“It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness” (Proverbs 16:12).
Civil authorities are ordained of God (Rom. 13:1), not because the individuals who serve in this capacity are always virtuous and wise, but because of the divine concern that the innocent are protected, the criminals are punished, and good is praised. Often forgotten by this world’s pharaohs, kings, presidents, sheiks, governors, et. al. is the sobering truth that all the earthly, civil authority they possess is delegated to them by heaven. They are God’s ministers (literally, deacons) for good (Rom. 13:4).
The Old Testament clearly documents the accountability every civil authority has to God. Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians, for example, were raised up by God to punish His people for their idolatry and wickedness. Because of Judah’s persistent and stubborn refusal to repent (Jer. 25:7), it is written, “‘behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,’ says the Lord, ‘and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolation’” (Jer. 25:9). Not only did King Nebuchadnezzar carry out the divine assignment he was given, he also went beyond the divine parameters of his task. Because of this, he was punished by his King, Jehovah, and his capitol city was made a perpetual desolation (Jer. 25:12). Because Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians sinned against the Lord, the city walls were thrown down (Jer. 50:14-15), never to be inhabited again (Jer. 50:39-40).
Because of heaven’s appointment of all earthly government and each official’s personal accountability to God, it is an abomination for any civil authority to commit wickedness. The divine expectation is righteousness—the fair and just treatment of all. The innocent ought to be protected, the guilty ought to be justly punished, and the good ought to be highly praised. “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34).
