Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority

The Doctrine Of Interposition

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Civil Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2016-12-18

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver expounds the biblical doctrine of interposition (the lesser magistrate), arguing that lower-ranking civil and spiritual magistrates have a God-given duty to resist and nullify tyrannical or unconstitutional edicts from higher authorities. He traces the doctrine historically, legally, and theologically, using Scripture, American founding documents, and Reformation history to show that interposition is a necessary safeguard against tyranny and is rooted in God's sovereignty and law.

[John Weaver] Bibles to Romans chapter 13 and I'm going to ask you as we read Romans chapter 13 today that you listen intently because I have a lot of material to cover and I normally would ask you to turn to a lot of scriptures but I will probably be quoting most scriptures today just to save time. So Romans chapter 13 the title of the message is The doctrine or the biblical doctrine of interposition or the lesser magistrate. So look in Romans chapter 13, beginning there with verse one, let every soul be subject under the higher powers. For there is no power, but of God, the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisted the power is this to the ordinance of God.

[John Weaver] And they that resist shall receive to themselves. Damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for it beareth not the sword in vain. For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore, you must needs be subject not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay you tribute also, for there are God's ministers attending continually upon this very thing.

[John Weaver] Render, therefore, to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due, custom to whom custom, fear to whom fear, and honor to whom honor. So the title of the message is the doctrine of interposition or the lesser magistrate. Do you understand that we are experiencing in this country tyranny? Tyranny can only prevail through ignorance, apathy, and refusal to exercise diligence and self-responsibility. I want to take a moment and emphasize the thought concerning ignorance. There is a theological concept that either deters or promotes tyranny. It is the concept of sovereignty. When you understand that God alone is absolutely sovereign and there is no other sovereign, then tyranny is deterred. The truth is made plain to the individual who understands God's sovereignty that man is limited in all of his institution. Man cannot be sovereign in any sense of the word. In all of man's institutions, he is limited. He is limited in self-government, in civil government, in family government, and in church government. Man cannot possibly be the ultimate, the absolute, or the sovereign, for there is only one sovereign, and that is God Himself.

[John Weaver] So a proper understanding of God's sovereignty will always dispel, deter, and deny tyranny. However, when man in his rebellion or in his ignorance ignores or denies, or I could add, or conveniently forgets the sovereignty of God, He hasn't placed sovereignty somewhere because man by nature needs an ultimate. He needs an absolute. He needs a sovereign. And when he denies God's sovereignty, inevitably he's going to place sovereignty in man, either in himself or in some institution that man has set up.

[John Weaver] And in this instance, most likely it is government. Now, such ignorance could not take place. during the first 100 years of the founding of America. Colonial pastors preached not only election sermons, but also artillery sermons, not only to the people, but also to their rulers. There was absolutely not one ruler that could hold office or take an office without having an election sermon preached to him. In those election sermons, those colonial pastors taught the people not only the duties and responsibilities of civil rulers, but they also taught the civil rulers their duties and their responsibilities as well. So the government then, the governmental view as presented by the Bible, was taught clearly and openly and practically. So ignorance could not prevail during the first 100 years of colonial America.

[John Weaver] Unhappily, those days are long past. Ignorance reigns supremely in our age. Today we adhere to the old adage that ignorance is bliss. If ignorance is bliss, we should be the happiest people on the face of the earth. For when it comes to the subject of the biblical understanding of civil government, we are of all people most ignorant. We do not even understand the simplest, much less the more complex points concerning civil government.

[John Weaver] Consequently, we're easy prey for tyrants, and we quickly fall and are consumed by despotic rulers. Tyranny may take different forms. When you and I think of tyranny, we normally think of coercion. We think of force. We think of heavy-handed pressure. But not all tyranny is that of coercion and heavy-handed pressure. C.S. Lewis pointed this out, listen carefully, and I'm quoting, he said, of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under the robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber barons' cruelty may sometimes sleep, His cupidity may at some point be satiated. But those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own consciences.

[John Weaver] And that certainly is true. I don't know if you remember Huxley, in his book Brave New World, said it like this. A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive or political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced because they love their servitude and stop and think about it. That is exactly where we are today. Most Americans are in servitude and they love it.

[John Weaver] We are an economic slavery because we're in debt up to our eyeballs. We're in governmental slavery because of the rules, regulations, administrative procedures, as well as licenses, permits, and certifications that we must follow and possess. We've been led to believe that all of these things are for our safety and for our protection. Yet our forefathers never had any of these things and they were protected. We're enslaved to sin, our flesh, our passions, For we've turned our backs upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have embraced pornography, abortion, sodomy, fornication, adultery, theft, socialism, Marxism, communism, and progressivism.

[John Weaver] You see, the problem is everybody wants a free lunch, so to speak. Everyone wants the government to give, give, give. We want it to take from others and give to us. We only get upset when it takes from us. We have failed to understand that legal plunder and illegal plunder are synonymous and the end result is exactly the same in both cases. Plunder is plunder and we are robbed. There is a difference between illegal plunder and legal plunder. Illegal plunder is when one takes a gun and points it at you and robs you. Everyone understands that is illegal plunder. Illegal plunder is dangerous, not only for the individual being robbed, but also for the robber because the individual being robbed may have a weapon himself or may not want to be robbed and defends himself and consequently the robber can either be injured, killed, or captured and therefore go to prison. But you have to understand that legal plunder takes place when there is a rule, a regulation, a statute, or a law passed that requires you to give that which you possess.

[John Weaver] Legal plunder has no danger to the plunderer because if you do not give then you are the one that faces prison. Legal thieves are still thieves. Legal plunderers are still robbers. You have to ask yourself this question. Why has our country deteriorated and why are we continually losing our properties, our lives, and our liberties? Why are we descending into absolute chaos? Who can stop it? Why has it not been stopped? One answer is that we have not grown weary with the usurpations, despotism, and tyranny with which we are constantly assaulted. We've not grown weary with it. When we get weary enough, when our backs are against the wall like they should be, We're going to come up and say, we're not going to take it anymore. Things are going to change. But the problem in this country, one of the problems is people have just not gotten weary enough with their tyranny and with the despotism.

[John Weaver] But when we are thoroughly exasperated with our system of incremental tyranny, maybe a number of people will begin to follow a lesser magistrate as that lesser magistrate fights the beast. Now I told you I'm going to be talking about the doctrine of interposition. It is sometimes referred to as the doctrine of the lesser magistrate. I want to show you this doctrine historically, legally, and theologically. So I'm going to have three points historically, legally, and theologically. I wish I could say that these three points were not intermixed, but they are. You're going to find scripture in every one of the points, not just the theological. But let me try to do it historically first. The doctrine of interposition goes back a long way.

[John Weaver] It's been around for many centuries. And this point will certainly be clarified even more when we get to the theological truth. It is said that the Roman emperor Trajan, when appointing a subordinate authority, handed him a sword. and instructed him with these words. He said, use this sword against mine enemies. If I give righteous commands, but if I give unrighteous commands, use it against me. In that statement, we not only see the doctrine of interposition, but we also see the power and the authority of the lesser magistrate to resist the evil and wickedness of a higher magistrate. You must understand that all magistrates derive their power from God alone.

[John Weaver] That's why we begin in Romans 13, look at verses 1 and 2. God says, let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God. Therefore, whosoever therefore resisted the power, resisted the ordinance of God, and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation or condemnation. So God delegates power or authority or jurisdiction. All authority, power, and jurisdiction comes from God.

[John Weaver] Now we often talk about the civil ruler or the civil magistrate. Interestingly, if you look up the word magistrate in the Bible, you will find that one of the main words that is used in the Hebrew for a magistrate is found in Judges 18 in verse 7. Let me just read it for you. Then the five men departed and came to Laish, and saw the people therein, and how they dwelt careless after the matter of Zidonians, quiet and secure, and there was no magistrate in the land that might put them to shame in anything. And they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man. So here you had five men from the tribe of Dan scoping out an area so that they could enlarge their territory. And when they found out that there was no magistrate in the land that might put them to shame in anything, they went back and told their brethren, come on, let's take the land, it'll be easy pickings. Now, the Hebrew word for magistrate is esser, and it literally means a possessor of restraint, or someone that has the power and the authority and the right to restrain.

[John Weaver] And since there was no magistrate, since there was no one in that land that had that power and that authority, obviously the Danites said, we can take this land very easily. So you have to understand first and foremost, that a magistrate is a man of authority. He is someone who has lawful power and lawful authority with the right to restrain and hold back and punish evil. The second main word is found in Ezra chapter 7 in verse 25. Listen carefully. The Bible says, And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, and such as know the laws of thy God, and teach you them that know them not. Now here you have the word magistrate, but it's a different word. The first word was esser. Now here is the word Shafat. The word Shafat literally means to litigate, or to pass sentence, or to vindicate, or punish. Now what did the Bible say? The Bible said, the king told Ezra, he is to set magistrates, that is people with authority to restrain and to punish.

[John Weaver] But it's more than that. It has to be men who know the law of God. And he said, if you set up any magistrate that does not know the law of God, you must teach them the law of God. So a magistrate then is not just simply someone who has power and authority. A magistrate is someone who not only has that power and authority, but he knows the law of God and he rules in light of that law. So he has power to restrain, but he's also. has the responsibility, the duty, and the obligation to rule according to God and his law. Now, let me just point this out. All magistrates have the responsibility and duty to restrain and to hold back wickedness. Likewise, all magistrates also have the duty and the responsibility to enforce the law of God.

[John Weaver] When you look at Romans 13, and we're not looking at it in detail today, but when you look at it in detail, you will find that God ordained civil government for two purposes only. Civil government was ordained by God, number one, to protect the righteous, and number two, to punish the evil. When we talk about interposition, interposition is the doctrine that causes a lesser magistrate to step into the gap and protect the people from a higher or superior magistrate who is abusive or tyrannical.

[John Weaver] Now listen, lesser magistrates are not simply to unquestionably obey their superiors. When they do so, it is a denial their duty and their responsibility and They become positively evil for instance Do you remember the elders of Jezreel? when Jezebel took Ahab's seal and sent orders to the elders of Jezreel to proclaim a fast and to set Naboth on high and Then bring false witnesses against him and take him out in stoning to death and guess what? The elders, the rulers of Jezreel did exactly like Jezebel commanded and they murdered Naboth and his sons. Guess what? God not only held Ahab responsible and Jezebel responsible. He also holds the elders and rulers of Jezreel responsible for the deaths of Naboth and his sons.

[John Weaver] Rulers do not have the authority nor the right to make up laws as they please. Nor do they have the authority or the right to violate God's law. Was Jezebel wrong? Yes. Was Ahab wrong? Yes. Were the elders of Jezreel wrong? Yes. The fact that a ruler or civil official in government is of high office, even the highest office does not and cannot justify him using his office to commit evil. And just because you have a lower magistrate, someone in the lowest of offices cannot justify him cooperating with a higher or superior authority to commit that evil. It doesn't matter if one is a higher or lower magistrate, each have the responsibility to obey God and restrain evil and wickedness. And that especially, which is in all contradiction to the word of God, the, I am just following orders mentality is completely unbiblical. Moreover, it is a denial of personal responsibility. When a lesser magistrate obeys unjust and immoral laws, he becomes complicit in the sins, crimes, and rebellion of the higher authority. A lesser magistrate is required to judge all law by the supreme law of the land, which is the word of God.

[John Weaver] If he does not do so, he will not escape the righteous judgment of God. Now listen carefully. simply because a law is a law does not mean that it must be obeyed. And incidentally, I hope, you know, the Supreme court cannot make law. It may render a decision, but that decision is not binding. It is not law. Only Congress can make laws, but in America, in America, Unconstitutional laws are null and void and should not be obeyed.

[John Weaver] Here it is spelled out for you in 16 M, the second edition. I'm quoting the general rule is that an unconstitutional statute, though having the form in the name of law is in reality, no law, but it's wholly void and ineffective for any purpose. since unconstitutionality dates from the time of its enactment and not merely from the date of the decision, so branding it. No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts are bound to enforce it. That's plain enough.

[John Weaver] But the Supreme Court itself in Norton versus Shelby County ruled thusly. I'm quoting, an unconstitutional act is not law, it confers no rights, it imposes no duties, affords no protection, it creates no office, in its legal contemplation as though it had never been passed. That's what the Supreme Court said. Who is the one that determines whether or not something is unconstitutional? It's not the law. It's not the Supreme Court. No. It's the people. We, the people, ordained the Constitution.

[John Weaver] We're the ones that should know what is constitutional and what is not constitutional. History is replete with examples for those who rejected and resisted unjust and immoral laws. You have to remember that it was the barons and nobles that interposed themselves and resisted the tyranny of King John in England. Their resistance to their superior and their interposition led to what you and I know as the Magna Carta in 1215. Our Constitution has direct ties to the Magna Carta.

[John Weaver] By the way, Martin Luther, the reformer, was rescued by a lesser magistrate. Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, had given Luther a safe conduct pass to and from the Diet of Worms or the parliament there. However, when Luther failed to renounce his views and submit to the Roman Catholic dogmas, Charles V then ordered Luther's arrest and demanded that this notorious heretic be brought to his court and punished, which would have been a death sentence. Luther was saved by Prince Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony. Instead of obeying Charles, Frederick had Luther abducted or kidnapped and taken to a safe haven where Charles V and his minions could not reach him. And so what Frederick the Wise did was, being a lesser magistrate, being a prince under the authority of Charles V, he interposed himself and he refused to obey the unjust and immoral edict of a tyrant. And thus, Frederick was the one who saved Luther's life.

[John Weaver] The Germans had an interesting word for tyrants and tyranny. They referred to a tyrant as a bear wolf. That would be a unique creature, wouldn't it? A bear and a wolf combined. They called it a bear wolf. Luther also used this as a symbol of tyranny. There was a soldier's song that spoke of the bear wolf in that era. Listen to this song. Given to Caesar what is Caesar's just as we read, but how much more so for the Lord God. As long as he does the Lord's will, talking about Caesar, and lives in peace, Caesar's office we must honor. Should he transgress, he is no more emperor or lord, but an outlaw and a bear wolf against which we must guard." Isn't that amazing? They said when the ruler turns against God, he's no longer emperor or lord, he's an outlaw and a bear wolf.

[John Weaver] In 1550, A number of Lutheran pastors wrote the Magdeburg Confession which sets forth clearly and succinctly the doctrine of interposition and the duties and responsibilities of the lesser magistrates. Usurpation, listen carefully, usurpation is taking power and authority that has not been given or granted to you. So usurpation then is theft plain and simple. When you consider that the United States Constitution limits the federal government and expressly states their powers, it should be obvious that a great deal of theft and usurpation has taken place in this country. Our government has gone many times over and above and beyond their limited powers. Tyranny is the abuse of power. Power may have been obtained legally and justly in the beginning, but when it becomes abusive, destructive, and detrimental to the citizens, it is tyranny. Listen, if you don't learn anything else, learn this. Tyranny is never a God ordained form of government. It has never been, and it never will be because it's contrary to God and in violation of God's word.

[John Weaver] I only need to quote one passage, Psalm 94, 20 and 21. Listen, shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by law. They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous and condemn the innocent blood, shall the throne of iniquity. So it's a throne. It's a civil power, but it's a wicked civil power. It's a throne of iniquity. And notice what this throne of iniquity does. It frames mischief by law. Mischief is another word for sin in the Bible. In other words, this wicked civil government makes sin legal. It made sodomy legal, quote unquote. It makes theft legal. It makes murder legal in abortion. Now, the question is, shall this wicked civil government have fellowship with God when that wicked civil government frames mischief or sin by law when it makes it legal?

[John Weaver] And the answer is no. And then he says, here's what they do. They gather themselves together, these civil rulers, against the soul of the righteous and condemn the innocent blood. Just like the Germans said, When the emperor does that, or the ruler does that, he becomes an outlaw, a bear wolf. John Calvin wrote it like this. Listen, I love this. For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind.

