The Rabyd Theologian Looks at the Constitution -- Part 2 -- "We the People"

For step on of this long running series I would like to look at the preamble of the Constitution. By far it is one of the best written things by man that is not Scripture. Here is the whole thing:

'We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.'

The thing that starts this off is the "We the People of the United States..." Not a statement by a king or dictator to his subjects but an establishment of sovereignty by the people by the country. The Constitution lets us know who is ordering itself with this Constitution -- the People of the United States. This does have a few implications:

1. The government, whatever is established, is under authority of the people. In short, the people of this country sit as sovereign not the President or Congress or the Supreme Court. The people as a whole are the rulers.

2. There is a Biblical ramification in this for final judgment and relationship with God as a nation. As the people go, so does the relationship. If the people elect ungodly men to run themselves then it is the people that will be held responsible. Also, even if a godly men are placed in office, the sovereignty of the people means that this may not save them from God's judgment as God will hold the people responsible for their actions. There were times that Judah had good kings but because of the wickedness of the people they were still judged.

3. With the people as the sovereign entity, any government established would have to be a limited on so as not to upset this sovereignty. The order of government must be such that "We the People' is never violated.

Next: In Order to Form a More Perfect Union