Elders and Authority in the Bible Explained

Why Elders Were Important in Israel

The Bible tells us that the elders of Israel and the men of authority in Israel were not appointed merely hold office. They were appointed to help govern Israel and provide support,  direction and counsel based on the Laws of God. 

Elders had a serious obligation. They were responsible for preserving justice, protecting the people and maintaining the unity of the community in accordance with the laws, statutes and commandments. Leadership was never intended to be about pride, position or power over others. It was to be about serving, being an example and demonstrating faithfulness to the covenant.

Authority Was Supposed to be Demonstrated Through Example, Not Just Through Speech.

A true leader in Israel was intended to demonstrate his leadership through example. He was not to speak of the commandments and then fail to follow them. Rather, he was to follow them publicly, openly, sincerely and consistently. His behavior was to be an example of his commitment to the Most High. T

hat included loving the God of Israel and observing the commandments of the Most High and demonstrating upright character before the people. A leader who feared the Most High was to be disciplined, humble, and just. He was not to be unstable, double-minded or vain. His behavior was to demonstrate to the people how obedience to the commandments of the Most High was to be demonstrated in their daily lives.

This is one of the reasons that leadership in the Bible was viewed as having so much weight. Elders established the culture of the nation. When the elders of Israel acted with integrity, the people followed. When the elders of Israel became corrupted, proud or careless, the entire nation suffered from those actions.

Love for the People Was to Be Visible.

Scripture indicates that a love for the Most High and Israel was never to be confined to mere words. It had to be demonstrated in action. The men of Israel who were selected to lead were to demonstrate that love for the Most High and their peple through their righteous judgments, self-control, mercy, honesty and care for their people.

A man who is a commandment-keeper should manifest warmth, wisdom and genuine concern for his own people. He should not be a gossip. He should not enjoy arguing, debating endlessly or creating controversy. He should not cause confusion or create an air of importance around his knowledge. He should be a source of peace, stability and encouragement to the people of Israel.

A righteous elder should desire the good of all the people of Israel. He should desire that men and women alike in Israel to fulfill their dreams,  prosper and utilise the skills, talents and gifts that they have received from the Most high. The purpose of leadership was to edify the nation of Israel, not to damagy it.

Christ's Condemnation of the Pharisees

This same concept appears prominently in Christ's condemnation of the Pharisees. During His time, He condemned them because, although they claimed to keep the commandments, most of them had become more attached to man-made tradition than to the true intent of the commandments. They spoke of righteousness, but their behavior was often devoid of mercy, sincerity and love for the people.

For this reason, Christ told the Israelites to do as the Pharisees said, but not to do as they did. Although the Pharisees were sitting in positions of instruction, their example was not as it should have been. They could speak about obedience to the commandments, but their own lives were not consistent with the compassion, humility and justice that men are to demonstrate when they serve the Most High.

Christ exposed empty leadership. He illustrated that it is insufficient to simply speak the commandments. True leaders are to walk in them.

National Strength Based Upon Leadership

When the elders and leaders of Israel walked in accordance with the commandments of the Most High, the nation was strengthened. Righteous leadership preserved the order, peace, stability and blessings of the nation. However, when the leaders of Israel became corrupt, failed to heed the commandments or demonstrated hypocrisy in their leadership, the people of Israel were weakened and vulnerable.

Therefore, elders were so important. Elders were to assist the people of Israel in remaining faithful to the covenant. The authority of the elders was holy and sacred only when the elders' authority was tied to obedience, a love for the truth and a sincere concern for the people.

If you enjoy Bible stories told through a racially accurate lens, start reading my True Hebrews novels.