[John Weaver] We ought rather to spit upon their heads than to obey them. That's pretty plain, isn't it? We ought rather to spit upon their heads than to obey them. I think the face would be better, but that's all right. Frederick Bastiat, in his book, The Law, in 1847, wrote this. Listen carefully. When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing respect for the law.

[John Weaver] Do you know what has just happened in this country? You can either lose your moral sense and say that wickedness is right and okay, or you can despise the law. And unhappily, that's exactly where we are. Historically, the doctrine of interposition or the doctrine of lesser magistrate has always been used to defend against tyranny. Let me consider this second legally. Notice if you would, legally. The fourth edition of Black's Law Dictionary defines interposition. Here's the definition.

[John Weaver] It is the doctrine that a state in its exercise of its sovereignty may reject a mandate of the federal government deemed to be unconstitutional or to exceed the powers delegated to the federal government. The doctrine denies the constitutional obligations of states to respect Supreme Court decisions which they do not agree. And by the way, that was a court ruling as well that Black's Law Dictionary was just quoting a court ruling. It says the states have the right to not obey an unconstitutional edict or law or one that exceeds the authority of the federal government. So the interposition doctrine refers to a doctrine whereby a state, in the exercise of its own sovereign power, may reject an order or authority of the federal government that appears to be unconstitutional or that exceeds the powers delegated to the federal government. So according to this doctrine, a state does not possess a constitutional obligation to obey the Supreme Court or even Congress. Implementation of the doctrine of interposition may be peaceable, it may be by resolution, it may be by remonstrance, it may be by legislation, or it may proceed ultimately to nullification with forcible resistance.

[John Weaver] The concept is based upon the 10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, reserving to the states powers not delegated to the federal government. Historically and legally, this doctrine emanated from the case Chisholm v. Georgia, one of my favorite cases, Chisholm v. Georgia. Chisholm versus Georgia in 1792 in South Carolina. Alexander Chisholm, the executor of the estate of Robert Farquhar, attempted to sue the state of Georgia in the Supreme Court over payments due to him for goods that Farquhar had supplied to Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. United States Attorney General Edmund Randolph argued the case for the plaintiff before the Supreme Court. The defendant, Georgia, refused to appear, claiming that as a sovereign state it could not be sued without granting its consent to be sued. So when Georgia failed to appear, the Supreme Court sent word to Georgia, fine, you don't have to come up here. We will issue our verdict without you. The state of Georgia responded with great determination and basically said, fine. Render all the verdicts that you wish to render, but know this, the very first agent that you send into the sovereign state of Georgia to enforce your verdict will be immediately hanged without the benefit of clergy.

[John Weaver] Wow. Mostly because of Chisholm versus Georgia, the 11th Amendment was ratified in 1795 and all pending court actions against Chisholm was dismissed or were dismissed. So this removed the federal jurisdiction in cases where citizens of one state or foreign countries attempted to sue another state. Now listen. Since the lesser civil magistrates or lower-ranking civil government officials are God's ministers as well, they have a duty and responsibility as God's servants to protect those under their authority from evil policies, evil laws, and decisions enacted or decreed or promulgated by higher, superior governmental officials. So the doctrine of interposition then holds at the lower ranking civil government officials must place themselves in between their people and the higher superior authority who's endeavoring to abuse them or enslave them. It is the duty of the lesser magistrate just like it is the duty of a higher magistrate to obey God and protect the people. So the doctrine of interposition means this, it does not necessarily have to be a state, it could be. It could be one magistrate in that state.

[John Weaver] But the lower ranking civil government official has an inescapable duty to use their authority to protect the citizens and to nullify wicked and bad laws. I'll just tell you this, here is how things should work. And I'm not going to go into great detail, but here's how things should work. And don't laugh at this. I know it's, it's hilarious in one sense of the word, but don't laugh at this.

[John Weaver] What should happen is Obama should be protecting us and doing that, which is right and holy and godly. If he would not do it, then of course, Joe Biden is supposed to, since he's the vice president. If Biden will not do it, then the speaker of the house voter must do it. If he would not do it, then the next person would do it. And you keep going right on down until you get to the lesser magistrate in the federal government.

[John Weaver] If none of them will do it, then the governor of the state ought to do it. If the governor would not, then the lieutenant governor. If the lieutenant governor would not, then, of course, the Speaker of the House ought. If he would not, then any of the magistrates, then it goes down to the county, then it goes down to the city. In other words, there ought to be one magistrate somewhere that'll step up and say, no more. This will not happen in our state, and this will not happen to our people.

[John Weaver] You have to understand that the framers and ratifiers of our Constitution certainly believe in the doctrine of interposition. They used it in resisting George III and Parliament, and in declaring their independence from England. They used it in forming our first Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, and they used it again in forming and ratifying the Constitution. In fact, James Madison argued in the Federalist No. 43, he said this, maintaining that such action was based on principles prior to all forms of civil government, the principles of the law of compacts, principles of the very laws of nature and of nature's God. You have to understand that Early on, the states went through this very clearly.

[John Weaver] For instance, I want to take the time just to read you a couple of the Kentucky and the Virginia resolutions. If you've never read the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions, you need to do so. Thomas Jefferson had a part in this, Madison, some of the others. Listen to this. Resolved. Here's the first one. Resolved. that the several states composing the United States of America are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to the general government, but that by a compact under the style and title of the Constitution for the United States and of the amendments thereto, they constituted a general government for special purposes, delegated that government certain definite powers, reserving each state to itself the residuary massive right to their own self-government, and that, whensoever the general government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force, that to this compact each state is seated as a state and is an integral party, its co-states forming as to itself the other party. that the government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of its powers delegated to itself, since that would have made its discretion and not the Constitution the measure of its powers, but that in all other cases of compact among powers having no common judge, each

[John Weaver] party has an equal right to judge for itself as well as infractions as a mode of measure of redress. Each state can say, no, we will not do this. The concluding part of the third resolve is this, and that in addition to this general principle and express declaration, another more special provision has been made by one of the amendments to the Constitution, which expressly declares that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

[John Weaver] or bridging the freedom of speech or of the press, thereby guarding in the same sentence and under the same words the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press insomuch, insomuch that whatever violated either throws down the sanctuary which covers the others and that libels, falsehoods, and defamations equally with heresy and false religion are withheld from the cognizance of federal tribunals. That, therefore, the act of Congress of the United States passed on the 14th of July, 1798, entitled an act for the punishment of certain crimes against the United States, which does abridge the freedom of the press, is not law, but is altogether void and of no force. Amen. Wow.

[John Weaver] You see, the basic philosophy of the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions is that the American government is a government of specifically enumerated powers and that when the federal government goes over and above and beyond and seeks to usurp authority, it is totally illegal and it is not binding. When the federal government does act unconstitutional, then that means the local officials in the state, if none in the federal will do so, must interpose themselves and protect the people from tyranny and wickedness. It doesn't matter if it's the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House or whatever, it goes right on down. You see, the 10th Amendment declares this, the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the states are reserved to the states respectively or to the people thereof. When you examine the United States Constitution, and you begin to count the enumerated powers delegated to the federal government, depending on how you count them, you can come up with no more than 25 or 30 specific enumerated powers.

[John Weaver] And you'll find most of them in Article I, Section 8. A few others are scattered throughout Additionally, the Constitution does give the federal government the power to form and operate the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches, but that's it. That's it. 25 to 30 at the most, some limited to 21. But being generous, being gracious, let's say 30. Has the United States government gone over 30 enumerated powers?

[John Weaver] Look at all the bureaucracies. The Constitution never gave the government anything to do with education or welfare or anything like that. No, they've stolen, they usurped that authority. It was never given. It was that ironclad southerner John C. Calhoun who taught nullification. Nullification simply meant that the states have the right and the duty and the responsibility to nullify bad laws as well as unconstitutional laws passed by Washington, D.C.

[John Weaver] You have to remember interposition means to come between. So political interposition occurs when a magistrate then steps in and ends, say, a rebellion, listen carefully, either by the people or by other magistrates. You see, what we forget is this. It's not just the people who can rebel. The rulers can rebel as well. Interposition in the sense of quelling a rebellion among the people is readily understood. Everybody would say, and I could give you an illustration of this in the Book of Acts, anybody can say that a magistrate has the right to step in and stop a riot or stop a rebellion among the people. But you know, all of a sudden, people kind of get nauseated when they think that those lower magistrates also have the right and the power to stop a rebellion among higher magistrates. Interposition has far wider and greater implications. Not only are nullification and protection part and parcel of the teaching, But interposition also teaches that when a ruler is tyrannical, wicked, and seeking to overthrow the people, then a lesser magistrate may step in and take his place and fulfill his responsibility.

[John Weaver] By the way, it was exactly this scenario that happened during the American Revolution. Do you know what King George III did? He sent his royal governors over here. He sent His rule was over here to enforce his decrees. You know what the colonials did? They rejected and refused the king's governors and elected people of their own. And instead of following the royal governors and the royal rulers, they followed their own elected officials. Wow.

[John Weaver] Do you understand that America is the product of interposition. America is the product of interposition.

[John Weaver] Thirdly, let me try to cover this theologically. I want you to go ahead and turn in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 25. I wish I had time to read this, I do not, but I will tell you about Numbers 25, of course, We'll be there just momentarily. We've covered it historically, legally, now we're going to cover it theologically. We understand the intervention of magistrates. We especially understand it in light of corruption, perversion, and abusive authority of wicked rulers. We deem it right and just. Incidentally, Jeremiah was delivered from death by lesser magistrates in Jeremiah 26 verses 8 through 19. That's a good illustration.

[John Weaver] Here's something that we have forgotten. Listen carefully. We have forgotten that pastors are spiritual magistrates. Listen carefully to this statement. A magistrate is a magistrate either in the civil or the spiritual realm. I would urge you to study the American War for Independence and see how pastors preached, prayed, fought, and led in that war. You could also study the War of Northern Aggression and find out how the pastors still prayed and fought and led in that war as well. There are instances in the Bible where a spiritual magistrate stepped in and performed the duty of a civil magistrate when the civil magistrate failed in his duty.

[John Weaver] We have an excellent illustration of this in chapter 25 of the book of Numbers. Let me just read a couple of these verses. Verse 1, And Israel bowed in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people into the sacrifices of their gods, and the people did eat and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal Peor, and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay you every one of his men that were joined unto Baal Peor. Now, as you look at this passage, God has clearly delineated the judgment against all those who joined themselves unto Baal Peor. The judgment was death. They were to be slain, and they were to be hung up before the Lord to turn away His righteous wrath from the people.

[John Weaver] Notice if you would, verse 5, And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay every one of his men that were joined unto Baal Peor. You have to remember that Moses was the chief judge himself. So he gives the order to slay every one of them to the judges. But something happens. Verse 6, And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought into his brethren a Midianitish woman, in the sight of Moses, in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eliezer, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through a belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

[John Weaver] Now, I find it interesting. That the Bible says, look in verse 6 again, And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a million-ilish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of creation. Now, you know there were several million Israelites. Could several million Israelites get before the door of the tabernacle? No. When you see this phrase, the congregation of the children of Israel, it refers to the leaders. It refers to the rulers. It refers to those individuals who had been given authority. It would have been the princes of all the tribes, as well as the household of Aaron and Moses.

[John Weaver] So here they are praying. Now let me ask you, look if you would, the Bible says, Verse 4, And the LORD said unto Moses, he gave him his order. Moses said to the judges, Slay them. Verse 5, And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto the brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses, in the sight of all the congregation of Israel, who were weeping or praying before the door of the tabernacle. So what was Moses doing? He was crying and praying.

[John Weaver] What were the other rulers doing? They were crying and they were praying. Let me tell you something. Listen carefully. Prayer is needed and necessary and commanded. However, there comes a time when you have to stop praying and just simply obey God. Prayer and humiliation did absolutely nothing as long as sin was allowed in the camp. As long as Zimri and Cosby were in that camp, there was sin, it was rebellion against God.

[John Weaver] And Phinehas took a javelin and went in and killed both of them. Now listen carefully. Phineas was not a civil ruler. Neither was he the high priest. He certainly was off the priestly order because he was a grandson of Aaron, yet he would still be considered a lesser magistrate. So when the judges, whom had already received the order in verse 5, When the judges refused to do their duty, by the way, and probably the reason they refused to do it was because Zimri was a prince. When they refused to do their duty to a superior magistrate, or one of their equal, then Phinehas arose and executed both of them. Zimri had brought Cosby into the camp openly, boldly, brazenly, in defiance of God and His law. Wow.

[John Weaver] Now I want you to understand something. Phinehas was not a private person. He was a magistrate. He may have been a lesser one, but he was still a magistrate. And a spiritual magistrate is just as much a magistrate as a civil magistrate. You remember I told you in Judges 18 verse 7, the Hebrew word for magistrate is esser, which means to hold back, someone who has power to restrain. In Ezra 7 and verse 25, it's shefat, which means it's someone who restrains according to God's law and knows God's law. Even when you get to the New Testament, The main word for a magistrate is the word strategos. If you would look up the word strategos, you will find that it refers to a general, a military officer, a governor, a commandant, and also to the chief of the Levites. Wow. Strategos is where we get our English word strategy. Stratia. is the Greek word for army. Have you ever wondered, as you read through the New Testament, who the captains of the temple were?

[John Weaver] You know who the Pharisees were and the Sadducees and the Herodians. But who were the captains of the temple? In the New Testament, they were these armed Levites who protected the temple and the high priest. If you want to really understand that, just read my book, The Christian Civil Government. Go to the seventh chapter on the pastor as magistrate. And you'll understand where I show and demonstrate that these men were armed Levites. Now, it is not difficult to justify Phinehas in what he did, because he was heir apparent to the high priesthood, but he was also a magistrate. He may have been a lesser one and a spiritual one, but he was still a magistrate.

[John Weaver] His actions do not give any countenance to private persons who under the pretense of zeal against sin wants to just go out and kill and murder individuals. No. According to the scripture, the civil magistrate is the avenger, the one who's been given the sword to execute the wrath of God according to Romans chapter 13. So you can't look at Phineas and say, well, I can just go out and start murdering people. No, you can't do that. Because he was still a magistrate. The difference between magistrate is one of degrees, and that only. You can be a lesser or a higher, but it's just one of degrees. A magistrate is still a magistrate.

[John Weaver] Now, I don't have time to preach this this morning, but I want to point this out to you. And you can do the research yourself. You can read it yourself. Do you realize there are times in the Bible when spiritual magistrates stepped in and did what needed to be done when the civil magistrate failed to do it. Let me just tell you. If you'll read 1 Samuel chapter 15, you will find out where God commanded King Saul to go and kill all the Amalekites.

[John Weaver] Man, woman, boy, girl, you know. But what does the Bible say? But Saul spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, and the best of the oxen, the best, etc. And Samuel goes to Saul. And when Saul sees him, he says, Blessed be thou, the Lord, I've performed all the commandments of God. And about that time, something went, Baa, Moo. And Samuel said, If you've obeyed God, what meaneth the blading of the sheep, and the loin, and the cattle in mine ear? If you'd obeyed God, everything would be dead. Now you read 1 Samuel chapter 15. When Samuel asked for Agag to come, The Bible said Agag came delicately. I can see him just pressing up to Samuel.

[John Weaver] And he said, surely, surely the violence of death is over. And you know what Samuel did? The Bible said he took the sword and hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord or as unto the Lord. In other words, Samuel, the little preacher, did to Agag exactly that which God wanted done to Agag. He pleased God in doing that. Now here's my question. How could Samuel kill Agag?

[John Weaver] And the answer is, because he was a spiritual magistrate. He had the power. He had the authority. He had the law of God. And here was standing King Saul, who refused to obey God, and little preacher Samuel took care of the problem. You'll also notice in 1 Kings chapter 18, when Elijah had all the prophets of Baal come to Mount Carmel. And you know the great story there.

