308. RESPECTFUL BUT RESOLUTE

(The Information & Edification Series – Batch 10)

We are to be respectful but yet resolute. By this I mean, that we are to be respectful to authority, whether it be at the governmental level, the Church level, at work or at home but at the same time, we must be resolute or determined in upholding our godly standard for the Lord. In short therefore, in being respectful, we must still be resolute and in being resolute, we must still be respectful.

THE NEED TO RESPECT ALL IN AUTHORITY

On the importance of respecting authority and the need for Christians to submit themselves to persons who hold such positions, 1 Peter 2:13-21 instructs:

  • Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
  • Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps”

Some additional scriptures that make reference to different forms of authority and how we are to relate to them are as follows:

  • Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:9-10)
  • Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:1-7)
  • If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offenses.” (Ecclesiastes 10:4)
  • Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.” (Ecclesiastes 10:20)
  • And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the LordChildren, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the LordServants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God; And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” (Colossians 3:17-25)
  • “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed” (Titus 2:3-5).
  • Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrews 13:17).
  • Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father…The elder women as mothers…” (1Timothy 5:1-2)
  • Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3).

From the scriptures, it is clear that God expects Christians to respect, submit to and give honour to governmental figures, whether at the national or local level, our employers, supervisors and management, our parents, our husbands and the men who are in leadership positions of authority in the Church, like Elders/Pastors and Deacons.

Notably, this command is not conditioned on whether those in authority are good, gentle, fair or kind. Even if the person is ungodly, unwise, foolish, forward, which I take to mean unkind, disrespectful, unfair, overbearing, difficult, cruel, insulting or malicious, God still requires us to give them respect and honour because of the office or position of authority that they hold over us. There are to be no exceptions. These means then, that even when we have been provoked or treated unjustly, we are not to retaliate by seeking to undermine the person’s authority or to lash out at the person with our speech (whether directly or indirectly through badmouthing or whether openly or subtly). We are also to not be malicious or to seek vengeance in any way. Instead, as much as we may hurt, we are to remain faithful, by remembering that whatever we do, we are doing it as unto God and not unto man and that he is well-pleased when we do what is right and suffer as a result.  

The scriptures make it clear that suffering in subjection to authority while doing what is right, is in keeping with the will of God for our lives, it is thankworthy, acceptable to him and in so doing, we adorn, not blaspheme, the doctrine of God our Saviour and the Word of God. It is also clear that when we refuse to submit ourselves to authority by obeying, respecting and honouring, that this is to our detriment (unprofitable to us), results in a curse in our lives and incurs God’s wrath.

Out of fear for God, what pleases him and what brings him glory therefore, we are called to stifle our pride when we are badly treated by authority and to continue to submit to it, even when we feel tempted to do otherwise.

This is instructive in my own life, my having struggled for many years with handling provocation, unfair treatment, malice and injustice from persons in authority over me, in the right manner. As difficult as it may seem in the moment though, when we are angry, hurting, in shock at how we have been treated, outraged that the persons in authority would have dared to have disrespected, provoked or insulted us in such a way or to do what they did and we feel all hot and bothered, it is possible to remain respectful, both in front of the authority and behind their backs or else God would not expect it. It is possible to exercise self-control so as to be angry and to sin not and even so, we are not to hold on even to justifiable anger for too long a period. The Word of God states in Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath”.

The choice therefore has to be made every time, as to whether we will walk in the spirit and be led by it or in the flesh. Will we respond in a way that dishonours God or will we be silent?

Galatians 5:16 and 25 states:

  • “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law… If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

We are to live in the Spirit (which we are if we are saved), walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit.

Some of you may be thinking, “You don’t know what I am going through. He or she provokes me sore and without a cause and does everything to undermine me and make me look bad. He or she hurls insults at me and accuses me of things that are not warranted. I’ve done my best to please him or her but nothing works. He or she still abuses me, disrespects me and hates me.”

