Bible Question:
what is theocracy |
Bible Answer: Cheif - The term 'theocracy' is not found in the Hebrew Bible, yet it is descriptive of a type of government in which Yahweh was king over Israel. In ancient Israel, Yahweh was viewed as the sole Sovereign from whom other authorities derived legitimacy. This was not unlike the position that the founding fathers of our republic held, but this position has been severely compromised in contemporary American governance by the influx of skepticism and secular humanism resulting in moral and spiritual decay. .... In Israel's political life theocracy came into being during the premonarchic times of the judges and prophets, continued on as a monarchic form during the period of the kings in which the king was viewed as Yahweh's representative and called Yahweh's anointed or prince. Later, theocracy was present as a postexilic priestly form that saw both priest and prince as Yahweh's representatives. Throughout Israel's history theocracy was often more an ideal than a reality that Israel lived out. --Hank |