[John Weaver] I'm not going to get into it. But when fire came from heaven and consumed Elijah's altar and sacrifice and licked up the water all around about, what did Elijah say? Bring ye hither to me the prophets of Baal. And what did Elijah do? In the presence of Ahab, he took a sword and cut off the heads of 400 prophets of Baal. There stood Ahab. He should have done it. But he didn't. But Elijah did. How could Elijah do that?

[John Weaver] He was a spiritual magistrate. He had power and authority. He may have been a different magistrate, not a civil one, but he was still a magistrate. When you get to II Kings 11, oh, Jehordia the high priest, guess what? He had Athaliah the queen put to death. Athaliah was her murderer. She murdered her own grandchildren. And when one of the king's sons, Joash I believe it was, was spared and raised in the temple, And he got to be seven years of age. They made him king. And when Athaliah came, Jehoiada said, have her without the temple and kill her and kill all that follow her. In other words, Jehoiada did that which needed to be done. In each of these instances, a civil magistrate performed the duties of a civil magistrate. Two of them did so in the presence of the civil magistrate. When Johanna did it, he did it to eliminate a murderous and treacherous civil magistrate.

[John Weaver] Interposition is a biblical doctrine. The word ruler in Exodus 22 and verse 28 is the Hebrew word Nasi, which means literally one lifted up, one elevated, one exalted in or by the local assembly. You will find the word Nasi used in Numbers chapter 1 and it applies to any ruler of God's people or to the leaders of the congregation.

[John Weaver] Now, let me ask you this. How do we know that God approves of the doctrine of interposition? Well, since you're in Numbers chapter 25, let me show you. First of all, we know that God approves of the doctrine of interposition because He put a stop to the plague instantly when Phinehas killed Look in verse 8. And he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel and the woman through a belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.

[John Weaver] In other words, their weeping and praying before the door of the congregation or the door of the tabernacle did absolutely nothing until this peace of justice was done. If magistrates do not take care to punish sin, God will. But magisterial justice will be the best prevention of God's judgment, as in the case of Achan in Joshua chapter 7. When magistrates fail to punish sin, that does not mean that wickedness will go unpunished. It just means that God will take care of the wickedness in His own way, in His own time. Do you think that God approves of sodomy? You're mistaken. You just wait. You just hang on. We know that God approves of interposition, for the plague was stayed.

[John Weaver] Secondly, God placed an honor upon Phinehas. Though Phinehas did no more than what was his duty to do so, he did it with an extraordinary zeal for God's honor and God's glory, when all the other judges probably had respect for Zimriah's position as a prince. Well, the Bible tells us that it was counted to Phinehas as righteousness. Psalm 106 verse 31. God counted it to Phinehas for righteousness. Thirdly, Phinehas upon this occasion, though a young man, is pronounced his country's best patriot and friend. Look if you would please in verse 11. Wherefore say behold, verse 11, Phinehas the son of Eliezer, the son of Aaron, the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake among them that I consumed up the children of Israel in my jealousy. So obviously he's deemed here the country's patriot and best friend because he turned away the wrath of God. This is the best service that any magistrate can do. It's to turn away the wrath of God. It's the best service that we can do with our prayers and obedience and our endeavors to bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end.

[John Weaver] And fourthly, we know that God approves of divine interposition because the priesthood is entailed by covenant upon his family. It was designed to him before, but now God gave it to him by covenant. Watch in verse 12. Wherefore, say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace, and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God and made atonement for the children of Israel. So, He's given the priesthood. It is an unchangeable priesthood that ends in the perfection of Jesus Christ who is consecrated forevermore. You see, the doctrine of interposition is indeed a neglected doctrine, but it is an important doctrine. And we have to understand this doctrine so we will not descend into anarchy. We cannot do like those people in Judges chapter 17 and Judges 21 When the Bible says there was no king in Israel in those days, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. No, we can't do that which is right in our own eyes.

[John Weaver] We have to do that which is right in God's eyes. We can always find a lesser magistrate who will stand up to the higher superior magistrates and rebuke them and rebuff them and protect the people. And if we can't find one, bless God, let's appoint one or elect one who will. Does interposition have a theological basis? The answer is yes. Let me tell you something. If you don't like this doctrine, then you do not like salvation.

[John Weaver] I want you to turn very quickly in your Bibles to Romans chapter 3. Look at it very quickly. Romans chapter 3 at verses 24 through 26. Romans 3, beginning there with verse 24. Look at what the Bible says. Romans 3. And I've got to hurry, but watch Romans 3, verse 24. Here the Scripture says it like this. Romans 3, verse 24. Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Now watch verse 25.

[John Weaver] Whom God has sent forth or put forward to be a propitiation through faith in His blood to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God, to declare, I say at this time, His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." Now, what did Jesus Christ do? The wrath of God was against us. We may have been God's elect, but we were yet in our sins. And what Jesus Christ did was He interposed Himself. He came between His people and the wrath of God. He suffered the wrath of God in our stead, in our place. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of interposition. He stood between the consuming wrath of God and His people, and He suffered everything for His people. Do you realize? not only in soteriology in the doctrine of salvation, but our Lord also interposes Himself between His people and rebellious rulers.

[John Weaver] Ah, I want you to look back in your Bibles very quickly to Psalm 2. Psalm 2, and notice if you would please what the scripture says. Psalm 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 8. God says, ask of me, Talking about his son, ask of me and I shall give to the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore ye kings and be instructed you judges of the earth. Note, thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

[John Weaver] This passage is preceded by the good news that the kingdoms belong to Jesus Christ. Those rulers who will not submit to Him will be broken like a potter's vessel with a rod of iron. These rulers do not own their own realms. They are not the kings. They are not the presidents they think they are. They think this is their country, their realm, their rule, their kingdom. No! It belongs to Jesus Christ. And just like Jesus Christ interposed Himself on behalf of His people to save us from the wrath and the justice of God. He will also interpose Himself to save us from tyrants. Oh yes.

[John Weaver] That does not mean that we will not suffer some for our sins and our complicity in it. But it does mean that we will not go under. You remember when God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt? I love the passage where He said He brought them out that He might bring them in. He did not bring them out of Egypt to drop them in the desert. He brought them out to bring them into Canaan land. And Jesus Christ did not bring us out of our sins to drop us into the hands of tyrants who hate us and despise us.

[John Weaver] In fact, our Lord prayed in John 17, Father, I will that those whom Thou hast given me be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, which Thou gavest me before the foundation of the world. Oh yes, His prayer will be answered. Let me just mention this by way of application. Think about this. I mentioned earlier that interposition, and there are many illustrations, but interposition could be done by way of remonstrance. Remonstrance is where the people intervene and dispose themselves in order to right a wrong.

[John Weaver] One good illustration is found in 1 Samuel chapter 14. The Israelites were chasing their enemies. And King Saul stupidly said this, For Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be he that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies, so none of the people tasted any food. Well, Jonathan his son did not hear that. And so Jonathan was chasing the enemies, he comes upon a beehive, the honey is dripping everywhere, he takes a end of his spear dips it in and eats the honey, and his eyes are enlightened, and everybody begins to gasp and say, did you not know your father cursed somebody who would eat today? He said, my father is foolish. He said, look how my eyes have been enlightened. If all the people had been able to eat some, how much more could we have slaughtered our enemies?

[John Weaver] So when the battle was won, the people then flew upon the sheep and the spoils and ate with the blood, which was totally unbiblical. And when God began to judge, King Saul said, let's have it between my family and the children of Israel. And his family was taken. And then Jonathan was taken. And you know what King Saul said to his son? Jonathan, you're going to die. I said whoever ate would die, you're going to die. I'm going to kill you, or I'll have you killed.

[John Weaver] But when you get to verses 43 and 45, listen to this. Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of my rod that was in my hand, and, lo, I must die. And Saul answered, God do so, and more also, for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die?

[John Weaver] who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel, God forbid, as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he hath wrought with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan that he died not. What did the people do? They said, we're not going to allow this. And Jonathan was spared. You know what a good illustration of this would be practically today? Jury nullification. Do you realize that a jury has the absolute right to determine the law and the facts? A man may be guilty of violating a law, but the law could be a bad, unjust, immoral, or unconstitutional law. And so when we judge the law as well as the facts, we can determine that individual is innocent, not just based upon the facts, but based upon whether that law is right or wrong.

[John Weaver] We can also understand this. Look at our enemies and look at those who hate Christ and hate the Bible and hate the South. If they can be in the streets demonstrating, so can we. So can we. I've got news for you folks. When we get to the point that we are saying to ourselves I'm sick to death of this tyranny and this abusive wickedness. And I'm not going to take it anymore.

[John Weaver] Then we might do something. But we've got to get to that place. And I've got news for you. God can quickly drive us to that place. We need to understand interposition. We need to understand the lesser magistrate. If he is fighting against wickedness, we need to get behind him and stand with him. Whether we like him or not, whether we agree with him on other things or not is immaterial. If he's fighting against the wickedness and if he's fighting against tyranny, he needs our help and he needs our support. If we understand what I'm preaching today, we understand it is an answer to what we're facing. We need to understand the doctrine of interposition.

[John Weaver] Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We pray that you would indeed teach us, that you'd build us up in the most holy faith, that you'd make us understanding people. God, oh God, give us, I pray, an understanding heart, In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we ask and pray. Amen.

The Doctrine of Interposition

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	q-dup4nx5GU
Subject	Civil Government
Course	Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-12-18
Dictation Name
Book	Book 008: Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13 — Chapter 23
Source Timed Segments	83

Formatted Transcript

Opening

Bibles to Romans chapter 13, and I'm going to ask you as we read Romans chapter 13 today that you listen intently because I have a lot of material to cover and I normally would ask you to turn to a lot of scriptures, but I will probably be quoting most scriptures today just to save time. So Romans chapter 13, the title of the message is "The Doctrine, or the Biblical Doctrine of Interposition, or the Lesser Magistrate." So look in Romans chapter 13, beginning there with verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:1-7

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God." "And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing."

Introduction: Tyranny and Ignorance of God's Sovereignty

Tyranny prevails through ignorance of God's absolute sovereignty. When man denies God's sovereignty, he inevitably places sovereignty in man or human institutions, leading to despotism.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:1-7

"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

So the title of the message is "The Doctrine of Interposition or the Lesser Magistrate." Do you understand that we are experiencing in this country tyranny? Tyranny can only prevail through ignorance, apathy, and refusal to exercise diligence and self-responsibility. I want to take a moment and emphasize the thought concerning ignorance. There is a theological concept that either deters or promotes tyranny. It is the concept of sovereignty. When you understand that God alone is absolutely sovereign and there is no other sovereign, then tyranny is deterred. The truth is made plain to the individual who understands God's sovereignty that man is limited in all of his institutions. Man cannot be sovereign in any sense of the word. In all of man's institutions, he is limited. He is limited in self-government, in civil government, in family government, and in church government. Man cannot possibly be the ultimate, the absolute, or the sovereign, for there is only one sovereign, and that is God Himself.

So a proper understanding of God's sovereignty will always dispel, deter, and deny tyranny. However, when man in his rebellion or in his ignorance ignores or denies—or I could add, or conveniently forgets—the sovereignty of God, he hasn't placed sovereignty somewhere, because man by nature needs an ultimate. He needs an absolute. He needs a sovereign. And when he denies God's sovereignty, inevitably he's going to place sovereignty in man, either in himself or in some institution that man has set up. And in this instance, most likely it is government. Now, such ignorance could not take place during the first 100 years of the founding of America. Colonial pastors preached not only election sermons, but also artillery sermons, not only to the people, but also to their rulers. There was absolutely not one ruler that could hold office or take an office without having an election sermon preached to him. In those election sermons, those colonial pastors taught the people not only the duties and responsibilities of civil rulers, but they also taught the civil rulers their duties and their responsibilities as well. So the government then, the governmental view as presented by the Bible, was taught clearly and openly and practically. So ignorance could not prevail during the first 100 years of colonial America.

Historical Foundations of Interposition

The doctrine of interposition has ancient roots, illustrated by Emperor Trajan's charge to a subordinate magistrate. Colonial pastors preached election sermons that taught both rulers and people their biblical duties, preventing ignorance.

It's been around for many centuries. And this point will certainly be clarified even more when we get to the theological truth. It is said that the Roman emperor Trajan, when appointing a subordinate authority, handed him a sword and instructed him with these words. He said, "Use this sword against mine enemies if I give righteous commands, but if I give unrighteous commands, use it against me." In that statement, we not only see the doctrine of interposition, but we also see the power and the authority of the lesser magistrate to resist the evil and wickedness of a higher magistrate. You must understand that all magistrates derive their power from God alone. That's why we begin in Romans 13, look at verses 1 and 2. God says, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation" or condemnation. So God delegates power or authority or jurisdiction. All authority, power, and jurisdiction comes from God.

Now we often talk about the civil ruler or the civil magistrate. Interestingly, if you look up the word magistrate in the Bible, you will find that one of the main words that is used in the Hebrew for a magistrate is found in Judges 18 and verse 7. Let me just read it for you.

Scripture Reading — Judges 18:7

"Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man."

So here you had five men from the tribe of Dan scoping out an area so that they could enlarge their territory. And when they found out that there was no magistrate in the land that might put them to shame in anything, they went back and told their brethren, "Come on, let's take the land, it'll be easy pickings." Now, the Hebrew word for magistrate is "esser," and it literally means a possessor of restraint, or someone that has the power and the authority and the right to restrain.

Legal Basis: The Lesser Magistrate's Duty

Legally, interposition is defined as a state's right to reject unconstitutional federal mandates. The 10th Amendment reserves undelegated powers to the states. Lower magistrates must protect citizens from higher-level tyranny.

It is "the doctrine that a state, in its exercise of its sovereignty, may reject a mandate of the federal government deemed to be unconstitutional or to exceed the powers delegated to the federal government. The doctrine denies the constitutional obligations of states to respect Supreme Court decisions which they do not agree." And by the way, that was a court ruling as well that Black's Law Dictionary was just quoting a court ruling. It says the states have the right to not obey an unconstitutional edict or law or one that exceeds the authority of the federal government. So the interposition doctrine refers to a doctrine whereby a state, in the exercise of its own sovereign power, may reject an order or authority of the federal government that appears to be unconstitutional or that exceeds the powers delegated to the federal government. So according to this doctrine, a state does not possess a constitutional obligation to obey the Supreme Court or even Congress. Implementation of the doctrine of interposition may be peaceable, it may be by resolution, it may be by remonstrance, it may be by legislation, or it may proceed ultimately to nullification with forcible resistance.

The concept is based upon the 10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, reserving to the states powers not delegated to the federal government. Historically and legally, this doctrine emanated from the case Chisholm v. Georgia, one of my favorite cases, Chisholm v. Georgia. Chisholm versus Georgia in 1792 in South Carolina. Alexander Chisholm, the executor of the estate of Robert Farquhar, attempted to sue the state of Georgia in the Supreme Court over payments due to him for goods that Farquhar had supplied to Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. United States Attorney General Edmund Randolph argued the case for the plaintiff before the Supreme Court. The defendant, Georgia, refused to appear, claiming that as a sovereign state it could not be sued without granting its consent to be sued. So when Georgia failed to appear, the Supreme Court sent word to Georgia, "Fine, you don't have to come up here. We will issue our verdict without you." The state of Georgia responded with great determination and basically said, "Fine. Render all the verdicts that you wish to render, but know this: the very first agent that you send into the sovereign state of Georgia to enforce your verdict will be immediately hanged without the benefit of clergy."