This may well be true. However, it doesn’t matter how difficult subjection may seem though. God, who knows us inside out and knows how he created people, has allowed that person or persons to be in authority over you. It is not by chance. He has also given the command of subjection because as hard as it may be, you are able to do it! Even if the person is narcissistic therefore, wicked, malicious, evil and deliberately metes out large doses of unjust treatment to you and even if that person has indeed been trying to do everything under the sun to bring you down and destroy you, Philippians 4:13 declares, I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” If you are truly a Christian, this applies to you and is true of you.

David in the Bible, went through exactly the same ordeal in relation to king Saul and he passed the test with flying colours.

There he was, genuinely seeking the welfare of Saul and his business, only to be hated upon and to be pursued relentlessly, Saul harbouring envy for him and trying his best, repeatedly, to kill him.

Yet, despite the hurt of this colossal injustice and how wickedly and unfairly Saul treated him, David respected his authority. The scripture stated that he behaved himself wisely (1 Samuel 18:14-15), meaning that he did not rebel against Saul’s authority or conspire against him but continued to serve him as best he could in the circumstances.

Later on, when he had what seemed like the perfect opportunity to destroy him, when he found him in a cave, he refused to end his life, although encouraged by his supporters to do so, stating, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord. He also prevented his servants from harming Saul in any way, the scriptures stating, “So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”

Guided by his fear for God, David had regard for the fact that, as wicked as Saul was, God had set him up. He had anointed him as king and therefore, he would not lift up his hand against the Lord’s anointed, not for Saul’s sake but out of respect for the God he served.

Knowing that vengeance belonged to God and trusting God to therefore judge the situation righteously, David was content to take no action. He later told Saul but respectfully:

Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed. Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it. The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.” (1 Samuel 24:10-12)

This was in similar fashion to Jesus our Lord, the perfect example. The Bible states that, “…when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). Imagine that he was the Son of God and God the Son and had the power to destroy all of his enemies in an instant but yet forbore to do so, restraining himself in obedience and submission to the will of God the Father!

Of all of the Articles that I have written, this one is perhaps the most convicting to me personally, given the challenge that I have faced repeatedly in my relation to some persons in authority. I’ve always wondered why God permitted so many problems in my life in relation to authority but in retrospect, I am of the view that one reason may have been, to get me to the point where I would obey him, over the voice of my bruised ego, so that I would honour and respect the authority, despite how much that authority had provoked me or been unjust to me or wicked to me. I believe that he has been endeavouring, in his love, to get me to see my problem, to repent of it and to break my usual response to provocation, which has been to run to the flesh and retaliate (which has often been in the form of badmouthing) and instead, to get me to walk in and be led by the Spirit.

On this principal of submission and respect for authority, we see in Acts 23 that when Paul had given some cheeky and defiant words to Ananias the high priest, he appeared to immediately regret it afterwards, when he learned that this man, though ungodly and wicked was the high priest and therefore, was in a high position of authority. He had not known prior.

Him being ready to die for the Lord, his regret was not out of fear for what this man had power to do but out of fear for the true and living God, who he understood required respect at all times, to those in positions of authority. He had commanded that we ought not to answer again, meaning we ought not to retaliate disrespectfully with our speech, to the authority, no matter what they have said or done. By Paul’s behaviour therefore, he had not brought honour to God, in the presence of those who had witnessed the incident and heard his words and for this, he was sorry.

In verses 2 to 5, it reads:

  • “And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people.”

Also, in 2 Peter 2, in warning of false prophets and false teachers who would arise among the Church, Peter wrote that one of their characteristics would be that they would speak evil against those in authority. He also emphasized the significance of this sin, making reference to the angels, who dared not bring an accusation against such earthly authority before the Lord.

In verses 10 and 11, Peter wrote:

  • “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.”

Clearly inspired by Peter’s earlier writings, in the book of Jude, the infiltration of such men having begun in the Church, Jude wrote similarly of them in verses 8-11, mentioning that Michael the archangel, refrained out of respect for the higher position of authority that the devil had apparently once held, from accusing him but instead, left the issue in the hands of the one that judges righteously.

