Is Moses Still Relevant for Politics?

The Abiding Political Wisdom of the Old Testament

In many contemporary Christian discussions of politics, the New Testament takes the lead: Jesus teaches love of neighbor, Paul calls rulers God’s servants, and believers are told to honor governing authorities. These commands matter. But they leave a further question: what ought rulers and laws to accomplish? Moses and the prophets give extensive instruction concerning judges, kings, property, and the vulnerable. Their relevance is not straightforward, since Israel was a covenant people with a particular land, priesthood, and civil order. Earlier Protestants nevertheless resisted the choice between reestablishing Israel’s constitution and abandoning its political teaching. They asked which obligations of justice endure when Israel’s distinctive institutions do not.