Wow. Mostly because of Chisholm v. Georgia, the 11th Amendment was ratified in 1795 and all pending court actions against Chisholm were dismissed. So this removed the federal jurisdiction in cases where citizens of one state or foreign countries attempted to sue another state. Now listen. Since the lesser civil magistrates or lower-ranking civil government officials are God's ministers as well, they have a duty and responsibility as God's servants to protect those under their authority from evil policies, evil laws, and decisions enacted or decreed or promulgated by higher, superior governmental officials. So the doctrine of interposition then holds that the lower ranking civil government officials must place themselves in between their people and the higher superior authority who's endeavoring to abuse them or enslave them. It is the duty of the lesser magistrate just like it is the duty of a higher magistrate to obey God and protect the people. So the doctrine of interposition means this: it does not necessarily have to be a state, it could be. It could be one magistrate in that state.

Theological Basis: Spiritual Magistrates and Biblical Examples

Theologically, pastors are spiritual magistrates. Phinehas (Numbers 25) executed judgment when civil rulers failed. Samuel, Elijah, and Jehoiada also acted as spiritual magistrates. Jesus Christ is the ultimate interposer, standing between God's wrath and His people.

Thirdly, let me try to cover this theologically. I want you to go ahead and turn in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 25. I wish I had time to read this, I do not, but I will tell you about Numbers 25, of course. We'll be there just momentarily. We've covered it historically, legally, now we're going to cover it theologically. We understand the intervention of magistrates. We especially understand it in light of corruption, perversion, and abusive authority of wicked rulers. We deem it right and just. Incidentally, Jeremiah was delivered from death by lesser magistrates in Jeremiah 26 verses 8 through 19. That's a good illustration.

Here's something that we have forgotten. Listen carefully. We have forgotten that pastors are spiritual magistrates. Listen carefully to this statement: A magistrate is a magistrate either in the civil or the spiritual realm. I would urge you to study the American War for Independence and see how pastors preached, prayed, fought, and led in that war. You could also study the War of Northern Aggression and find out how the pastors still prayed and fought and led in that war as well. There are instances in the Bible where a spiritual magistrate stepped in and performed the duty of a civil magistrate when the civil magistrate failed in his duty.

We have an excellent illustration of this in chapter 25 of the book of Numbers. Let me just read a couple of these verses. Verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Numbers 25:1-8

"And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor."

Now, as you look at this passage, God has clearly delineated the judgment against all those who joined themselves unto Baal-peor. The judgment was death. They were to be slain, and they were to be hung up before the Lord to turn away His righteous wrath from the people.

Notice if you would, verse 5: "And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor." You have to remember that Moses was the chief judge himself. So he gives the order to slay every one of them to the judges. But something happens. Verse 6: "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel."

Now, I find it interesting that the Bible says, look in verse 6 again: "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." Now, you know there were several million Israelites. Could several million Israelites get before the door of the tabernacle? No. When you see this phrase, "the congregation of the children of Israel," it refers to the leaders. It refers to the rulers. It refers to those individuals who had been given authority. It would have been the princes of all the tribes, as well as the household of Aaron and Moses.

So here they are praying. Now let me ask you, look if you would, the Bible says, verse 4: "And the LORD said unto Moses," He gave him His order. Moses said to the judges, "Slay them." Verse 5: "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, in the sight of all the congregation of Israel, who were weeping" or praying "before the door of the tabernacle." So what was Moses doing? He was crying and praying. What were the other rulers doing? They were crying and they were praying. Let me tell you something. Listen carefully. Prayer is needed and necessary and commanded. However, there comes a time when you have to stop praying and just simply obey God. Prayer and humiliation did absolutely nothing as long as sin was allowed in the camp. As long as Zimri and Cosby were in that camp, there was sin, it was rebellion against God.

And Phinehas took a javelin and went in and killed both of them. Now listen carefully. Phinehas was not a civil ruler. Neither was he the high priest. He certainly was of the priestly order because he was a grandson of Aaron, yet he would still be considered a lesser magistrate. So when the judges, who had already received the order in verse 5, when the judges refused to do their duty—by the way, and probably the reason they refused to do it was because Zimri was a prince—when they refused to do their duty to a superior magistrate, or one of their equal, then Phinehas arose and executed both of them. Zimri had brought Cosby into the camp openly, boldly, brazenly, in defiance of God and His law. Wow.

Now I want you to understand something. Phinehas was not a private person. He was a magistrate. He may have been a lesser one, but he was still a magistrate. And a spiritual magistrate is just as much a magistrate as a civil magistrate. You remember I told you in Judges 18 verse 7, the Hebrew word for magistrate is "esser," which means to hold back, someone who has power to restrain. In Ezra 7 and verse 25, it's "shafat," which means it's someone who restrains according to God's law and knows God's law. Even when you get to the New Testament, the main word for a magistrate is the word "strategos." If you would look up the word "strategos," you will find that it refers to a general, a military officer, a governor, a commandant, and also to the chief of the Levites. Wow. "Strategos" is where we get our English word "strategy." "Stratia" is the Greek word for army. Have you ever wondered, as you read through the New Testament, who the captains of the temple were?

You know who the Pharisees were and the Sadducees and the Herodians. But who were the captains of the temple? In the New Testament, they were these armed Levites who protected the temple and the high priest. If you want to really understand that, just read my book, The Christian Civil Government. Go to the seventh chapter on the pastor as magistrate. And you'll understand where I show and demonstrate that these men were armed Levites. Now, it is not difficult to justify Phinehas in what he did, because he was heir apparent to the high priesthood, but he was also a magistrate. He may have been a lesser one and a spiritual one, but he was still a magistrate.

His actions do not give any countenance to private persons who under the pretense of zeal against sin wants to just go out and kill and murder individuals. No. According to the scripture, the civil magistrate is the avenger, the one who's been given the sword to execute the wrath of God according to Romans chapter 13. So you can't look at Phinehas and say, "Well, I can just go out and start murdering people." No, you can't do that. Because he was still a magistrate. The difference between magistrate is one of degrees, and that only. You can be a lesser or a higher, but it's just one of degrees. A magistrate is still a magistrate.

Now, I don't have time to preach this this morning, but I want to point this out to you. And you can do the research yourself. You can read it yourself. Do you realize there are times in the Bible when spiritual magistrates stepped in and did what needed to be done when the civil magistrate failed to do it? Let me just tell you. If you'll read 1 Samuel chapter 15, you will find out where God commanded King Saul to go and kill all the Amalekites. Man, woman, boy, girl, you know. But what does the Bible say? "But Saul spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, and the best of the oxen, the best," etc. And Samuel goes to Saul. And when Saul sees him, he says, "Blessed be thou of the LORD, I have performed all the commandments of God." And about that time, something went, "Baa, Moo." And Samuel said, "If you've obeyed God, what meaneth the bleating of the sheep, and the lowing of the cattle in mine ear? If you'd obeyed God, everything would be dead." Now you read 1 Samuel chapter 15. When Samuel asked for Agag to come, the Bible said Agag came delicately. I can see him just pressing up to Samuel.

And he said, "Surely, surely the bitterness of death is past." And you know what Samuel did? The Bible said he took the sword and hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD, or as unto the LORD. In other words, Samuel, the little preacher, did to Agag exactly that which God wanted done to Agag. He pleased God in doing that. Now here's my question. How could Samuel kill Agag? And the answer is, because he was a spiritual magistrate. He had the power. He had the authority. He had the law of God. And here was standing King Saul, who refused to obey God, and little preacher Samuel took care of the problem. You'll also notice in 1 Kings chapter 18, when Elijah had all the prophets of Baal come to Mount Carmel. And you know the great story there.

I'm not going to get into it. But when fire came from heaven and consumed Elijah's altar and sacrifice and licked up the water all around about, what did Elijah say? "Bring ye hither to me the prophets of Baal." And what did Elijah do? In the presence of Ahab, he took a sword and cut off the heads of 400 prophets of Baal. There stood Ahab. He should have done it. But he didn't. But Elijah did. How could Elijah do that?

He was a spiritual magistrate. He had power and authority. He may have been a different magistrate, not a civil one, but he was still a magistrate. When you get to 2 Kings 11, oh, Jehoiada the high priest, guess what? He had Athaliah the queen put to death. Athaliah was a murderer. She murdered her own grandchildren. And when one of the king's sons, Joash I believe it was, was spared and raised in the temple, and he got to be seven years of age, they made him king. And when Athaliah came, Jehoiada said, "Have her without the temple and kill her and kill all that follow her." In other words, Jehoiada did that which needed to be done. In each of these instances, a spiritual magistrate performed the duties of a civil magistrate. Two of them did so in the presence of the civil magistrate. When Jehoiada did it, he did it to eliminate a murderous and treacherous civil magistrate.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 22:28

Interposition is a biblical doctrine. The word "ruler" in Exodus 22 and verse 28 is the Hebrew word "nasi," which means literally one lifted up, one elevated, one exalted in or by the local assembly. You will find the word "nasi" used in Numbers chapter 1 and it applies to any ruler of God's people or to the leaders of the congregation.

God's Approval of Interposition in Numbers 25

God demonstrated approval of Phinehas's interposition by stopping the plague, honoring Phinehas, counting it as righteousness, and granting him a covenant of everlasting priesthood.

In other words, their weeping and praying before the door of the congregation or the door of the tabernacle did absolutely nothing until this piece of justice was done. If magistrates do not take care to punish sin, God will. But magisterial justice will be the best prevention of God's judgment, as in the case of Achan in Joshua chapter 7. When magistrates fail to punish sin, that does not mean that wickedness will go unpunished. It just means that God will take care of the wickedness in His own way, in His own time. Do you think that God approves of sodomy? You're mistaken. You just wait. You just hang on. We know that God approves of interposition, for the plague was stayed.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 106:31

Secondly, God placed an honor upon Phinehas. Though Phinehas did no more than what was his duty to do so, he did it with an extraordinary zeal for God's honor and God's glory, when all the other judges probably had respect for Zimri's position as a prince. Well, the Bible tells us that it was counted to Phinehas as righteousness. Psalm 106 verse 31. God counted it to Phinehas for righteousness. Thirdly, Phinehas upon this occasion, though a young man, is pronounced his country's best patriot and friend. Look if you would please in verse 11: "Wherefore say, Behold, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy." So obviously he's deemed here the country's patriot and best friend because he turned away the wrath of God. This is the best service that any magistrate can do. It's to turn away the wrath of God. It's the best service that we can do with our prayers and obedience and our endeavors to bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end.

And fourthly, we know that God approves of divine interposition because the priesthood is entailed by covenant upon his family. It was designed to him before, but now God gave it to him by covenant. Watch in verse 12: "Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." So, he's given the priesthood. It is an unchangeable priesthood that ends in the perfection of Jesus Christ who is consecrated forevermore. You see, the doctrine of interposition is indeed a neglected doctrine, but it is an important doctrine. And we have to understand this doctrine so we will not descend into anarchy. We cannot do like those people in Judges chapter 17 and Judges 21 when the Bible says there was no king in Israel in those days, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. No, we can't do that which is right in our own eyes.

Christ as the Supreme Interposer and Application

Jesus Christ interposed Himself to bear God's wrath for His people. He will also interpose to save His people from tyrants. Practical applications include remonstrance, jury nullification, and supporting lesser magistrates who resist tyranny.

I want you to turn very quickly in your Bibles to Romans chapter 3. Look at it very quickly. Romans chapter 3 at verses 24 through 26. Romans 3, beginning there with verse 24. Look at what the Bible says. Romans 3. And I've got to hurry, but watch Romans 3, verse 24. Here the Scripture says it like this. Romans 3, verse 24: "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Now watch verse 25.

"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Now, what did Jesus Christ do? The wrath of God was against us. We may have been God's elect, but we were yet in our sins. And what Jesus Christ did was He interposed Himself. He came between His people and the wrath of God. He suffered the wrath of God in our stead, in our place. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of interposition. He stood between the consuming wrath of God and His people, and He suffered everything for His people. Do you realize, not only in soteriology in the doctrine of salvation, but our Lord also interposes Himself between His people and rebellious rulers.

Ah, I want you to look back in your Bibles very quickly to Psalm 2. Psalm 2, and notice if you would please what the scripture says. Psalm 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 8. God says, "Ask of me," talking about His Son, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth." Note,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 2:8-10

"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

This passage is preceded by the good news that the kingdoms belong to Jesus Christ. Those rulers who will not submit to Him will be broken like a potter's vessel with a rod of iron. These rulers do not own their own realms. They are not the kings. They are not the presidents they think they are. They think this is their country, their realm, their rule, their kingdom. No! It belongs to Jesus Christ. And just like Jesus Christ interposed Himself on behalf of His people to save us from the wrath and the justice of God, He will also interpose Himself to save us from tyrants. Oh yes.

That does not mean that we will not suffer some for our sins and our complicity in it. But it does mean that we will not go under. You remember when God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt? I love the passage where He said He brought them out that He might bring them in. He did not bring them out of Egypt to drop them in the desert. He brought them out to bring them into Canaan land. And Jesus Christ did not bring us out of our sins to drop us into the hands of tyrants who hate us and despise us.

In fact, our Lord prayed in John 17, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." Oh yes, His prayer will be answered. Let me just mention this by way of application. Think about this. I mentioned earlier that interposition, and there are many illustrations, but interposition could be done by way of remonstrance. Remonstrance is where the people intervene and dispose themselves in order to right a wrong. One good illustration is found in 1 Samuel chapter 14. The Israelites were chasing their enemies. And King Saul stupidly said this, "For Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food." Well, Jonathan his son did not hear that. And so Jonathan was chasing the enemies, he comes upon a beehive, the honey is dripping everywhere, he takes the end of his spear, dips it in and eats the honey, and his eyes are enlightened, and everybody begins to gasp and say, "Did you not know your father cursed somebody who would eat today?" He said, "My father is foolish. He said, look how my eyes have been enlightened. If all the people had been able to eat some, how much more could we have slaughtered our enemies?"

So when the battle was won, the people then flew upon the sheep and the spoils and ate with the blood, which was totally unbiblical. And when God began to judge, King Saul said, "Let's have it between my family and the children of Israel." And his family was taken. And then Jonathan was taken. And you know what King Saul said to his son? "Jonathan, you're going to die. I said whoever ate would die, you're going to die. I'm going to kill you, or I'll have you killed."

But when you get to verses 43 and 45, listen to this. "Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die. And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die?" "who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. What did the people do? They said, "We're not going to allow this." And Jonathan was spared. You know what a good illustration of this would be practically today? Jury nullification. Do you realize that a jury has the absolute right to determine the law and the facts? A man may be guilty of violating a law, but the law could be a bad, unjust, immoral, or unconstitutional law. And so when we judge the law as well as the facts, we can determine that individual is innocent, not just based upon the facts, but based upon whether that law is right or wrong.

We can also understand this. Look at our enemies and look at those who hate Christ and hate the Bible and hate the South. If they can be in the streets demonstrating, so can we. So can we. I've got news for you folks. When we get to the point that we are saying to ourselves, "I'm sick to death of this tyranny and this abusive wickedness. And I'm not going to take it anymore."

Then we might do something. But we've got to get to that place. And I've got news for you. God can quickly drive us to that place. We need to understand interposition. We need to understand the lesser magistrate. If he is fighting against wickedness, we need to get behind him and stand with him. Whether we like him or not, whether we agree with him on other things or not is immaterial. If he's fighting against the wickedness and if he's fighting against tyranny, he needs our help and he needs our support. If we understand what I'm preaching today, we understand it is an answer to what we're facing. We need to understand the doctrine of interposition.

Study Guide

Major Themes

God's Absolute Sovereignty as the Antidote to Tyranny

Summary: A proper understanding that God alone is sovereign limits all human institutions and deters tyranny. Denial of God's sovereignty leads to placing sovereignty in man or government.

Evidence: When you understand that God alone is absolutely sovereign and there is no other sovereign, then tyranny is deterred... when man in his rebellion or in his ignorance ignores or denies... the sovereignty of God... inevitably he's going to place sovereignty in man, either in himself or in some institution that man has set up.