He wrote:

  • “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not…”

I think that submission to authority is important to the Lord, as he has set up earthly authority, which is reflective of his heavenly authority. The devil in his pride, along with some of the angels, once rebelled against God’s authority and we see how they were cast out of heaven (Revelation 12:7-10).

Of his delusion and downfall, Isaiah 14: 12 to 15 states:

  • “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”

Having been cast out of heaven and down unto the earth, the devil and his demons are still rebelling to date, refusing to submit to God. When we rebel against authority which God has allowed to be set up (whether they are good or bad), it does not therefore bring honour to the Lord’s name and his righteous principle, that all authority is to be given the respect due and to be served faithfully. It is also a prideful trait that is of devilish origin, which was clearly demonstrated in 2 Samuel 15, when Absalom lusted after the power that his father king David had and eventually conspired against him, to try to usurp his authority by force. In similar fashion to which the devil’s mutiny was brought down, Absalom did not succeed in his efforts and lost his life in the process.

THE NEED TO BE RESOLUTE, WHILE RESPECTFUL TO AUTHORITY

It is important to point out, that having respect for authority does not mean that we are to pledge complete allegiance to that authority. Serving those who are in authority faithfully, which God requires of us, does not mean to worship them, as blind obeisance and giving in to even that which is wrong, would be idolatry. Some persons in authority exploit this by expecting those that are subject to them, to worship them. They never expect to hear no or for those under them to do anything other than as exactly as they say, no matter how wrong, unreasonable or irrational their demands.

However, only God is to be worshipped. No man, irrespective of how high God has elevated him, is to be worshipped. There are therefore limits to which we are expected to submit and obey. Mordecai in recognizing this, refused to bow down to Haman, who got upset because in his pride, he took the view that positions of elevation, such as he had been esteemed, warranted worship. However, he was wrong and God sided with Mordecai, who had done nothing wrong. He had not been disrespectful and he had not dishonoured Haman in any way. He had simply refused to give to a man what was only meant for God.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did this as well. They refused to bow down to the image which king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had made, despite his command. When questioned by him about it and offered another opportunity to do as he had said and knowing that the decreed penalty for anyone that disobeyed him was to be thrown into the fiery furnace, they were careful to be respectful and to give honour to the position in their choice of words but they maintained their stance.

They addressed the king respectfully and deferentially by his position, referring to him as “O king” but they made it unequivocally clear, that irrespective of his high office, his decree and the consequences, due to their complete allegiance to the God of heaven, they would not do as the king had decreed. This was because they understood, that earthly authority did not have the right to demand any action that would result in disobeying God. Their words and conduct serve as an excellent example of what it means to be respectful but still resolute and resolute but still respectful.

In answer to the king, they stated in Daniel 3:16-18:

  • “…O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

Jesus himself said render to Caesar the things that are Caesars and to God, the things that are God’s (Matthew 22:21). It is understood, that when these two are in conflict, it is God that our loyalty must be rendered to, he being the Creator of heaven and earth and Lord over all.

He has commanded, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, all thy soul, all thy mind (Matthew 22:37) and to do that, will sometimes mean that we will have to respectfully refuse to do what those in authority want us to do, if this would mean that it would displease God.

As Peter would have said in response to the high priest, the captain of the temple and the chief priests who had commanded him and the other apostles to stop teaching the people in Jesus’ name and had therefore questioned why they had chosen to disobey the authoritative command, We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).  

Peter and the other apostles had been given a clear mandate by Jesus before he was glorified, that they should go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15) and after they had been put in prison for doing exactly that but were taken out by an angel of God, they were clearly instructed afresh, “Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.” (Acts 5:20). Them having been authorized by the highest authority therefore, they disregarded the command of the earthly authority and obeyed God by resuming teaching.  

We must have the same mentality, in that we must readily obey God over any earthly form of authority.

