The importance of respecting authority
Many people are sadly ignorant about the basics of Biblical authority. They are not aware that God is the ultimate source of all authority.
Jesus said:
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." —Matthew 28:18
All authority flows from the throne of God, and has been delegated to men and women whom God has appointed to positions of leadership (see Romans 13:1).
What's more, God holds us responsible for our attitude toward His appointed people.
Who then are these authorities?
The Bible clearly lists those we will be under at various stages in our lives:
- Parents - Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 27:16; Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20
- Family order - Ephesians 5:21-24
- Work - Ephesians 6:5-8; Colossians 3:22-24; Titus 2:9-10; 1 Peter 2:18
- Government - Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14
- Church leaders - Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 5:17; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Peter 5:5
Failure to honour and respect God's authority is a form of rebellion, e.g.
"Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft." —1 Samuel 15:23.
Rebellion against any kind of authority—whether it is disrespecting those in Government or disobeying parents, etc. is no small matter. By rebelling against God's delegated authorities, people make themselves vulnerable to the influences of Satan in their lives, e.g.
- Families are falling apart because they don't have respect for parents or one another.
- Riots in which police personnel have been injured in the line of duty is another prime example of a total disregard for authority.
- More recently, disrespect for the United Kingdom's Prime Minister and his decision for the United Kingdom to remain a union is blatantly being undermined by those who do not respect the authority God has given to the office of Prime Minister.
These are just a few examples of rebellion against authority seen in society today.
In today's post, I would like to major on the authority of government because here in the United Kingdom, I believe this subject is extremely important and very relevant at this time.
A lesson from the past
See 1 Samuel 21-24
The Psalmist David, whilst on the run from King Saul (who was trying to kill him), was fully convinced re: the importance of submitting to authority. He refused to take advantage of a situation in which he could easily have killed King Saul because he respected the authority God had given Saul. King Saul was by no means perfect, but he was God's appointed leader for that particular time in history.
Why did David refuse to kill King Saul when he had the opportunity?
Below are just a couple of reasons the Psalmist David refused to kill King Saul:
- David knew that God had anointed Saul king over Israel (see 1 Samuel 10:1). Because David trusted God, he was determined to let God choose when Saul should no longer be King.
- David knew that God had anointed him King over Israel (see Samuel 16:13). David's great faith in God compelled him to wait until God made him King in Saul's place.
David wasn't willing to lose the blessing and favour of God by giving the devil a foothold in his life through impatience and lack of trust. David knew he was God's appointed and he was willing to honour God and wait for His divine timing rather than taking matters into is own hands.
Lessons from the life of David
- Disrespecting and challenging God's ordained leadership is not of God! It is interesting to note that David had twice been in situations where he had opportunity to take matters into his own hands and get rid of King Saul who stood in his way of becoming king, but he refused to do so preferring to wait on God's timing and direction. We do not see any of such in the ranks of Scottish leadership today. There is no prayer, no waiting or trusting in God for direction... just impatience to push through a second referendum against the Prime Minister's decision to keep the United Kingdom "united".
- Taking matters into our own hands against the authority of those God has appointed over us is not of God! David may not have liked Saul (or the fact that Saul hated him and wanted him out of the picture), but David respected the authority God had granted to Saul as the appointed king and ruler at that time and therefore he didn't dare lay a finger on the king in retaliation. David knew he would be king one day and therefore he had no need to take matters into his own hands to enforce such. It was God's will for him. This should be a warning bell for Scotland whose First Minister is trying to take matters into her own hands regarding Scottish Independence. Doing so is a total disregard for the authority and office of the Prime Minister whom God has appointed over the United Kingdom at this time. In short, it is rebellion against God!
This is a truly serious subject which carries serious consequences for our nation today. Never before has the UK been in such danger of being separated from God's divine favour and blessings because Scotland does not respect the authority God has placed over our lives in these current times.
Troubling times for the United Kingdom... or should I say troubling times for Scotland if she continues down this path?
For more reading on this subject, please visit: "The Origin and Function of Government".