The Duty of Lesser Magistrates to Resist Tyranny

Summary: Lower-ranking civil and spiritual magistrates have a God-given duty to interpose themselves between the people and tyrannical higher authorities, nullifying unjust laws and protecting citizens.

Evidence: The doctrine of interposition then holds that the lower ranking civil government officials must place themselves in between their people and the higher superior authority who's endeavoring to abuse them or enslave them.

Biblical and Historical Precedent for Interposition

Summary: Scripture (Phinehas, Samuel, Elijah, Jehoiada) and history (Magna Carta, Luther's rescue, American founding) provide clear examples of lesser magistrates resisting wicked higher powers.

Evidence: History is replete with examples for those who rejected and resisted unjust and immoral laws... Martin Luther... was rescued by a lesser magistrate... Phinehas took a javelin and went in and killed both of them.

The Illegitimacy of Unconstitutional and Immoral Laws

Summary: Laws contrary to God's law or the Constitution are void and not binding. Citizens and magistrates are not obligated to obey them, and lower magistrates must judge all law by the supreme law of God's Word.

Evidence: An unconstitutional act is not law; it confers no rights; it imposes no duties; it affords no protection; it creates no office; it is, in legal contemplation, as though it had never been passed.

Spiritual Magistrates: Pastors as God's Ministers with Authority

Summary: Pastors are spiritual magistrates with authority to restrain evil and enforce God's law, and may act when civil magistrates fail, as seen in biblical examples.

Evidence: We have forgotten that pastors are spiritual magistrates... A magistrate is a magistrate either in the civil or the spiritual realm.

Christ as the Ultimate Interposer

Summary: Jesus Christ is the supreme example of interposition, standing between God's wrath and His people to save them, and He will also interpose to deliver His people from tyrannical rulers.

Evidence: What Jesus Christ did was He interposed Himself. He came between His people and the wrath of God... Jesus Christ is the greatest example of interposition.

Key Arguments

Tyranny thrives on ignorance of God's sovereignty and biblical civil government.

Summary: Because Americans are ignorant of what the Bible teaches about civil government, they are easy prey for tyrants who incrementally enslave them.

Evidence: Ignorance reigns supremely in our age... when it comes to the subject of the biblical understanding of civil government, we are of all people most ignorant. Consequently, we're easy prey for tyrants.

All magistrates derive authority from God and must rule by His law.

Summary: Civil government is ordained by God solely to protect the righteous and punish evil. Magistrates must know and enforce God's law, not their own arbitrary rules.

Evidence: All magistrates have the responsibility and duty to restrain and to hold back wickedness. Likewise, all magistrates also have the duty and the responsibility to enforce the law of God.

Lesser magistrates sin if they unquestioningly obey tyrannical superiors.

Summary: When lesser magistrates obey unjust commands, they become complicit in the sins of the higher authority. The 'just following orders' defense is unbiblical.

Evidence: When a lesser magistrate obeys unjust and immoral laws, he becomes complicit in the sins, crimes, and rebellion of the higher authority.

The U.S. Constitution and founding principles support interposition.

Summary: The 10th Amendment, Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, and early American legal thought affirm the right and duty of states and lesser magistrates to resist federal usurpation.

Evidence: The doctrine of interposition... is based upon the 10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, reserving to the states powers not delegated to the federal government.

Scripture provides clear examples of spiritual magistrates executing civil justice.

Summary: Phinehas, Samuel, Elijah, and Jehoiada acted as spiritual magistrates to execute judgment when civil rulers failed, demonstrating God's approval of such interposition.

Evidence: In each of these instances, a spiritual magistrate performed the duties of a civil magistrate. Two of them did so in the presence of the civil magistrate.

God explicitly approved Phinehas's act of interposition.

Summary: God stopped the plague, honored Phinehas, counted his act as righteousness, and gave him a covenant of everlasting priesthood, proving divine sanction for interposition.

Evidence: So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel... Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace... because he was zealous for his God.

Scripture References

Romans 13:1-7

Context: Read as the foundational text for civil government: all power is ordained by God, rulers are ministers for good, and citizens must be subject for conscience' sake.

Judges 18:7

Context: Used to define the Hebrew word for magistrate ('esser') as a possessor of restraint, showing the necessity of magistrates to restrain evil.

Ezra 7:25

Context: Used to define the Hebrew word 'shafat' for magistrate, emphasizing that magistrates must know and teach God's law.

Psalm 94:20-21

Context: Quoted to show that a throne of iniquity (wicked civil government) frames mischief by law and condemns the innocent, and has no fellowship with God.

Numbers 25:1-8

Context: The primary biblical example of interposition: Phinehas executes Zimri and Cozbi when civil judges failed to act, stopping a plague.

Numbers 25:11-13

Context: God's covenant of peace and everlasting priesthood given to Phinehas as a reward for his zealous interposition.

1 Samuel 15

Context: Samuel, a spiritual magistrate, executes Agag when King Saul failed to obey God's command, demonstrating a spiritual magistrate performing civil duty.

1 Kings 18

Context: Elijah, as a spiritual magistrate, slays the prophets of Baal in the presence of King Ahab, who should have done it.

2 Kings 11

Context: Jehoiada the high priest orders the execution of Queen Athaliah, a murderous civil ruler, acting as a spiritual magistrate.

Romans 3:24-26

Context: Christ is set forth as a propitiation, interposing Himself between God's wrath and believers, the ultimate example of interposition.

Psalm 2:8-10

Context: Christ will break rebellious rulers with a rod of iron; He interposes to save His people from tyrants.

1 Samuel 14:43-45

Context: The people interposed to rescue Jonathan from Saul's foolish oath, an example of remonstrance.

Jeremiah 26:8-19

Context: Jeremiah was delivered from death by lesser magistrates, cited as another biblical illustration of interposition.

Exodus 22:28

Context: The Hebrew word for ruler ('nasi') means one lifted up by the local assembly, applying to any ruler of God's people.

Psalm 106:31

Context: Phinehas's act was counted to him for righteousness.

Joshua 7

Context: The case of Achan illustrates that magisterial justice prevents God's judgment.

Judges 17, 21

Context: Warns against anarchy when there is no king and every man does what is right in his own eyes.

Historical References

Emperor Trajan's charge to a subordinate magistrate

Context: Trajan handed a sword to a subordinate and instructed him to use it against the emperor if he gave unrighteous commands, illustrating early interposition.

Colonial American election sermons

Context: During the first 100 years of America, colonial pastors preached election sermons teaching both rulers and people their biblical duties, preventing ignorance of civil government.

Magna Carta (1215)

Context: Barons and nobles interposed themselves against King John's tyranny, leading to the Magna Carta, which influenced the U.S. Constitution.

Martin Luther's rescue by Frederick the Wise

Context: Prince Frederick, a lesser magistrate, refused to obey Emperor Charles V's order to arrest Luther, instead hiding him to save his life.

Magdeburg Confession (1550)

Context: Lutheran pastors wrote this confession clearly setting forth the doctrine of interposition and the duties of lesser magistrates.

Chisholm v. Georgia (1792)

Context: This Supreme Court case led to the 11th Amendment after Georgia threatened to hang any federal agent sent to enforce the verdict, demonstrating state resistance.

Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (1798)

Context: These resolutions, authored by Jefferson and Madison, asserted that states have the right to judge the constitutionality of federal laws and nullify those that are unconstitutional.

John C. Calhoun's doctrine of nullification

Context: Calhoun taught that states have the right and duty to nullify unconstitutional federal laws.

American Revolution as product of interposition

Context: Colonists rejected King George III's royal governors and elected their own officials, an act of interposition that led to independence.

Important Quotes

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under the robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated. But those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own consciences.

Significance: C.S. Lewis quote used to illustrate that tyranny can be benevolent in intent yet more oppressive than overt coercion.

A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive or political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced because they love their servitude.

Significance: Huxley's quote from Brave New World describing modern Americans who are in servitude and love it.

When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing respect for the law.

Significance: Frederick Bastiat's observation on the dilemma faced when laws are immoral, leading to moral decay or contempt for law.

An unconstitutional act is not law; it confers no rights; it imposes no duties; it affords no protection; it creates no office; it is, in legal contemplation, as though it had never been passed.

Significance: Supreme Court ruling in Norton v. Shelby County affirming that unconstitutional laws are void from the beginning.

Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, just as we read, but how much more so for the Lord God. As long as he does the Lord's will, talking about Caesar, and lives in peace, Caesar's office we must honor. Should he transgress, he is no more emperor or lord, but an outlaw and a bear wolf against which we must guard.

Significance: German soldier's song illustrating the view that a ruler who violates God's law becomes an outlaw and a 'bear wolf' to be resisted.

The general rule is that an unconstitutional statute, though having the form and name of law, is in reality no law, but is wholly void and ineffective for any purpose, since unconstitutionality dates from the time of its enactment and not merely from the date of the decision so branding it. No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts are bound to enforce it.

Significance: Legal citation from 16 Am. Jur. 2d stating that unconstitutional laws are void and need not be obeyed.

Discussion Questions

How does a proper understanding of God's absolute sovereignty deter tyranny, and what happens when that understanding is lost?

Context: Weaver argues that denying God's sovereignty leads to placing sovereignty in man or government, enabling tyranny.

In what ways are modern Americans in 'servitude' and why do they love it, according to the sermon?

Context: Weaver describes economic, governmental, and moral slavery, citing Huxley's idea of slaves who love their servitude.

What is the difference between illegal plunder and legal plunder, and why is legal plunder more dangerous?

Context: Weaver explains that legal plunder uses law to take property without risk to the plunderer, making it a pervasive form of theft.

How does the biblical definition of a magistrate (from Judges 18:7 and Ezra 7:25) shape our understanding of their duties?

Context: Magistrates are to restrain evil and enforce God's law; they must know God's law and rule accordingly.

Why is the 'just following orders' defense unbiblical for lesser magistrates, and what are the consequences of obeying unjust laws?

Context: Weaver states that obeying unjust laws makes a lesser magistrate complicit in the sins of the higher authority.

How do the examples of Phinehas, Samuel, Elijah, and Jehoiada demonstrate the role of spiritual magistrates in interposition?

Context: These men acted when civil rulers failed, showing that spiritual magistrates have authority to execute justice.

In what ways is Jesus Christ the ultimate example of interposition, both in salvation and in deliverance from tyrants?

Context: Christ interposed between God's wrath and His people, and will also interpose to save them from wicked rulers.

What practical steps can Christians take today to support lesser magistrates who resist tyranny, and what are the limits of such resistance?

Context: Weaver mentions jury nullification, public demonstration, and supporting any magistrate fighting wickedness, while avoiding anarchy.

Applications

Educate yourself and others on biblical civil government

Summary: Ignorance of what the Bible teaches about civil government makes people easy prey for tyrants. Christians must study and teach these principles.

Evidence: Ignorance reigns supremely in our age... when it comes to the subject of the biblical understanding of civil government, we are of all people most ignorant.

Support lesser magistrates who resist tyranny

Summary: When a lesser magistrate stands against wickedness and tyranny, believers should get behind him and support him, even if they disagree on other matters.

Evidence: If he is fighting against wickedness, we need to get behind him and stand with him. Whether we like him or not... is immaterial.

Exercise jury nullification against unjust laws

Summary: Juries have the right to judge both the law and the facts, and can acquit someone guilty of violating an immoral or unconstitutional law.

Evidence: A jury has the absolute right to determine the law and the facts... we can determine that individual is innocent... based upon whether that law is right or wrong.

Grow weary of tyranny and resolve to act

Summary: Change will come when people become thoroughly exasperated with incremental tyranny and decide they will not take it anymore.

Evidence: When we get weary enough, when our backs are against the wall like they should be, we're going to come up and say, 'We're not going to take it anymore.'

Recognize pastors as spiritual magistrates with authority

Summary: Pastors have a magisterial role in restraining evil and teaching God's law, and may need to act when civil rulers fail.

Evidence: We have forgotten that pastors are spiritual magistrates... A magistrate is a magistrate either in the civil or the spiritual realm.

Obey God rather than men when laws contradict His Word

Summary: Simply because a law is a law does not mean it must be obeyed. Unconstitutional and immoral laws are void and should be resisted.

Evidence: Simply because a law is a law does not mean that it must be obeyed... unconstitutional laws are null and void and should not be obeyed.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T04:11:57Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T16:40:17Z