The Hebrew midwifes Shiphrah and Puah in Genesis, feared God and therefore understood, as the apostles also did, that submitting to earthly authority is no excuse to disobey or displease God. When Pharaoh, king of Egypt, gave the evil instruction therefore, that they were to kill all of the male Hebrew children, they did not openly protest or hold a strike or anything to that effect. They simply remained resolute in their hearts, that they would obey God, over the king and therefore, did not do what Pharaoh commanded. Exodus 1:17 reads, But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.”

God, pleased with the fact that they feared him more than the earthly king, rewarded them for their choosing to do the things that pleased him, even in the face of a clear directive from Pharaoh to the contrary.

Daniel too understood the principle of putting God first, over every earthly authority. While serving as a captive in Babylon, he had good relations with the king who was impressed with the excellence of the spirit that was within him, so much so, that he thought of promoting him even further.

The Word of God states in Daniel 6:1-3 of king Darius that:

  • “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

Daniel clearly had every intention of serving the king, although a captive in a strange land and the king not knowing God and therefore being a heathen. In fact, so faithful and submissive to the king’s authority was he, that verse 4 states of him, “…he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.”

While he respected the king of Babylon and was a faithful steward though, this did not make him disregard God’s laws and his divine expectations. Him understanding how necessary prayer was to his sustenance and that of his people and having always approached God’s throne of grace to pray three times a day, when the decree was given by the king, that no man was to ask any petition of any God or man for thirty days, except the earthly king, he disregarded it.

He did not seek a way out of it by reasoning within himself, that maybe he could stop praying to God for thirty days and then after this period, he could resume. No. He did not seek to hide to pray, so that no one would know that he had prayed to God or to reduce the frequency to which he was accustomed. No.

He was not ashamed of his God, saw no need to hide that he was praying to him and did not change his usual schedule in any way, so as to accommodate or compromise with the king’s command. He continued to pray to God, right after the decree had been made, although he knew that it had been made. For, no earthly king had the right or the authority to get between him and his God. To do so, amounted to overstepping his bounds and Daniel understood this.

Notably, he did not argue with the king or make a fuss or go to his friends and badmouth him. There is no record that he harboured resentment or ill-will against the king for what he had done or sought to undermine him in anyway. He simply quietly continued to serve him in relation to his secular duties but as it pertained to his spiritual duty to God, he continued doing that as well, without intermission.

Verse 10 states:

  • Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Even after the command had been given, as a result of his disobedience to the king, that he should be put in the den of lions, when the king called out to him the next morning, to see if his God had somehow preserved him and he had, Daniel did not appear to harbour any resentment, did not refuse to answer and was not rude in his response. Although he had been sent to his death, he still maintained respect for the king and gave him the honour that he was due.

After the ordeal that he had been put through, Daniel still expressed deference for the earthly king and his authority. He had remained resolute in serving his God but he also continued to be respectful of the king who had issued a decree that undermined his will.

Daniel 6: 19-20 states:

  • “Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”

The Bible gives record of Ahab who was a wicked king and in fact one of the most wicked Israelite kings that had ever reigned. His wife Jezebel was very wicked as well, so they were both ungodly and had an agenda that was contrary to, went against and opposed the agenda of the true and living God.

Within that setting, in 1 Kings 18, it states that Obadiah was a governor that was in Ahab’s house, so he had a high and responsible position.

As an aside, I don’t think that the godly men and women in the Old Testament pursued these high positions. Most of them were thrust into them, like Joseph and Daniel and Esther had been. They didn’t go looking for high office but in most cases, the high office and affiliation with high dignitaries, were thrust upon them, in keeping with the will of God.

I believe that in this day and age, we that are God’s people, should never go looking for these high positions, where we can be closely affiliated to those in authority. Change will not be effected through this means. Change will be effected when we are on our knees, which is where our responsibility lies. The Word of God tells us to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4), not try to join ourselves to them, with the claim that we want to positively influence them.

