ReNEWed COVENANT Ministry

SABBATH BIBLE STUDY

12-29

(2020)

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Compiled by JS LOWTHER
renewedcovenantministry.com
servant@renewedcovenantministry.com

Church Government

(continuation from: A Community of Election and Order)

Part 7 

Power Structure?

Exo_20:12

Honor (value) thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which YHWH thy God giveth thee.

Lev_19:32

Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head,

and honor the face of the old man/ Presbyter (πρεσβυτερων),

and fear thy God: I am YHWH.

(G4245 Presbyter: (elderly); older, old one)

Opening to:

Exo_24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.
Exo 24:13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God.
Exo 24:14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you: and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you: if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them.
Exo 24:15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount.
Exo 24:16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
Exo 24:17 And the sight of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
Exo 24:18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.

In the last study on Church Government, we had seen the 1 year establishment of the Presbyterian Episcopate in Numbers chapter 1, I hope it has been firmly laid out that Scripture is teaching us 2 very importantly reconciled truths in the establishment of this form of Government as a Kingdom of priests and a holy nation, that is as this quote from Ex 19 and 1 Peter insist upon, that of a Kingdom government where in YHWH God is ultimate King and his dominion is over his ministers or priest, and that this produces a governable holy or set apart nation, an ethnic people devoted to holiness.

The reconciliation which is the focus of Godly Church Government as it influences the world is a reconciliation of the Natural and the Spiritual, or of the Heavenly and the Earthy.
Not a favoritism of the spirit over the flesh, not of a favoritism of the flesh over the spirit but a reconciliation of proper order in the process of Election, by the Word of God.

And this Process or system has lead us to acknowledge the relevance of the Presbytery and the Gerousia or council of the Presbytery: the Presbyters are Elders or Old Men among the congregation not young men, whom God had been dealing with since the 3rd chapter of Exodus.
This was not a people unknown, but a group of Great grandfathers, Grandfathers and fathers, Great uncles, Uncles who are part of a common Nation and Ethnic people, the multiplied seed of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob whom YHWH God renamed Israel ( a prince / sar that rules with God). And by this Man and 4 wives God had made 12 Son’s who produced 12 Tribes destine to become many nations…

Gen_17:6 exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.
Gen 17:7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

We see by the directives of this language that the one seed (Jesus Christ according to Gal_3:16) as it was physically expressed in the natural generation Isaac, and Jacob will result in Generations (plural), that is that Nations and Kings would come of the fruitfulness of Abraham and His seed in a working combination as to bind an everlasting Covenant to those who share in the promise of the seed. God has bound him self to his covenant people by His own sovereign choice, and he will use those people of Abraham and Sarah’s body as good as dead in combination with the Spiritual Seed of Christ as good as resurrected to affect the world with the Law and the Gospel.

In Exo_3:18 God spoke to these old men who were the progenitors of Israel’s future Kings and Nations to spawn of the 12 patriarchs to make 12 Tribes, all having with in their natural structure of family Government an Elder or Presbyter to help govern the family by Headship.
And so as we had followed the Eldership of the tribes of Israel though the book of Exodus, We had seen the how it was again and again the Elders of a people who believed in YHWH, Kept the Passover, walked with Moses to the Rock and first drank of His water, who were the group Jethro reveals a furthered Government of the family to Moses, the Elders who approached unto God, made a Covenant with him by the hand and mediation of Moses, and it was these 70 Elders with Moses, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu the nobles of the children of Israel, that saw God, and did eat and drink. Exo_24:10-11
And in Last week’s study we immediately fast forwarded to 1 year after this time to see a development of the Heads of the Elders made Judges and Rulers over 10’s, 50’s 100’s and 1000’s as well as the highest head in the numbering, that which the LORD calls :

“every one head of the house of his fathers. ” Num_1:4

The renowned (called upon / Up Called) of the congregation,
princes or Rulers or Heads of the tribes of their fathers,
heads/ Rulers of thousands in Israel. Num_1:16

Simply these men captain (again Archon / Head) of the children of His tribe.
This order is an arithmoi / a mathematical summation or Numbering of literal men from 20 years old and up which had been collected into an Army, a host of Judgment and warfare. and of these Heads of Fathers houses these Archons are taken at Every level from 10 adult male to 1000 adult males all counted by their literal skulls, a head count or poll count.

