same principle is communicated throughout Scripture (Psalms 75:6-7 Proverbs 8:15). That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind,Īnd sets over it the lowliest of men.” Daniel 4:17 (NASB) This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchersĪnd the decision is a command of the holy ones, In Daniel 4:17 the evil ruler of the Babylonian empire, King Nebuchadnezzar, reports part of a dream that God gave him. In John 19:11 Jesus told Pontius Pilate, who was an evil governor, that his authority came from God the Father. Romans 9:17 is a quote from Exodus 9:16-17, and it illustrates the principle of Romans 13:1.įor the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” Romans 9:17 (NASB) We learn from Exodus 7-11 that this Pharaoh was an evil ruler. That is, every governmental leader has been appointed, arranged or established by God.Įarlier in Romans 9:17, we are reminded that God put the Pharaoh of Egypt in his position of authority. The word means “to appoint, to order, or to arrange”. This word appears eight times in the New Testament (Matthew 28:16 Luke 7:8 Acts 13:48 15:2 22:10 28:23 Romans 13:1 1 Corinthians 16:15). The Greek word that is translated as “established” is tasso. In the context of Romans 13:1-7, it refers to governmental authority. It refers to anyone who has power or can exercise authority. The first is the word “authority” which in the Greek is exousia. The key statement that we want to examine in Romans 13:1 is “no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” There are two words of interest. Romans 13:1 States That God Establishes All Governments With their silver and gold they have made idols for themselves, They have appointed princes, but I did not know it. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. The answer to the question, “Does God appoint evil leaders to lead nations?” is yes! That is the message of Romans 13:1, but Hosea 8:4 seems to contradict.Įvery person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. Does God appoint evil leaders to lead nations? Bible Answer:

Another word for ruler of nations