What does the Bible teach about the role and limits of civil government? In this sermon, we explore Solomon’s wisdom in Ecclesiastes 5:8–9 and discover a principle often forgotten in our time: biblical government is limited government.
Solomon observes that sprawling bureaucracies and unchecked ambition lead inevitably to oppression of the poor and corruption in justice. Scripture consistently warns against this—from Deuteronomy 17 to 1 Samuel 8, from Romans 13 to the wisdom literature. A government that forgets God becomes a god unto itself, and when that happens, tyranny follows.
But the Bible does not endorse anarchy either. Rather, it teaches that righteous rulers are a blessing from God—those who fear Him, uphold justice, and understand that their authority is derived and limited. True prosperity comes not through ever-expanding power, but through godly restraint.