Clean Transcript

The Doctrine of Interposition

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Bibles to Romans chapter 13, and I'm going to ask you as we read Romans chapter 13 today that you listen intently because I have a lot of material to cover and I normally would ask you to turn to a lot of scriptures, but I will probably be quoting most scriptures today just to save time. So Romans chapter 13, the title of the message is "The Doctrine, or the Biblical Doctrine of Interposition, or the Lesser Magistrate." So look in Romans chapter 13, beginning there with verse 1: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God."
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"And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing."
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"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." So the title of the message is "The Doctrine of Interposition or the Lesser Magistrate." Do you understand that we are experiencing in this country tyranny? Tyranny can only prevail through ignorance, apathy, and refusal to exercise diligence and self-responsibility. I want to take a moment and emphasize the thought concerning ignorance. There is a theological concept that either deters or promotes tyranny. It is the concept of sovereignty. When you understand that God alone is absolutely sovereign and there is no other sovereign, then tyranny is deterred. The truth is made plain to the individual who understands God's sovereignty that man is limited in all of his institutions. Man cannot be sovereign in any sense of the word. In all of man's institutions, he is limited. He is limited in self-government, in civil government, in family government, and in church government. Man cannot possibly be the ultimate, the absolute, or the sovereign, for there is only one sovereign, and that is God Himself.
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So a proper understanding of God's sovereignty will always dispel, deter, and deny tyranny. However, when man in his rebellion or in his ignorance ignores or denies—or I could add, or conveniently forgets—the sovereignty of God, he hasn't placed sovereignty somewhere, because man by nature needs an ultimate. He needs an absolute. He needs a sovereign. And when he denies God's sovereignty, inevitably he's going to place sovereignty in man, either in himself or in some institution that man has set up.
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And in this instance, most likely it is government. Now, such ignorance could not take place during the first 100 years of the founding of America. Colonial pastors preached not only election sermons, but also artillery sermons, not only to the people, but also to their rulers. There was absolutely not one ruler that could hold office or take an office without having an election sermon preached to him. In those election sermons, those colonial pastors taught the people not only the duties and responsibilities of civil rulers, but they also taught the civil rulers their duties and their responsibilities as well. So the government then, the governmental view as presented by the Bible, was taught clearly and openly and practically. So ignorance could not prevail during the first 100 years of colonial America.
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Unhappily, those days are long past. Ignorance reigns supremely in our age. Today we adhere to the old adage that ignorance is bliss. If ignorance is bliss, we should be the happiest people on the face of the earth. For when it comes to the subject of the biblical understanding of civil government, we are of all people most ignorant. We do not even understand the simplest, much less the more complex points concerning civil government.
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Consequently, we're easy prey for tyrants, and we quickly fall and are consumed by despotic rulers. Tyranny may take different forms. When you and I think of tyranny, we normally think of coercion. We think of force. We think of heavy-handed pressure. But not all tyranny is that of coercion and heavy-handed pressure. C.S. Lewis pointed this out, listen carefully, and I'm quoting, he said, "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under the robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated. But those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own consciences."
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And that certainly is true. I don't know if you remember Huxley, in his book Brave New World, said it like this: "A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive or political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced because they love their servitude." And stop and think about it. That is exactly where we are today. Most Americans are in servitude and they love it.
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We are in economic slavery because we're in debt up to our eyeballs. We're in governmental slavery because of the rules, regulations, administrative procedures, as well as licenses, permits, and certifications that we must follow and possess. We've been led to believe that all of these things are for our safety and for our protection. Yet our forefathers never had any of these things and they were protected. We're enslaved to sin, our flesh, our passions. For we've turned our backs upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have embraced pornography, abortion, sodomy, fornication, adultery, theft, socialism, Marxism, communism, and progressivism.
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You see, the problem is everybody wants a free lunch, so to speak. Everyone wants the government to give, give, give. We want it to take from others and give to us. We only get upset when it takes from us. We have failed to understand that legal plunder and illegal plunder are synonymous and the end result is exactly the same in both cases. Plunder is plunder and we are robbed. There is a difference between illegal plunder and legal plunder. Illegal plunder is when one takes a gun and points it at you and robs you. Everyone understands that is illegal plunder. Illegal plunder is dangerous, not only for the individual being robbed, but also for the robber because the individual being robbed may have a weapon himself or may not want to be robbed and defends himself and consequently the robber can either be injured, killed, or captured and therefore go to prison. But you have to understand that legal plunder takes place when there is a rule, a regulation, a statute, or a law passed that requires you to give that which you possess.
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Legal plunder has no danger to the plunderer because if you do not give then you are the one that faces prison. Legal thieves are still thieves. Legal plunderers are still robbers. You have to ask yourself this question: Why has our country deteriorated and why are we continually losing our properties, our lives, and our liberties? Why are we descending into absolute chaos? Who can stop it? Why has it not been stopped? One answer is that we have not grown weary with the usurpations, despotism, and tyranny with which we are constantly assaulted. We've not grown weary with it. When we get weary enough, when our backs are against the wall like they should be, we're going to come up and say, "We're not going to take it anymore. Things are going to change." But the problem in this country, one of the problems is people have just not gotten weary enough with their tyranny and with the despotism.
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But when we are thoroughly exasperated with our system of incremental tyranny, maybe a number of people will begin to follow a lesser magistrate as that lesser magistrate fights the beast. Now I told you I'm going to be talking about the doctrine of interposition. It is sometimes referred to as the doctrine of the lesser magistrate. I want to show you this doctrine historically, legally, and theologically. So I'm going to have three points: historically, legally, and theologically. I wish I could say that these three points were not intermixed, but they are. You're going to find scripture in every one of the points, not just the theological. But let me try to do it historically first. The doctrine of interposition goes back a long way.
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It's been around for many centuries. And this point will certainly be clarified even more when we get to the theological truth. It is said that the Roman emperor Trajan, when appointing a subordinate authority, handed him a sword and instructed him with these words. He said, "Use this sword against mine enemies if I give righteous commands, but if I give unrighteous commands, use it against me." In that statement, we not only see the doctrine of interposition, but we also see the power and the authority of the lesser magistrate to resist the evil and wickedness of a higher magistrate. You must understand that all magistrates derive their power from God alone.
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That's why we begin in Romans 13, look at verses 1 and 2. God says, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation" or condemnation. So God delegates power or authority or jurisdiction. All authority, power, and jurisdiction comes from God.
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Now we often talk about the civil ruler or the civil magistrate. Interestingly, if you look up the word magistrate in the Bible, you will find that one of the main words that is used in the Hebrew for a magistrate is found in Judges 18 and verse 7. Let me just read it for you. "Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man." So here you had five men from the tribe of Dan scoping out an area so that they could enlarge their territory. And when they found out that there was no magistrate in the land that might put them to shame in anything, they went back and told their brethren, "Come on, let's take the land, it'll be easy pickings." Now, the Hebrew word for magistrate is "esser," and it literally means a possessor of restraint, or someone that has the power and the authority and the right to restrain.
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And since there was no magistrate, since there was no one in that land that had that power and that authority, obviously the Danites said, "We can take this land very easily." So you have to understand first and foremost, that a magistrate is a man of authority. He is someone who has lawful power and lawful authority with the right to restrain and hold back and punish evil. The second main word is found in Ezra chapter 7 in verse 25. Listen carefully. The Bible says, "And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not." Now here you have the word magistrate, but it's a different word. The first word was "esser." Now here is the word "shafat." The word "shafat" literally means to litigate, or to pass sentence, or to vindicate, or punish. Now what did the Bible say? The Bible said, the king told Ezra, he is to set magistrates, that is people with authority to restrain and to punish.
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But it's more than that. It has to be men who know the law of God. And he said, if you set up any magistrate that does not know the law of God, you must teach them the law of God. So a magistrate then is not just simply someone who has power and authority. A magistrate is someone who not only has that power and authority, but he knows the law of God and he rules in light of that law. So he has power to restrain, but he also has the responsibility, the duty, and the obligation to rule according to God and His law. Now, let me just point this out. All magistrates have the responsibility and duty to restrain and to hold back wickedness. Likewise, all magistrates also have the duty and the responsibility to enforce the law of God.
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When you look at Romans 13, and we're not looking at it in detail today, but when you look at it in detail, you will find that God ordained civil government for two purposes only. Civil government was ordained by God, number one, to protect the righteous, and number two, to punish the evil. When we talk about interposition, interposition is the doctrine that causes a lesser magistrate to step into the gap and protect the people from a higher or superior magistrate who is abusive or tyrannical.
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Now listen, lesser magistrates are not simply to unquestionably obey their superiors. When they do so, it is a denial of their duty and their responsibility and they become positively evil. For instance, do you remember the elders of Jezreel? When Jezebel took Ahab's seal and sent orders to the elders of Jezreel to proclaim a fast and to set Naboth on high and then bring false witnesses against him and take him out and stone him to death? And guess what? The elders, the rulers of Jezreel did exactly like Jezebel commanded and they murdered Naboth and his sons. Guess what? God not only held Ahab responsible and Jezebel responsible, He also holds the elders and rulers of Jezreel responsible for the deaths of Naboth and his sons.
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Rulers do not have the authority nor the right to make up laws as they please. Nor do they have the authority or the right to violate God's law. Was Jezebel wrong? Yes. Was Ahab wrong? Yes. Were the elders of Jezreel wrong? Yes. The fact that a ruler or civil official in government is of high office, even the highest office, does not and cannot justify him using his office to commit evil. And just because you have a lower magistrate, someone in the lowest of offices, cannot justify him cooperating with a higher or superior authority to commit that evil. It doesn't matter if one is a higher or lower magistrate, each have the responsibility to obey God and restrain evil and wickedness. And that especially, which is in all contradiction to the word of God, the "I am just following orders" mentality is completely unbiblical. Moreover, it is a denial of personal responsibility. When a lesser magistrate obeys unjust and immoral laws, he becomes complicit in the sins, crimes, and rebellion of the higher authority. A lesser magistrate is required to judge all law by the supreme law of the land, which is the word of God.
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If he does not do so, he will not escape the righteous judgment of God. Now listen carefully. Simply because a law is a law does not mean that it must be obeyed. And incidentally, I hope you know, the Supreme Court cannot make law. It may render a decision, but that decision is not binding. It is not law. Only Congress can make laws, but in America, unconstitutional laws are null and void and should not be obeyed.
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Here it is spelled out for you in 16 Am. Jur. 2d, I'm quoting: "The general rule is that an unconstitutional statute, though having the form and name of law, is in reality no law, but is wholly void and ineffective for any purpose, since unconstitutionality dates from the time of its enactment and not merely from the date of the decision so branding it. No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts are bound to enforce it." That's plain enough.
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But the Supreme Court itself in Norton v. Shelby County ruled thusly. I'm quoting, "An unconstitutional act is not law; it confers no rights; it imposes no duties; it affords no protection; it creates no office; it is, in legal contemplation, as though it had never been passed." That's what the Supreme Court said. Who is the one that determines whether or not something is unconstitutional? It's not the law. It's not the Supreme Court. No. It's the people. We, the people, ordained the Constitution.
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We're the ones that should know what is constitutional and what is not constitutional. History is replete with examples for those who rejected and resisted unjust and immoral laws. You have to remember that it was the barons and nobles that interposed themselves and resisted the tyranny of King John in England. Their resistance to their superior and their interposition led to what you and I know as the Magna Carta in 1215. Our Constitution has direct ties to the Magna Carta.
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By the way, Martin Luther, the reformer, was rescued by a lesser magistrate. Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, had given Luther a safe conduct pass to and from the Diet of Worms or the parliament there. However, when Luther failed to renounce his views and submit to the Roman Catholic dogmas, Charles V then ordered Luther's arrest and demanded that this notorious heretic be brought to his court and punished, which would have been a death sentence. Luther was saved by Prince Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony. Instead of obeying Charles, Frederick had Luther abducted or kidnapped and taken to a safe haven where Charles V and his minions could not reach him. And so what Frederick the Wise did was, being a lesser magistrate, being a prince under the authority of Charles V, he interposed himself and he refused to obey the unjust and immoral edict of a tyrant. And thus, Frederick was the one who saved Luther's life.
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The Germans had an interesting word for tyrants and tyranny. They referred to a tyrant as a "bear wolf." That would be a unique creature, wouldn't it? A bear and a wolf combined. They called it a bear wolf. Luther also used this as a symbol of tyranny. There was a soldier's song that spoke of the bear wolf in that era. Listen to this song: "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, just as we read, but how much more so for the Lord God. As long as he does the Lord's will, talking about Caesar, and lives in peace, Caesar's office we must honor. Should he transgress, he is no more emperor or lord, but an outlaw and a bear wolf against which we must guard." Isn't that amazing? They said when the ruler turns against God, he's no longer emperor or lord, he's an outlaw and a bear wolf.
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In 1550, a number of Lutheran pastors wrote the Magdeburg Confession which sets forth clearly and succinctly the doctrine of interposition and the duties and responsibilities of the lesser magistrates. Usurpation, listen carefully, usurpation is taking power and authority that has not been given or granted to you. So usurpation then is theft plain and simple. When you consider that the United States Constitution limits the federal government and expressly states their powers, it should be obvious that a great deal of theft and usurpation has taken place in this country. Our government has gone many times over and above and beyond their limited powers. Tyranny is the abuse of power. Power may have been obtained legally and justly in the beginning, but when it becomes abusive, destructive, and detrimental to the citizens, it is tyranny. Listen, if you don't learn anything else, learn this: Tyranny is never a God-ordained form of government. It has never been, and it never will be because it's contrary to God and in violation of God's word.
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I only need to quote one passage, Psalm 94:20-21. Listen: "Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood." Shall the throne of iniquity? So it's a throne. It's a civil power, but it's a wicked civil power. It's a throne of iniquity. And notice what this throne of iniquity does. It frames mischief by law. Mischief is another word for sin in the Bible. In other words, this wicked civil government makes sin legal. It made sodomy legal, quote unquote. It makes theft legal. It makes murder legal in abortion. Now, the question is, shall this wicked civil government have fellowship with God when that wicked civil government frames mischief or sin by law, when it makes it legal?
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And the answer is no. And then he says, here's what they do. They gather themselves together, these civil rulers, against the soul of the righteous and condemn the innocent blood. Just like the Germans said, when the emperor does that, or the ruler does that, he becomes an outlaw, a bear wolf. John Calvin wrote it like this. Listen, I love this: "For earthly princes lay aside their power when they rise up against God, and are unworthy to be reckoned among the number of mankind."
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"We ought rather to spit upon their heads than to obey them." That's pretty plain, isn't it? We ought rather to spit upon their heads than to obey them. I think the face would be better, but that's all right. Frederick Bastiat, in his book The Law, in 1847, wrote this. Listen carefully: "When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing respect for the law."
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Do you know what has just happened in this country? You can either lose your moral sense and say that wickedness is right and okay, or you can despise the law. And unhappily, that's exactly where we are. Historically, the doctrine of interposition or the doctrine of lesser magistrate has always been used to defend against tyranny. Let me consider this second legally. Notice if you would, legally. The fourth edition of Black's Law Dictionary defines interposition. Here's the definition.
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It is "the doctrine that a state, in its exercise of its sovereignty, may reject a mandate of the federal government deemed to be unconstitutional or to exceed the powers delegated to the federal government. The doctrine denies the constitutional obligations of states to respect Supreme Court decisions which they do not agree." And by the way, that was a court ruling as well that Black's Law Dictionary was just quoting a court ruling. It says the states have the right to not obey an unconstitutional edict or law or one that exceeds the authority of the federal government. So the interposition doctrine refers to a doctrine whereby a state, in the exercise of its own sovereign power, may reject an order or authority of the federal government that appears to be unconstitutional or that exceeds the powers delegated to the federal government. So according to this doctrine, a state does not possess a constitutional obligation to obey the Supreme Court or even Congress. Implementation of the doctrine of interposition may be peaceable, it may be by resolution, it may be by remonstrance, it may be by legislation, or it may proceed ultimately to nullification with forcible resistance.
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The concept is based upon the 10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, reserving to the states powers not delegated to the federal government. Historically and legally, this doctrine emanated from the case Chisholm v. Georgia, one of my favorite cases, Chisholm v. Georgia. Chisholm versus Georgia in 1792 in South Carolina. Alexander Chisholm, the executor of the estate of Robert Farquhar, attempted to sue the state of Georgia in the Supreme Court over payments due to him for goods that Farquhar had supplied to Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. United States Attorney General Edmund Randolph argued the case for the plaintiff before the Supreme Court. The defendant, Georgia, refused to appear, claiming that as a sovereign state it could not be sued without granting its consent to be sued. So when Georgia failed to appear, the Supreme Court sent word to Georgia, "Fine, you don't have to come up here. We will issue our verdict without you." The state of Georgia responded with great determination and basically said, "Fine. Render all the verdicts that you wish to render, but know this: the very first agent that you send into the sovereign state of Georgia to enforce your verdict will be immediately hanged without the benefit of clergy."
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Wow. Mostly because of Chisholm v. Georgia, the 11th Amendment was ratified in 1795 and all pending court actions against Chisholm were dismissed. So this removed the federal jurisdiction in cases where citizens of one state or foreign countries attempted to sue another state. Now listen. Since the lesser civil magistrates or lower-ranking civil government officials are God's ministers as well, they have a duty and responsibility as God's servants to protect those under their authority from evil policies, evil laws, and decisions enacted or decreed or promulgated by higher, superior governmental officials. So the doctrine of interposition then holds that the lower ranking civil government officials must place themselves in between their people and the higher superior authority who's endeavoring to abuse them or enslave them. It is the duty of the lesser magistrate just like it is the duty of a higher magistrate to obey God and protect the people. So the doctrine of interposition means this: it does not necessarily have to be a state, it could be. It could be one magistrate in that state.
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But the lower ranking civil government official has an inescapable duty to use their authority to protect the citizens and to nullify wicked and bad laws. I'll just tell you this, here is how things should work. And I'm not going to go into great detail, but here's how things should work. And don't laugh at this. I know it's hilarious in one sense of the word, but don't laugh at this.
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What should happen is Obama should be protecting us and doing that which is right and holy and godly. If he would not do it, then of course, Joe Biden is supposed to, since he's the vice president. If Biden will not do it, then the Speaker of the House, Boehner, must do it. If he would not do it, then the next person would do it. And you keep going right on down until you get to the lesser magistrate in the federal government.
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If none of them will do it, then the governor of the state ought to do it. If the governor would not, then the lieutenant governor. If the lieutenant governor would not, then, of course, the Speaker of the House ought. If he would not, then any of the magistrates, then it goes down to the county, then it goes down to the city. In other words, there ought to be one magistrate somewhere that'll step up and say, "No more. This will not happen in our state, and this will not happen to our people."
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You have to understand that the framers and ratifiers of our Constitution certainly believed in the doctrine of interposition. They used it in resisting George III and Parliament, and in declaring their independence from England. They used it in forming our first Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, and they used it again in forming and ratifying the Constitution. In fact, James Madison argued in the Federalist No. 43, he said this, maintaining that such action was based on "principles prior to all forms of civil government, the principles of the law of compacts, principles of the very laws of nature and of nature's God." You have to understand that early on, the states went through this very clearly.