To this numbered order a name has been given in Greek an Episcopate, this is the higher -archy of the nation of Israel which flows out of its Presbytery.
And thus in the LXX when these tribes are accounted for they are spoken of as having been numbered or summed up by a counter, a Numberer an Over-seer, this is the literal meaning and function of a Bishop or as I will designate an Episcope.
And so our Christian model is a replica of the tribes of Israel, when we as Theonomic Christians think of a Bishop we as it is spoken of in the NT we do not imagine a prelate with a big hat or a nominal preacher, we are to think of a patriarchal head of 10’s, 50’s 100’s and 1000’s and of this highest Archon the Captain of 1000’s (plural) and thus te head of the house of His father.

There is a distinction of understanding to be recognized at this point in Government, which in some bygone age has resulted in the distinct differences between the general principle of Presbyterianism and Episcopalianism, and that is the question of where the authority of the Heads of 10’s and 50’s and 100’s and 1000 fit into the model.
In other words is the highest Head the in charge , the

Num_1:16-17 Renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribe of his fathers, and heads of thousands in Israel…expressed by name,

Is he really the one in charge? or is it a collective Headship of the 10’s in some form of agreement and order?
Is it an Electorate of the people of God’s Election and Order?

What is the nature of God’s Government in this construction?

This question has been asked and contemplated and fought about, men have died for this distinct opinion for over 1000 years. And it is this nature, even in its imperfect forms that cause civil wars between men and their governments.

It was this question that lead to ‘religious tolerance laws’ in fact in history; people got sick of this fight and said you do it your way and we’ll do it our way in our churches of worship, you send your representatives when we need to make a nation agreement as it pertains to our country and well handle the issue together, and then back to our own local church governments.

I also know that this subject has made martyrs on both sides of the issue historically, and I’d be a fool to say I know the answer to bridge the gap in fact.

But what does the power structure look like according to the Law of God is the question we will bible study ?
And for that we must go back within the confines of
I. Spiritual Election
By all we had prior established prior, as the absolute bedrock foundation of this Called out group, this church, that the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and it imputed as the “ the soul and sole” source of Righteousness and standing this man who is Judge has His faith in and by such he understands the Righteous Judgments of his Deu_1:16-17

Lawful oath of Office:
To : Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously between every man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. (Answer: Amen / I will)
Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; (Answer: Amen / I will)
ye shall hear the small as well as the great;(Answer: Amen / I will)

ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: (Answer: Amen / I will)

and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it. (Answer: Amen / I will)

It is in this last agreement where a great level of understanding perhaps can be found in agreeing to bring causes “to hard” to God through Moses (the Law) to be heard an answer may be found.

With this we have a logical order that flows out of the Judges that
fear God,
who are men of truth,
who are actively hating covetousness,

Thus these Judges must be, Exo_18:21 ‘able man’ have a God fearing, truthful hatred of Covetous that allows them to be satisfied with their own:

1. Purpose and 2. Nature
and of other Heads Purpose and Nature:

Of 1. “able” Purpose we are speaking of Deu_1:15 Wise:
a. Heads / Captains / Rulers
b. to judge the people
c. to judge the people at all seasons
Exo 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

Of 2. “able” Nature we are speaking of being Deu_1:15 Known:
a. Fatherhood,
b. location
c. Age
d. birth order
This is all things that make a Head and Judge able to be a head and to Judge his people at …all seasons

I believe what this order will consistently reveal is the need for strong local Government within the Families, kindreds and tribes and eventually a collective nation, with the ability to unite on the hardest of matters affecting the Katholicen καθολικὴν the United Community as a whole.

