The concept of "enforced" in the Bible often relates to the implementation of laws, commands, or decrees that are imposed upon individuals or groups, sometimes against their will. This term can be understood in the context of divine law, human governance, and spiritual discipline.

Divine Law and Commandments

In the biblical narrative, God's laws and commandments are often enforced upon His people to guide them in righteousness and holiness. The enforcement of these laws is seen as an expression of God's sovereignty and His desire for His people to live according to His will. In Deuteronomy 28, the blessings and curses are presented as consequences of obedience or disobedience to God's commands, illustrating the enforcement of divine law: "If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth" (Deuteronomy 28:1).

Human Governance

The enforcement of laws by human authorities is also a theme in the Bible. Romans 13:1-4 speaks to the role of governing authorities as enforcers of justice: "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves" (Romans 13:1-2). This passage underscores the belief that human authorities are instituted by God to maintain order and justice, and their enforcement of laws is part of God's providential plan.

Spiritual Discipline

Enforcement can also be seen in the context of spiritual discipline within the community of believers. Church discipline is a form of enforcement aimed at correcting and restoring those who have strayed from the faith. In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus outlines a process for addressing sin within the church, which includes steps that may lead to exclusion from the community if repentance is not forthcoming: "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector" (Matthew 18:17).

Historical Examples

Throughout the Old Testament, there are numerous examples of enforced decrees and laws. The account of Daniel in the lion's den (Daniel 6) illustrates the enforcement of a royal decree that prohibited prayer to any god or man other than King Darius. Despite the enforcement of this law, Daniel remained faithful to God, resulting in divine intervention and the eventual reversal of the decree.

Similarly, the Book of Esther recounts the enforcement of Haman's edict to destroy the Jews, which was ultimately overturned through the courageous actions of Esther and Mordecai (Esther 8:5-8).

Moral and Ethical Implications

The enforcement of laws and commands in the Bible often carries moral and ethical implications. It serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's will and the consequences of rebellion. The enforcement of divine and human laws is portrayed as necessary for maintaining order, justice, and righteousness within society and the community of believers.

In summary, the concept of "enforced" in the Bible encompasses the implementation of divine laws, the role of human authorities, and the practice of spiritual discipline, all of which are integral to the biblical understanding of order and obedience.1. (imp. & p. p.) of Enforce.

2. (a.) Compelled; forced; not voluntary.

Confession Enforced.
... THE TENNESSEE SYNOD. CONFESSION ENFORCED. 107. Confession No Mere Dead
Letter."That Tennessee did not regard the Lutheran Confession ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bente/american lutheranism/confession enforced.htm

Covenanting Enforced by the Grant of Covenant Signs and Seals.
... CHAPTER XI. COVENANTING ENFORCED BY THE GRANT OF COVENANT SIGNS AND SEALS.
To declare emphatically that the people of God are a ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter xi covenanting enforced by.htm

Letter xii. Improvement of Time. Present Obligation.
... occurrence. The duty of being systematic in all our arrangements is enforced
by several considerations.1. By the example of our Creator. ...
/.../letter xii improvement of time.htm

Home-Example.
... The precepts of home are unavailing unless enforced by a corresponding example. ...
This duty is, therefore, enforced by the most powerful motives. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xx home-example.htm

For they Loved the Praise of Men More than the Praise of God. John ...
... 3. They make a distinction between those requirements of God that are strongly enforced
by public sentiment and those that are not thus guarded. ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/for they loved the praise.htm

Elucidations.
... 5. Since this date, so far as the West is concerned, the whole system of corrupt
casuistry and enforced confession adopted in the West has utterly destroyed ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/on repentance/elucidations.htm

Elucidation.
... Thousands live in secret marriage, but their wives are dishonoured as "concubines."
It was not till the eleventh century that the celibate was enforced. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/to his wife/elucidation.htm

The Struggle in America, 1762-1857.
... good in America. For this reason they enforced the settlement system in
America just as strictly as in Germany. Instead of aiming ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter vi the struggle in.htm

By the Circumcision of Abraham, Marriage with Sisters Forbidden ...
... By the Circumcision of Abraham, Marriage with Sisters Forbidden; In the Times of
the Prophets Polygamy Put a Stop To; Conjugal Purity Itself by Degrees Enforced ...
/.../chapter iii by the circumcision of.htm

Changed Conditions
... As we came to districts where the regulations had been less severely enforced, we
found the queue replaced by the most extraordinary head-dress; the hair ...
/.../the fulfilment of a dream of pastor hsis/chapter xx changed conditions.htm

Enforced (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (imp. & pp) of Enforce. 2. (a.) Compelled; forced;
not voluntary. Multi-Version Concordance Enforced (1 Occurrence). ...
/e/enforced.htm - 6k

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)
... As to policy, he was an unprincipled opportunist: vassal to Necoh to whom he owed
his throne, until Necoh himself was defeated; enforced vassal to ...
/j/jehoiakim.htm - 33k

Jeroboam (96 Occurrences)
... long standing (2 Samuel 19:40; 2 Samuel 20 f) were augmented when Israelite interests
were made subservient to Judah and to the king, while enforced labor and ...
/j/jeroboam.htm - 62k

Quarantine (3 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) An enforced isolation of a person or thing infected
with a contagious disease--originally a period of forty days. ...
/q/quarantine.htm - 8k

Oracle (57 Occurrences)
... In all, divine utterances are meant, specialized in Acts 7:38 as the Mosaic Law
("living oracles" equals "commandments enforced by the living God"), in Romans 3 ...
/o/oracle.htm - 26k

Jamin (6 Occurrences)
... (3) In Nehemiah 8:7, a Levite (?), one of those who "caused the people to understand"
the Torah when Ezra enforced it = "Iadinus" in 1 Esdras 9:48. ...
/j/jamin.htm - 9k

Ten (234 Occurrences)
... people who were on their way to the land which had been given to Abraham and his
descendants (Exodus 20:12); and the 4th commandment is enforced by reference ...
/t/ten.htm - 60k

Enforce (1 Occurrence)

/e/enforce.htm - 7k

Engaddi

/e/engaddi.htm - 6k

Menahem (8 Occurrences)
... lawlessness. Menahem, with a strong hand, enforced his occupation of the throne.
One town only seems to have refused to acknowledge him. ...
/m/menahem.htm - 13k

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