Long Live the King

(Proverbs 19:6 KJV)  Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

Unlike the Constitution the Bible is not a political document.  Both are covenants but have different parameters and purposes.  The Bible does not teach us about democracy.  It does not give clear responsibilities to specific political offices.  Yet it is full of principles and statements that give us important guidelines.  Some we have embraced.  Our idea of “all men are created equal” is a direct application of the ground being level at the foot of the cross and “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  That principle was what eventually led to the end of slavery.

Other assumptions of the Bible we reject as cultural or historical.  I am not sure that is correct, but that is the way it is.  One of those you find in this verse.  The NASB hides it here but the phrase “generous man” (5081) has the marginal reading of “noble”.  That is the most common translation followed by “princes”.  The KJV gets it spot on.  The Bible seems to assume a class system that we have rejected.  In fact the Constitution specifically says we shall not give “titles of nobility”.

So?  It isn’t a major issue for us now but we need to be aware that democracy and republics are not matters of doctrine and rejecting them is not heresy.  Keep that in mind if we ever lose the glorious liberty we have had for two hundred years.