Look at the first thing God speaks to Moses on the mount to teach the People and the Judges, remember:
Moses re-enters into the thick darkness after the Sabbath had come, and so what was this that until Moses came the people were to practice as Deu_1:18 And I commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do.

Exo 21:1 Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them.

Laws on the treatment of bought Hebrew servant.

And how the relationship of Master and servant is righteously maintained in regards to Marital laws, in regards to family structure:
Exo 21:7 And if a man sell his daughter to be a maidservant, she shall not go out as the menservants do.
Exo 21:8 If she please not her master, who hath betrothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power, seeing he hath dealt deceitfully with her.
Exo 21:9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
How the family is to understand Polygany
Exo 21:10 If he take him another wife; her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage, shall he not diminish.
Exo 21:11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money.

Distinguishing Murder or willful killing from Manslaughter or involuntary acts resulting in murder

Exo 21:12 He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.
Exo 21:13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.
Exo 21:14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.

Disrespect of the Family structure:
Exo 21:15 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
Exo_21:16 And he that stealeth a man (LXX. one of the children of Israel), and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
Exo 21:17 And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.

Neighbor relations
Exo 21:18 And if men strive together, and one smite another with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed:
Exo 21:19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit: only he shall pay for the loss of his time, and shall cause him to be thoroughly healed.

Servant treatment
Exo 21:20 And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
Exo 21:21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished: for he is his money.
The establishment of protecting Children according to the discretion of her husband’s authority as it is Judged
Exo_21:22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine.
Exo 21:23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
Exo 21:24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,
Exo 21:25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Punishment of servants
Exo 21:26 And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake.
Exo 21:27 And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake.
Animal related issues
Exo 21:28 If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit.
Exo 21:29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.
Exo 21:30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.
Exo 21:31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him.
Exo 21:32 If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Restitution and on and on 
Exo 21:33 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein;
Exo 21:34 The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his.
Exo 21:35 And if one man’s ox hurt another’s, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide.
Exo 21:36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.
Exo 22:1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
Exo 22:2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
Exo 22:3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
Exo 22:4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
Exo 22:5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man’s field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
Exo 22:6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
Exo 22:7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.
Exo_22:8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods.
Exo_22:9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour.
Exo 22:10 If a man deliver unto his neighbour an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it:
Exo 22:11 Then shall an oath of the LORD be between them both, that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbour’s goods; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good.
Exo 22:12 And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof.
Exo 22:13 If it be torn in pieces, then let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn.
Exo 22:14 And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
Exo 22:15 But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good: if it be an hired thing, it came for his hire.
Exo 22:16 And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife.
Exo 22:17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.
Exo 22:18 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.
Exo 22:19 Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.
Exo 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Exo 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
Exo 22:22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.
Exo 22:23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;
Exo 22:24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
Exo 22:25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
Exo 22:26 If thou at all take thy neighbour’s raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down:
Exo 22:27 For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.
Exo_22:28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Exo 22:29 Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.
Exo 22:30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep: seven days it shall be with his dam; on the eighth day thou shalt give it me.
Exo 22:31 And ye shall be holy men unto me: neither shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field; ye shall cast it to the dogs.

Throughout the Scripture, the judges of Israel who carried out judicial determination for the people, are in the Hebrew text as called “god’s” in this way: Exo_21:6; Exo_22:8; Exo_22:9 : all of which refer to the God ordained authorities as being representatives of GOD due to the execution of his Law as seen in Deu_19:17-18, these are undoubtedly spiritual men due to the high standards placed upon them in their selection from among the Elders, that is the old men, of Israel’s Tribes and families Exo_18:25-26 Exo_18:25-26, Deu_1:9-18, Num_1:1-54, Num_11:14-25.
Thus we find:
Thou shalt not revile the gods…
Exo_22:28

So what is the verse of law speaking of?

Clearly the following statement helps clear up …nor curse the ruler of thy people.
Psa_82:1, how: God standeth in the congregation of the mighty (Heb. AL); he judgeth among the gods(ALHIM). and asks 2 How long will ye judge unjustly…

And here we shall end for this study.