The Ten Commandments and the Supreme Court

 

The Ten Commandments and the Supreme Court

 

 

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

By Joseph Parker

Reprinted from: American Family Association

 

 

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them (Psalm 19:7-11).

Who decides what is right and what is wrong? Leaders in government? The Supreme Court? “Spiritual” leaders? Parents? The educational system? Culture? Celebrities? Or is it the news and the media?

None of the above. God decides what is right and what is wrong. In His Word, He teaches us His heart and perspective. God’s Word is what is right. And it is eternal (which means that it never changes).

The Ten Commandments are from the heart and mind of God. They teach us what is right and wrong. They don’t change. People’s decisions, thinking, and perspectives all change – but the Word of God doesn’t. The Word of God is Jesus. And Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Your Word is a Lamp to my feet and a Light to my path (Psalm 119:105).

The Ten Commandments contain eternal wisdom, insight, and understanding concerning God, and our relationship to Him.  They also contain insight about life and our relationship with God and other people.  They contain insight about ownership and property and how to honor God in how we see and care for people and their property.

The Supreme Court in our nation is considered the highest court in the United States.  It is held in high esteem and the members of the Supreme Court serve in a very honorable and esteemed position in our judicial branch of government.

However, it is important that we always remember that the Supreme Court is not “The Supreme Court.”  God is.  God is the Supreme Court, He is the Supreme Justice.

His Word is final and does not change.

Men and women, no matter how highly esteemed and honorable their positions might be, are fallible and make mistakes.  The history of the Supreme Court is not flawless.  Terrible decisions have been made.

One was the Dred Scott decision, (Dred Scott vs. Sanford) in which the court decided that black people were not considered American citizens with standing in court and that Congress could not ban slavery.

This Supreme Court decision was superseded by two amendments to the U.S. Constitution.  They were the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the Fourteenth Amendment, which guaranteed citizenship for all persons born or naturalized in the U.S.

This Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision is denounced by scholars.  Three modern scholars, Bernard Schwartz, Junius P. Rodriguez, and David T. Konig, all believe that the Dred Scott decision was the Supreme Court’s worst decision ever.

The Supreme Court also made a grave error in the case of Plessy v. Ferguson, when it chose to uphold the separate but equal doctrine.  Through their decision, the court basically indicated that racial segregation was supported by the U.S. Constitution.  A later Supreme Court decision (Brown v. Board of Education) effectively overturned Plessy.

In Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decided that abortion is a constitutional right. Sadly, it is still the law of the land with more than 60 million children as casualties despite the fact that the Word of God clearly states “You shall not murder.”

Trends and culture cannot overturn the will of God.  And no human court no matter how “Supreme” it claims to be can overrule God. When the leaders in our government are wise enough to recognize that the Supreme Judge of the universe is wiser than they are, many good things can and will happen in our nation.  May we as a nation be wise enough to pray for and put in office leaders who know and follow the only King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

When the leaders in our government are wise enough to recognize that the Supreme Judge of the universe is wiser than they are, many good things can and will happen in our nation.  May we as a nation be wise enough to pray for and put in office leaders who know and follow the only King of Kings and Lord of Lords.