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For instance, I want to take the time just to read you a couple of the Kentucky and the Virginia resolutions. If you've never read the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions, you need to do so. Thomas Jefferson had a part in this, Madison, some of the others. Listen to this. "Resolved." Here's the first one. "Resolved, that the several states composing the United States of America are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to the general government, but that by a compact under the style and title of the Constitution for the United States and of the amendments thereto, they constituted a general government for special purposes, delegated that government certain definite powers, reserving each state to itself the residuary mass of right to their own self-government, and that, whensoever the general government assumes undelegated powers, its acts are unauthoritative, void, and of no force; that to this compact each state is seated as a state and is an integral party, its co-states forming as to itself the other party; that the government created by this compact was not made the exclusive or final judge of the extent of its powers delegated to itself, since that would have made its discretion and not the Constitution the measure of its powers, but that in all other cases of compact among powers having no common judge, each
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party has an equal right to judge for itself as well as infractions as a mode of measure of redress." Each state can say, "No, we will not do this." The concluding part of the third resolve is this: "And that in addition to this general principle and express declaration, another more special provision has been made by one of the amendments to the Constitution, which expressly declares that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
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"or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, thereby guarding in the same sentence and under the same words the freedom of religion, of speech, and of the press, insomuch that whatever violated either throws down the sanctuary which covers the others, and that libels, falsehoods, and defamations equally with heresy and false religion are withheld from the cognizance of federal tribunals. That, therefore, the act of Congress of the United States passed on the 14th of July, 1798, entitled 'An Act for the Punishment of Certain Crimes against the United States,' which does abridge the freedom of the press, is not law, but is altogether void and of no force." Amen. Wow.
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You see, the basic philosophy of the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions is that the American government is a government of specifically enumerated powers and that when the federal government goes over and above and beyond and seeks to usurp authority, it is totally illegal and it is not binding. When the federal government does act unconstitutionally, then that means the local officials in the state, if none in the federal will do so, must interpose themselves and protect the people from tyranny and wickedness. It doesn't matter if it's the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House or whatever, it goes right on down. You see, the 10th Amendment declares this: "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." When you examine the United States Constitution, and you begin to count the enumerated powers delegated to the federal government, depending on how you count them, you can come up with no more than 25 or 30 specific enumerated powers.
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And you'll find most of them in Article I, Section 8. A few others are scattered throughout. Additionally, the Constitution does give the federal government the power to form and operate the executive, the legislative, and the judicial branches, but that's it. That's it. 25 to 30 at the most, some limited to 21. But being generous, being gracious, let's say 30. Has the United States government gone over 30 enumerated powers?
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Look at all the bureaucracies. The Constitution never gave the government anything to do with education or welfare or anything like that. No, they've stolen, they usurped that authority. It was never given. It was that ironclad southerner John C. Calhoun who taught nullification. Nullification simply meant that the states have the right and the duty and the responsibility to nullify bad laws as well as unconstitutional laws passed by Washington, D.C.
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You have to remember interposition means to come between. So political interposition occurs when a magistrate then steps in and ends, say, a rebellion, listen carefully, either by the people or by other magistrates. You see, what we forget is this: It's not just the people who can rebel. The rulers can rebel as well. Interposition in the sense of quelling a rebellion among the people is readily understood. Everybody would say, and I could give you an illustration of this in the Book of Acts, anybody can say that a magistrate has the right to step in and stop a riot or stop a rebellion among the people. But you know, all of a sudden, people kind of get nauseated when they think that those lower magistrates also have the right and the power to stop a rebellion among higher magistrates. Interposition has far wider and greater implications. Not only are nullification and protection part and parcel of the teaching, but interposition also teaches that when a ruler is tyrannical, wicked, and seeking to overthrow the people, then a lesser magistrate may step in and take his place and fulfill his responsibility.
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By the way, it was exactly this scenario that happened during the American Revolution. Do you know what King George III did? He sent his royal governors over here. He sent his rule over here to enforce his decrees. You know what the colonials did? They rejected and refused the king's governors and elected people of their own. And instead of following the royal governors and the royal rulers, they followed their own elected officials. Wow.
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Do you understand that America is the product of interposition? America is the product of interposition.
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Thirdly, let me try to cover this theologically. I want you to go ahead and turn in your Bibles to the book of Numbers chapter 25. I wish I had time to read this, I do not, but I will tell you about Numbers 25, of course. We'll be there just momentarily. We've covered it historically, legally, now we're going to cover it theologically. We understand the intervention of magistrates. We especially understand it in light of corruption, perversion, and abusive authority of wicked rulers. We deem it right and just. Incidentally, Jeremiah was delivered from death by lesser magistrates in Jeremiah 26 verses 8 through 19. That's a good illustration.
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Here's something that we have forgotten. Listen carefully. We have forgotten that pastors are spiritual magistrates. Listen carefully to this statement: A magistrate is a magistrate either in the civil or the spiritual realm. I would urge you to study the American War for Independence and see how pastors preached, prayed, fought, and led in that war. You could also study the War of Northern Aggression and find out how the pastors still prayed and fought and led in that war as well. There are instances in the Bible where a spiritual magistrate stepped in and performed the duty of a civil magistrate when the civil magistrate failed in his duty.
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We have an excellent illustration of this in chapter 25 of the book of Numbers. Let me just read a couple of these verses. Verse 1: "And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor." Now, as you look at this passage, God has clearly delineated the judgment against all those who joined themselves unto Baal-peor. The judgment was death. They were to be slain, and they were to be hung up before the Lord to turn away His righteous wrath from the people.
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Notice if you would, verse 5: "And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor." You have to remember that Moses was the chief judge himself. So he gives the order to slay every one of them to the judges. But something happens. Verse 6: "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel."
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Now, I find it interesting that the Bible says, look in verse 6 again: "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." Now, you know there were several million Israelites. Could several million Israelites get before the door of the tabernacle? No. When you see this phrase, "the congregation of the children of Israel," it refers to the leaders. It refers to the rulers. It refers to those individuals who had been given authority. It would have been the princes of all the tribes, as well as the household of Aaron and Moses.
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So here they are praying. Now let me ask you, look if you would, the Bible says, verse 4: "And the LORD said unto Moses," He gave him His order. Moses said to the judges, "Slay them." Verse 5: "And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, in the sight of all the congregation of Israel, who were weeping" or praying "before the door of the tabernacle." So what was Moses doing? He was crying and praying.
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What were the other rulers doing? They were crying and they were praying. Let me tell you something. Listen carefully. Prayer is needed and necessary and commanded. However, there comes a time when you have to stop praying and just simply obey God. Prayer and humiliation did absolutely nothing as long as sin was allowed in the camp. As long as Zimri and Cosby were in that camp, there was sin, it was rebellion against God.
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And Phinehas took a javelin and went in and killed both of them. Now listen carefully. Phinehas was not a civil ruler. Neither was he the high priest. He certainly was of the priestly order because he was a grandson of Aaron, yet he would still be considered a lesser magistrate. So when the judges, who had already received the order in verse 5, when the judges refused to do their duty—by the way, and probably the reason they refused to do it was because Zimri was a prince—when they refused to do their duty to a superior magistrate, or one of their equal, then Phinehas arose and executed both of them. Zimri had brought Cosby into the camp openly, boldly, brazenly, in defiance of God and His law. Wow.
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Now I want you to understand something. Phinehas was not a private person. He was a magistrate. He may have been a lesser one, but he was still a magistrate. And a spiritual magistrate is just as much a magistrate as a civil magistrate. You remember I told you in Judges 18 verse 7, the Hebrew word for magistrate is "esser," which means to hold back, someone who has power to restrain. In Ezra 7 and verse 25, it's "shafat," which means it's someone who restrains according to God's law and knows God's law. Even when you get to the New Testament, the main word for a magistrate is the word "strategos." If you would look up the word "strategos," you will find that it refers to a general, a military officer, a governor, a commandant, and also to the chief of the Levites. Wow. "Strategos" is where we get our English word "strategy." "Stratia" is the Greek word for army. Have you ever wondered, as you read through the New Testament, who the captains of the temple were?
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You know who the Pharisees were and the Sadducees and the Herodians. But who were the captains of the temple? In the New Testament, they were these armed Levites who protected the temple and the high priest. If you want to really understand that, just read my book, The Christian Civil Government. Go to the seventh chapter on the pastor as magistrate. And you'll understand where I show and demonstrate that these men were armed Levites. Now, it is not difficult to justify Phinehas in what he did, because he was heir apparent to the high priesthood, but he was also a magistrate. He may have been a lesser one and a spiritual one, but he was still a magistrate.
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His actions do not give any countenance to private persons who under the pretense of zeal against sin wants to just go out and kill and murder individuals. No. According to the scripture, the civil magistrate is the avenger, the one who's been given the sword to execute the wrath of God according to Romans chapter 13. So you can't look at Phinehas and say, "Well, I can just go out and start murdering people." No, you can't do that. Because he was still a magistrate. The difference between magistrate is one of degrees, and that only. You can be a lesser or a higher, but it's just one of degrees. A magistrate is still a magistrate.
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Now, I don't have time to preach this this morning, but I want to point this out to you. And you can do the research yourself. You can read it yourself. Do you realize there are times in the Bible when spiritual magistrates stepped in and did what needed to be done when the civil magistrate failed to do it? Let me just tell you. If you'll read 1 Samuel chapter 15, you will find out where God commanded King Saul to go and kill all the Amalekites.
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Man, woman, boy, girl, you know. But what does the Bible say? "But Saul spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, and the best of the oxen, the best," etc. And Samuel goes to Saul. And when Saul sees him, he says, "Blessed be thou of the LORD, I have performed all the commandments of God." And about that time, something went, "Baa, Moo." And Samuel said, "If you've obeyed God, what meaneth the bleating of the sheep, and the lowing of the cattle in mine ear? If you'd obeyed God, everything would be dead." Now you read 1 Samuel chapter 15. When Samuel asked for Agag to come, the Bible said Agag came delicately. I can see him just pressing up to Samuel.
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And he said, "Surely, surely the bitterness of death is past." And you know what Samuel did? The Bible said he took the sword and hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD, or as unto the LORD. In other words, Samuel, the little preacher, did to Agag exactly that which God wanted done to Agag. He pleased God in doing that. Now here's my question. How could Samuel kill Agag?
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And the answer is, because he was a spiritual magistrate. He had the power. He had the authority. He had the law of God. And here was standing King Saul, who refused to obey God, and little preacher Samuel took care of the problem. You'll also notice in 1 Kings chapter 18, when Elijah had all the prophets of Baal come to Mount Carmel. And you know the great story there.
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I'm not going to get into it. But when fire came from heaven and consumed Elijah's altar and sacrifice and licked up the water all around about, what did Elijah say? "Bring ye hither to me the prophets of Baal." And what did Elijah do? In the presence of Ahab, he took a sword and cut off the heads of 400 prophets of Baal. There stood Ahab. He should have done it. But he didn't. But Elijah did. How could Elijah do that?
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He was a spiritual magistrate. He had power and authority. He may have been a different magistrate, not a civil one, but he was still a magistrate. When you get to 2 Kings 11, oh, Jehoiada the high priest, guess what? He had Athaliah the queen put to death. Athaliah was a murderer. She murdered her own grandchildren. And when one of the king's sons, Joash I believe it was, was spared and raised in the temple, and he got to be seven years of age, they made him king. And when Athaliah came, Jehoiada said, "Have her without the temple and kill her and kill all that follow her." In other words, Jehoiada did that which needed to be done. In each of these instances, a spiritual magistrate performed the duties of a civil magistrate. Two of them did so in the presence of the civil magistrate. When Jehoiada did it, he did it to eliminate a murderous and treacherous civil magistrate.
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Interposition is a biblical doctrine. The word "ruler" in Exodus 22 and verse 28 is the Hebrew word "nasi," which means literally one lifted up, one elevated, one exalted in or by the local assembly. You will find the word "nasi" used in Numbers chapter 1 and it applies to any ruler of God's people or to the leaders of the congregation.
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Now, let me ask you this. How do we know that God approves of the doctrine of interposition? Well, since you're in Numbers chapter 25, let me show you. First of all, we know that God approves of the doctrine of interposition because He put a stop to the plague instantly when Phinehas killed. Look in verse 8: "And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel."
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In other words, their weeping and praying before the door of the congregation or the door of the tabernacle did absolutely nothing until this piece of justice was done. If magistrates do not take care to punish sin, God will. But magisterial justice will be the best prevention of God's judgment, as in the case of Achan in Joshua chapter 7. When magistrates fail to punish sin, that does not mean that wickedness will go unpunished. It just means that God will take care of the wickedness in His own way, in His own time. Do you think that God approves of sodomy? You're mistaken. You just wait. You just hang on. We know that God approves of interposition, for the plague was stayed.
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Secondly, God placed an honor upon Phinehas. Though Phinehas did no more than what was his duty to do so, he did it with an extraordinary zeal for God's honor and God's glory, when all the other judges probably had respect for Zimri's position as a prince. Well, the Bible tells us that it was counted to Phinehas as righteousness. Psalm 106 verse 31. God counted it to Phinehas for righteousness. Thirdly, Phinehas upon this occasion, though a young man, is pronounced his country's best patriot and friend. Look if you would please in verse 11: "Wherefore say, Behold, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy." So obviously he's deemed here the country's patriot and best friend because he turned away the wrath of God. This is the best service that any magistrate can do. It's to turn away the wrath of God. It's the best service that we can do with our prayers and obedience and our endeavors to bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end.
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And fourthly, we know that God approves of divine interposition because the priesthood is entailed by covenant upon his family. It was designed to him before, but now God gave it to him by covenant. Watch in verse 12: "Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel." So, he's given the priesthood. It is an unchangeable priesthood that ends in the perfection of Jesus Christ who is consecrated forevermore. You see, the doctrine of interposition is indeed a neglected doctrine, but it is an important doctrine. And we have to understand this doctrine so we will not descend into anarchy. We cannot do like those people in Judges chapter 17 and Judges 21 when the Bible says there was no king in Israel in those days, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. No, we can't do that which is right in our own eyes.
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We have to do that which is right in God's eyes. We can always find a lesser magistrate who will stand up to the higher superior magistrates and rebuke them and rebuff them and protect the people. And if we can't find one, bless God, let's appoint one or elect one who will. Does interposition have a theological basis? The answer is yes. Let me tell you something. If you don't like this doctrine, then you do not like salvation.
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I want you to turn very quickly in your Bibles to Romans chapter 3. Look at it very quickly. Romans chapter 3 at verses 24 through 26. Romans 3, beginning there with verse 24. Look at what the Bible says. Romans 3. And I've got to hurry, but watch Romans 3, verse 24. Here the Scripture says it like this. Romans 3, verse 24: "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Now watch verse 25.
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"Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Now, what did Jesus Christ do? The wrath of God was against us. We may have been God's elect, but we were yet in our sins. And what Jesus Christ did was He interposed Himself. He came between His people and the wrath of God. He suffered the wrath of God in our stead, in our place. Jesus Christ is the greatest example of interposition. He stood between the consuming wrath of God and His people, and He suffered everything for His people. Do you realize, not only in soteriology in the doctrine of salvation, but our Lord also interposes Himself between His people and rebellious rulers.
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Ah, I want you to look back in your Bibles very quickly to Psalm 2. Psalm 2, and notice if you would please what the scripture says. Psalm 2, and let's begin reading there with verse 8. God says, "Ask of me," talking about His Son, "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth." Note, "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."
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This passage is preceded by the good news that the kingdoms belong to Jesus Christ. Those rulers who will not submit to Him will be broken like a potter's vessel with a rod of iron. These rulers do not own their own realms. They are not the kings. They are not the presidents they think they are. They think this is their country, their realm, their rule, their kingdom. No! It belongs to Jesus Christ. And just like Jesus Christ interposed Himself on behalf of His people to save us from the wrath and the justice of God, He will also interpose Himself to save us from tyrants. Oh yes.
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That does not mean that we will not suffer some for our sins and our complicity in it. But it does mean that we will not go under. You remember when God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt? I love the passage where He said He brought them out that He might bring them in. He did not bring them out of Egypt to drop them in the desert. He brought them out to bring them into Canaan land. And Jesus Christ did not bring us out of our sins to drop us into the hands of tyrants who hate us and despise us.
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In fact, our Lord prayed in John 17, "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." Oh yes, His prayer will be answered. Let me just mention this by way of application. Think about this. I mentioned earlier that interposition, and there are many illustrations, but interposition could be done by way of remonstrance. Remonstrance is where the people intervene and dispose themselves in order to right a wrong.
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One good illustration is found in 1 Samuel chapter 14. The Israelites were chasing their enemies. And King Saul stupidly said this, "For Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food." Well, Jonathan his son did not hear that. And so Jonathan was chasing the enemies, he comes upon a beehive, the honey is dripping everywhere, he takes the end of his spear, dips it in and eats the honey, and his eyes are enlightened, and everybody begins to gasp and say, "Did you not know your father cursed somebody who would eat today?" He said, "My father is foolish. He said, look how my eyes have been enlightened. If all the people had been able to eat some, how much more could we have slaughtered our enemies?"
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So when the battle was won, the people then flew upon the sheep and the spoils and ate with the blood, which was totally unbiblical. And when God began to judge, King Saul said, "Let's have it between my family and the children of Israel." And his family was taken. And then Jonathan was taken. And you know what King Saul said to his son? "Jonathan, you're going to die. I said whoever ate would die, you're going to die. I'm going to kill you, or I'll have you killed."
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But when you get to verses 43 and 45, listen to this. "Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die. And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die?"
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"who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day." So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not. What did the people do? They said, "We're not going to allow this." And Jonathan was spared. You know what a good illustration of this would be practically today? Jury nullification. Do you realize that a jury has the absolute right to determine the law and the facts? A man may be guilty of violating a law, but the law could be a bad, unjust, immoral, or unconstitutional law. And so when we judge the law as well as the facts, we can determine that individual is innocent, not just based upon the facts, but based upon whether that law is right or wrong.
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We can also understand this. Look at our enemies and look at those who hate Christ and hate the Bible and hate the South. If they can be in the streets demonstrating, so can we. So can we. I've got news for you folks. When we get to the point that we are saying to ourselves, "I'm sick to death of this tyranny and this abusive wickedness. And I'm not going to take it anymore."
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Then we might do something. But we've got to get to that place. And I've got news for you. God can quickly drive us to that place. We need to understand interposition. We need to understand the lesser magistrate. If he is fighting against wickedness, we need to get behind him and stand with him. Whether we like him or not, whether we agree with him on other things or not is immaterial. If he's fighting against the wickedness and if he's fighting against tyranny, he needs our help and he needs our support. If we understand what I'm preaching today, we understand it is an answer to what we're facing. We need to understand the doctrine of interposition.
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Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We pray that you would indeed teach us, that you'd build us up in the most holy faith, that you'd make us understanding people. God, oh God, give us, I pray, an understanding heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we ask and pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-06T04:11:57Z

