Biblical Worldview and the Law: A Paralegal's Perspective

Introduction

Throughout Scripture, whether in the Old Testament or the New Testament and regardless of literary genre, the order of events and the process of living out and practicing belief is consistently grounded in keeping the law. My chosen profession is studying to become a paralegal, a field in which the accurate recording of events and individuals' actions must always consider what is lawful and what is not. In this profession, accuracy is of absolute value in determining whether conduct aligns with or violates legal parameters. Both of my examples are intended to illustrate this principle by showing how truth in law must ultimately be rooted in God. Without God there is no true foundation for law or justice.

God's Law and Kingship: The Example of Solomon

The first example comes from 1 Kings, Chapters 1 and 2, which depicts the transition of the united kingdom and addresses the question of succession. If, as Scripture affirms, man is created in the image of God, then certain principles must govern our actions so that we might emulate God. This story illustrates what the supremacy of law over individuals and nations looks like when lived out in daily affairs. Confusion arises when Adonijah anoints himself king and ascends to David's throne while David is still alive. Bathsheba, mother of Solomon, approaches the ailing king and reminds him of his oath: "My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by the Lord your God: 'Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit on my throne.'" (1 Kings 1:17) Following these events, David recounts his anointing of Solomon as his successor and heir to the kingdom. Adonijah relents and accepts Solomon as the rightful heir.

However, after David's death, Adonijah approaches Bathsheba with a new request: he asks her to petition King Solomon to allow him to marry Abishag, the servant girl who had been sent by the tribe to comfort King David in his final days (though their relationship remained chaste). In response, King Solomon swears an oath: "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if Adonijah does not pay with his life for this request." (1 Kings 2:23) Adonijah was executed that very day. Solomon perceived a growing threat to his authority from his eldest brother and, acting as God's representative ruler and keeper of the law, ordered swift consequences. Recording events with due regard for the law is crucial to the legal profession. The courts' role is to act on those facts within the framework of the law. Solomon, in this story, functions as the absolute ruler and therefore the keeper of the law—his swift justice demonstrates prudent judgment and reflects a God-like image.

A second scriptural foundation appears in 1 Timothy, where Paul writes: "We know the law is good if one uses it properly. We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars, and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me." (1 Timothy 1:8–11) This passage catalogs the range of sins against the law. The theme of Timothy is church order, and these few verses enumerate the heinous actions and characteristics of which humans are capable. All of these are, of course, entirely contrary to the image of God in humanity and reveal the sinful nature of man.

The Nature of Law and Human Sin

Yet in seeking truth, we must act in the image of our Lord by whom we were created. Within the framework of legal work, discernment is required to identify exactly who among people are engaged in such lawlessness. It becomes incumbent on us as individuals to recognize such grievous faults and actions in others. We encounter daily those who would lead us astray, and only by mirroring God's image can we ensure that such behavior does not become part of who we are. The law, therefore, serves not merely as a set of rules but as a reflection of God's character and a safeguard against human depravity.

I find it difficult to study any portion of Scripture that does not relate to our responsibility to reflect being created in God's image. It seems that everywhere I looked in Scripture, the reality of our creation in His reflection is evident. After all, all truth, all knowledge, and all of mankind's models for living in society aimed at the greater good must show affiliation with God's law. Choosing a profession within the law seems a natural consequence of this understanding.

Conclusion