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What Does Šāp̄aṭ Mean for Trump & Iran?

What Does Šāp̄aṭ Mean for Trump & Iran?

Last updated on: January 12, 2026 at 8:59 pm by Martin Thomas Johnson

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What Does Šāp̄aṭ Mean for Trump & Iran? 2026-01-12T20:59:25-05:00 Martin Thomas Johnson

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This week, most of the news focused on the President. Trump, unfortunately. First, he made the shocking confession that he feels he is only limited by his own morality, not our laws, international law, or even God’s.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

This should be shocking and offensive to those who are conservative, because the Bible makes two things clear: we cannot lean upon our own understanding and only God is good and righteous (Psalm 14:1-3, Ecclesiastes 7: 20, Mark 10:18). We are called to live by God’s standards, not man’s (Romans 12:2, 1 Peter 1:14-16).

The Bible is clear; we are all broken humans, regardless of our political party affiliation. The president and his followers believe they are the moral standard of humanity, despite God’s word saying all humans are sinful (Genesis 6:5, Romans 3:23):

Greedy
Unloving
Prideful

Earlier, the president also announced he and his administration are in control of Venezuela after attacking a sovereign nation and objecting to its leader. The end never justifies the means, which is unethical.

I am not saying a former Venezuelan president was a model citizen or that he willed it his power justly. Merely pointing out that the Bible is clear, only God is just and righteous (Isaiah 45:21, Romans 3:25-26).

Only light can drive out the darkness of this world, not using darkness against itself. God’s people are called to expose all evil and stand up against it. (Micah 6:8, Ephesians 5:11). However, we are warned not to judge others, because we too are guilty of sin (Matthew 7:1). Only God is sinless and able to judge (Psalm 9:8).

What Is Judging

Judging is a very complex spiritual term because it has many implications depending on the situation. Judging is defined as” To determine or pronounce after an inquiry: govern or condemn.”

Image by Pixabay

We each have the responsibility to discern between good and evil, based on God’s standards, not ours, as some false teachers believe (Hebrews 5:14, 1 John 14:1). A few years ago, I left a church because one of the pastors made the comment that, “There won’t be any Democrats in heaven.” Needless to say, I left that church, not because I disagreed, but because he wasn’t teaching biblical truth.

Let me explain, there will be no Democrats in hell or Republicans in heaven, because hell is for Satan and all those who refuse Jesus and God’s righteous ways, and Heaven is for all who believe in Jesus and obey God’s ways.

Where we spend eternity isn’t based on political beliefs; it is based on our spiritual beliefs and relationship with God alone. The fact that many Americans and even churches have politicized eternity and sin is heartbreaking to me personally; that is unbiblical and unethical.

This is why God gives us His Spirit to help us discern between good and evil, not political parties or our selfish desires (John 14:16-17, Acts 2:38). Republicans are just as capable of doing evil as Democrats or any illegal immigrant, and Democrats are just as able to do good as any religious sinner.

That is why the Bible has a lot to say about judging and judgment (Matthew 7:1-2, Romans 2:12, James 4:11). God set His people apart from this dark world to be different, so they must learn to discern between good and evil by God’s standards (Leviticus 20:26, Deuteronomy 14:2, 1 Peter 2:9).

As God’s people we are called to avoid evil and the wicked who practice it (Psalm 1:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:22). While we avoid evil and walk in the light, we do not condemn it, that final judgment is up to God alone (Romans 2:5-8, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10, 2 Peter2: 4). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about judging and who has the right to do it.

Šāp̄aṭ

The prophet Moses tells us sin entered the world because mankind wanted to be great and to know the difference between good and evil like God (Genesis 3:1-7). After God called Moses out from the wilderness, he became the first judge of Israel, although he was a murderer himself (Exodus 2:11-14; 3:1-6).

The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for judging is šāp̄aṭ and it can also mean “Plead, govern, defend, avenge, or condemn,” depending upon the context it is used in.

Judaism often refers to God as a righteous Judge (Genesis 3:1-24, Exodus 20:1-26, Psalm 7:11). Because of our sinful nature, even God’s people needed to have judges appointed to discern and do God’s will:

Moses
Othaniel
Ehud
Shumgar
Deborah
Gideon
Tola
Jair
Jephthah
Ibzan
Elon
Abdon
Samson

According to Jewish tradition, the Messiah will be a righteous and perfect Judge, as a descendant of King David; He is a supreme Judge (Psalm 26:13, Isaiah 11:3-4, Jeremiah 23:5). This is why it is noted that Jesus was of the lineage of King David (Matthew 1:1-17).

Image by Pixabay

Our Lord is often referred to as a Judge and Redeemer (John 5:22; 8:16). He also came to save and not condemn (John 12:47-48). He warned His followers not to condemn others, because He will judge us all accordingly, even God’s people (Matthew 7:1-2; 25:31-46).

Our Lord rebuked the Pharisees and religious leaders of His day for trying to judge and condemn a woman who was guilty of adultery (John 8:3-11). Despite Jewish law allowing them to stone the woman for her adultery, Jesus chose to forgive her (Leviticus 20:10)

The religious leaders wanted to kill a woman in the name of God because of her sins. Jesus, the only sinless judge, chose to forgive and give life, while the sinners wanted to murder her.

Iran

In other big news this week, Iran has experienced an awakening and liberation from oppression. Protests against their supreme leader in the harsh living conditions there are breaking out around the nation.

Image by Wikipedia Commons

The supreme leader, who is power-hungry man, has threatened to judge and punish those who resist his authority. The Bible is clear God’s judgment will come upon the entire Earth, not just a people or a political party, because He is just (Isaiah 24:1-6, Revelation 6:12-17).

Again, we see that the judgment of man is self-serving and not just (Proverbs 17:15, Isaiah 5:20, Habakkuk 1:4). Mankind is sinful, not just and righteous (Genesis 6:5):

Prideful
Unloving
Violent
Vengeful

In an ironic twist, President Trump has threatened violence against the Iranian leader if they harm any protesters. It is unethical to threaten violence with violence; darkness cannot overcome darkness, only light can (John 1:5).

He claims he wants to protect protesters less than a week after an American citizen was murdered by our government for protesting against his own policies. The Bible warns against repaying violence with violence (Matthew 5:39; 10:30, 1 Peter 3:9).

God’s people are forbidden to seek revenge (Deuteronomy 32:35, Romans 12:17-21). The hearts of all men are evil because of our sin, that is why only God can šāp̄aṭ!

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