Throughout history, a central theme of many governments has been the rule, direction, control, regulation, administration, and restraint of the many by the few. Old Testament Bible texts indicate that governmental systems were imposed upon the people, rather than being developed from within, by the people.
Yet the people had a role to play in their government. And they do today as well, even if they live under an oppressive regime. That role is obedience to the one God. In the case of the Israelites, their most progressive periods were when they were most obedient to the instructions of leaders who were faithful to and inspired by God. The benefits of adhering to these instructions were stated initially by Moses: "Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey." And then Moses instructed Israel as to the foundation of their participation in the Hebrew system of government: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." Deut. 6:3-5. The people certainly had a role to play!
Moses' instruction echoes God's first commandment to the Israelites, recorded in Exodus: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Ex. 20:3. The refusal to worship other gods is illustrated in the account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who triumphed in the fiery furnace and were subsequently promoted in government. See Dan., chap. 3 . The account indicates the progress that came to the children of Israel through obedience to divine law. It was when they were disobedient and followed after "other gods" that they were least successful—for example, when they were taken into captivity in Babylon.