The Doctrine of Interposition

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver expounds the biblical doctrine of interposition (the lesser magistrate), arguing that lower-ranking civil and spiritual magistrates have a God-given duty to resist and nullify tyrannical or unconstitutional edicts from higher authorities. He traces the doctrine historically, legally, and theologically, using Scripture, American founding documents, and Reformation history to show that interposition is a necessary safeguard against tyranny and is rooted in God's sovereignty and law.

Opening

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:1-7

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God." "And they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing."

Introduction: Tyranny and Ignorance of God's Sovereignty

Tyranny prevails through ignorance of God's absolute sovereignty. When man denies God's sovereignty, he inevitably places sovereignty in man or human institutions, leading to despotism.

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:1-7

"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

Historical Foundations of Interposition

Scripture Reading — Judges 18:7

"Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man."

Legal Basis: The Lesser Magistrate's Duty

Theological Basis: Spiritual Magistrates and Biblical Examples

We have an excellent illustration of this in chapter 25 of the book of Numbers. Let me just read a couple of these verses. Verse 1:

Scripture Reading — Numbers 25:1-8

"And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. And they called the people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel. And the LORD said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the LORD against the sun, that the fierce anger of the LORD may be turned away from Israel. And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor."

Scripture Reading — Exodus 22:28

Interposition is a biblical doctrine. The word "ruler" in Exodus 22 and verse 28 is the Hebrew word "nasi," which means literally one lifted up, one elevated, one exalted in or by the local assembly. You will find the word "nasi" used in Numbers chapter 1 and it applies to any ruler of God's people or to the leaders of the congregation.

God's Approval of Interposition in Numbers 25

God demonstrated approval of Phinehas's interposition by stopping the plague, honoring Phinehas, counting it as righteousness, and granting him a covenant of everlasting priesthood.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 106:31

Secondly, God placed an honor upon Phinehas. Though Phinehas did no more than what was his duty to do so, he did it with an extraordinary zeal for God's honor and God's glory, when all the other judges probably had respect for Zimri's position as a prince. Well, the Bible tells us that it was counted to Phinehas as righteousness. Psalm 106 verse 31. God counted it to Phinehas for righteousness. Thirdly, Phinehas upon this occasion, though a young man, is pronounced his country's best patriot and friend. Look if you would please in verse 11: "Wherefore say, Behold, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy." So obviously he's deemed here the country's patriot and best friend because he turned away the wrath of God. This is the best service that any magistrate can do. It's to turn away the wrath of God. It's the best service that we can do with our prayers and obedience and our endeavors to bring the wickedness of the wicked to an end.

Christ as the Supreme Interposer and Application

Scripture Reading — Psalm 2:8-10

"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

The Doctrine of Interposition

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	q-dup4nx5GU
Subject	Civil Government
Course	Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13: Authority
Genre	Sermon
Date	2016-12-18
Dictation Name
Book	Book 008: Civil Government: Magistracy, Authority, and Romans 13 — Chapter 23
Source Timed Segments	83

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: Tyranny and Ignorance of God's Sovereignty: Tyranny prevails through ignorance of God's absolute sovereignty. When man denies God's sovereignty, he inevitably places sovereignty in man or human institutions, leading to despotism.
Historical Foundations of Interposition: The doctrine of interposition has ancient roots, illustrated by Emperor Trajan's charge to a subordinate magistrate. Colonial pastors preached election sermons that taught both rulers and people their biblical duties, preventing ignorance.
Legal Basis: The Lesser Magistrate's Duty: Legally, interposition is defined as a state's right to reject unconstitutional federal mandates. The 10th Amendment reserves undelegated powers to the states. Lower magistrates must protect citizens from higher-level tyranny.
Theological Basis: Spiritual Magistrates and Biblical Examples: Theologically, pastors are spiritual magistrates. Phinehas (Numbers 25) executed judgment when civil rulers failed. Samuel, Elijah, and Jehoiada also acted as spiritual magistrates. Jesus Christ is the ultimate interposer, standing between God's wrath and His people.
God's Approval of Interposition in Numbers 25: God demonstrated approval of Phinehas's interposition by stopping the plague, honoring Phinehas, counting it as righteousness, and granting him a covenant of everlasting priesthood.
Christ as the Supreme Interposer and Application: Jesus Christ interposed Himself to bear God's wrath for His people. He will also interpose to save His people from tyrants. Practical applications include remonstrance, jury nullification, and supporting lesser magistrates who resist tyranny.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Tyranny thrives on ignorance of God's sovereignty and biblical civil government.

Because Americans are ignorant of what the Bible teaches about civil government, they are easy prey for tyrants who incrementally enslave them.

Ignorance reigns supremely in our age... when it comes to the subject of the biblical understanding of civil government, we are of all people most ignorant. Consequently, we're easy prey for tyrants.

All magistrates derive authority from God and must rule by His law.

Civil government is ordained by God solely to protect the righteous and punish evil. Magistrates must know and enforce God's law, not their own arbitrary rules.

All magistrates have the responsibility and duty to restrain and to hold back wickedness. Likewise, all magistrates also have the duty and the responsibility to enforce the law of God.

Lesser magistrates sin if they unquestioningly obey tyrannical superiors.

When lesser magistrates obey unjust commands, they become complicit in the sins of the higher authority. The 'just following orders' defense is unbiblical.

When a lesser magistrate obeys unjust and immoral laws, he becomes complicit in the sins, crimes, and rebellion of the higher authority.

The U.S. Constitution and founding principles support interposition.

The 10th Amendment, Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions, and early American legal thought affirm the right and duty of states and lesser magistrates to resist federal usurpation.

The doctrine of interposition... is based upon the 10th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, reserving to the states powers not delegated to the federal government.

Scripture provides clear examples of spiritual magistrates executing civil justice.

Phinehas, Samuel, Elijah, and Jehoiada acted as spiritual magistrates to execute judgment when civil rulers failed, demonstrating God's approval of such interposition.

In each of these instances, a spiritual magistrate performed the duties of a civil magistrate. Two of them did so in the presence of the civil magistrate.

God explicitly approved Phinehas's act of interposition.

God stopped the plague, honored Phinehas, counted his act as righteousness, and gave him a covenant of everlasting priesthood, proving divine sanction for interposition.

So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel... Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace... because he was zealous for his God.

Scripture References

Romans 13:1-7: Read as the foundational text for civil government: all power is ordained by God, rulers are ministers for good, and citizens must be subject for conscience' sake.
Judges 18:7: Used to define the Hebrew word for magistrate ('esser') as a possessor of restraint, showing the necessity of magistrates to restrain evil.
Ezra 7:25: Used to define the Hebrew word 'shafat' for magistrate, emphasizing that magistrates must know and teach God's law.
Psalm 94:20-21: Quoted to show that a throne of iniquity (wicked civil government) frames mischief by law and condemns the innocent, and has no fellowship with God.
Numbers 25:1-8: The primary biblical example of interposition: Phinehas executes Zimri and Cozbi when civil judges failed to act, stopping a plague.
Numbers 25:11-13: God's covenant of peace and everlasting priesthood given to Phinehas as a reward for his zealous interposition.
1 Samuel 15: Samuel, a spiritual magistrate, executes Agag when King Saul failed to obey God's command, demonstrating a spiritual magistrate performing civil duty.
1 Kings 18: Elijah, as a spiritual magistrate, slays the prophets of Baal in the presence of King Ahab, who should have done it.
2 Kings 11: Jehoiada the high priest orders the execution of Queen Athaliah, a murderous civil ruler, acting as a spiritual magistrate.
Romans 3:24-26: Christ is set forth as a propitiation, interposing Himself between God's wrath and believers, the ultimate example of interposition.
Psalm 2:8-10: Christ will break rebellious rulers with a rod of iron; He interposes to save His people from tyrants.
1 Samuel 14:43-45: The people interposed to rescue Jonathan from Saul's foolish oath, an example of remonstrance.
Jeremiah 26:8-19: Jeremiah was delivered from death by lesser magistrates, cited as another biblical illustration of interposition.
Exodus 22:28: The Hebrew word for ruler ('nasi') means one lifted up by the local assembly, applying to any ruler of God's people.
Psalm 106:31: Phinehas's act was counted to him for righteousness.
Joshua 7: The case of Achan illustrates that magisterial justice prevents God's judgment.
Judges 17, 21: Warns against anarchy when there is no king and every man does what is right in his own eyes.

Historical References

Emperor Trajan's charge to a subordinate magistrate: Trajan handed a sword to a subordinate and instructed him to use it against the emperor if he gave unrighteous commands, illustrating early interposition.
Colonial American election sermons: During the first 100 years of America, colonial pastors preached election sermons teaching both rulers and people their biblical duties, preventing ignorance of civil government.
Magna Carta (1215): Barons and nobles interposed themselves against King John's tyranny, leading to the Magna Carta, which influenced the U.S. Constitution.
Martin Luther's rescue by Frederick the Wise: Prince Frederick, a lesser magistrate, refused to obey Emperor Charles V's order to arrest Luther, instead hiding him to save his life.
Magdeburg Confession (1550): Lutheran pastors wrote this confession clearly setting forth the doctrine of interposition and the duties of lesser magistrates.
Chisholm v. Georgia (1792): This Supreme Court case led to the 11th Amendment after Georgia threatened to hang any federal agent sent to enforce the verdict, demonstrating state resistance.
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (1798): These resolutions, authored by Jefferson and Madison, asserted that states have the right to judge the constitutionality of federal laws and nullify those that are unconstitutional.
John C. Calhoun's doctrine of nullification: Calhoun taught that states have the right and duty to nullify unconstitutional federal laws.
American Revolution as product of interposition: Colonists rejected King George III's royal governors and elected their own officials, an act of interposition that led to independence.

Important Quotes

Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under the robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated. But those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own consciences.

C.S. Lewis quote used to illustrate that tyranny can be benevolent in intent yet more oppressive than overt coercion.

A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive or political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced because they love their servitude.

Huxley's quote from Brave New World describing modern Americans who are in servitude and love it.

When law and morality contradict each other, the citizen has the cruel alternative of either losing his moral sense or losing respect for the law.

Frederick Bastiat's observation on the dilemma faced when laws are immoral, leading to moral decay or contempt for law.

An unconstitutional act is not law; it confers no rights; it imposes no duties; it affords no protection; it creates no office; it is, in legal contemplation, as though it had never been passed.

Supreme Court ruling in Norton v. Shelby County affirming that unconstitutional laws are void from the beginning.

Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, just as we read, but how much more so for the Lord God. As long as he does the Lord's will, talking about Caesar, and lives in peace, Caesar's office we must honor. Should he transgress, he is no more emperor or lord, but an outlaw and a bear wolf against which we must guard.

German soldier's song illustrating the view that a ruler who violates God's law becomes an outlaw and a 'bear wolf' to be resisted.

The general rule is that an unconstitutional statute, though having the form and name of law, is in reality no law, but is wholly void and ineffective for any purpose, since unconstitutionality dates from the time of its enactment and not merely from the date of the decision so branding it. No one is bound to obey an unconstitutional law and no courts are bound to enforce it.

Legal citation from 16 Am. Jur. 2d stating that unconstitutional laws are void and need not be obeyed.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does a proper understanding of God's absolute sovereignty deter tyranny, and what happens when that understanding is lost?

[Context]

Weaver argues that denying God's sovereignty leads to placing sovereignty in man or government, enabling tyranny.

[Question]

In what ways are modern Americans in 'servitude' and why do they love it, according to the sermon?

[Context]

Weaver describes economic, governmental, and moral slavery, citing Huxley's idea of slaves who love their servitude.

[Question]

What is the difference between illegal plunder and legal plunder, and why is legal plunder more dangerous?

[Context]

Weaver explains that legal plunder uses law to take property without risk to the plunderer, making it a pervasive form of theft.

[Question]

How does the biblical definition of a magistrate (from Judges 18:7 and Ezra 7:25) shape our understanding of their duties?

[Context]

Magistrates are to restrain evil and enforce God's law; they must know God's law and rule accordingly.

[Question]

Why is the 'just following orders' defense unbiblical for lesser magistrates, and what are the consequences of obeying unjust laws?

[Context]

Weaver states that obeying unjust laws makes a lesser magistrate complicit in the sins of the higher authority.

[Question]

How do the examples of Phinehas, Samuel, Elijah, and Jehoiada demonstrate the role of spiritual magistrates in interposition?

[Context]

These men acted when civil rulers failed, showing that spiritual magistrates have authority to execute justice.

[Question]

In what ways is Jesus Christ the ultimate example of interposition, both in salvation and in deliverance from tyrants?

[Context]

Christ interposed between God's wrath and His people, and will also interpose to save them from wicked rulers.

[Question]

What practical steps can Christians take today to support lesser magistrates who resist tyranny, and what are the limits of such resistance?

[Context]

Weaver mentions jury nullification, public demonstration, and supporting any magistrate fighting wickedness, while avoiding anarchy.

Applications

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