Evil communications corrupt good manners (1 Corinthians 15:13) and when we take it upon ourselves to seek after high office and high affiliations, the only one that tends to get influenced and negatively, through compromise, is the one who purports to be a Christian. We should allow the Lord, if it is his will, to lead us wherever he would have us be. If he wants a child of his to be closely affiliated with those in high office, he would lead him and keep him. For, wherever the Lord leads, he gives the grace to sustain his children through those situations.

The problem exists because most people who claim to know the Lord are not led by him to seek these positions. They are led by their own lusts for position, prestige, money and a preoccupation with power, them claiming to be seeking such office to effect change but this being a mere excuse or cover up for their real selfish motive.

In 1 Kings 18, we get the idea that Obadiah was subservient to Ahab, although he was a wicked king. Yet, the Bible states that “Obadiah feared the Lord greatly” (vs.3).

In being respectful, yet resolute therefore, it is important that we strike a balance. On the one hand, we have to render the things that are Caesar’s, unto Caesar but on the other, the things that are the Lord’s, the Lord. Once these two can co-exist, then we are to give due honour where it is due, in both spheres. We are to be subservient to the earthly authority and at the same time, give due honour and regard to the Word of God and the God that we serve.

However, if there is at any point in time a conflict, where the things that are Caesar’s and the things that are the Lord’s are in opposition to each other, then it is clear from the scriptures, that it is the things of the Lord that must prevail. It is the Lord and his will, that is to be given the preeminence, irrespective of the outcome.

This we saw with Obadiah. Although it is reasonable to assume that he was subservient to Ahab or he would not have had him as governor in his house, Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. His master did not fear God or serve him but yet he was his master.

However, him being subject to Ahab and I guess, by extension, his wicked wife Jezebel, did not translate into blind loyalty. This reminds us that having a master over us and being under secular authority, does not mean that we must have blind loyalty. We do not, as Christians, pledge complete allegiance to earthly authority, only to God. For his name alone is excellent (Psalm 148:13). So, whereas we are respectful to authority, whenever or if ever a conflict should arise between what those who are in earthly authority over us want us to do and God’s will, we are to pursue God’s will.

In Obadiah’s case, we saw that when the conflict arose, in that Ahab’s wife was having the Prophets of the Lord killed, the Bible states that Obadiah took a hundred Prophets and hid them by fifty in a cave and fed them with bread and water. At that point in time where there was a conflict between God’s will and the will of those in earthly authority over him therefor, Obadiah deviated. He was not subservient to the point of supporting evil, which would have been to dishonour God.

Instead, he chose to pursue the things that would please the Lord, even as Moses did in relation to his adoptive mother, the daughter of Pharaoh and Pharaoh himself. When he became of age, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, although she had raised him for a number of years and in an environment of wealth, prestige and privilege. The Word of God states of Moses:

  • “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26)

As it pertains to the authority of parents over children, children are to obey their parents in all things but only in the Lord (Ephesians 6:1). The same holds true for wives in relation to their husbands (Colossians 3:18).  If parents give wrong counsel or instruct a child to do something that would displease God therefore, the child is to be respectful but resolute, in taking a stand for the Lord, even if the parents are upset and label the child as being rude to disobey and rebellious.

To do everything that a parent says, to grant their every desire and to side with them in every situation, even when they are wrong and displease God, would be to endorse sin and to also sin ourselves, as this would be idolatry. This was clearly illustrated in 2 Chronicles 15:16, where king Asa, out of his fear for God, which was far more important than his regard for his mother, removed her from being queen because she had done evil by making an idol. She continued to be his mother and I am sure he remained respectful of her and gave her honour where due. However, despite her position of matriarchal authority over him, he was resolute in his stance for the Lord and therefore, refused to turn a blind eye to her sin and destructive influence on the people. He took decisive action which would have been sure to displease her but it pleased the Lord.

The scripture states:

  • “And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.” (2 Chronicles 15:16)

Similarly, Obadiah did not do what his master Ahab and his wife Jezebel would have wanted him to do, as the governor over their house, although they were in positions of authority over him. Surely, given his position, which would have been one that called for someone that Ahab could trust and vouch for as trustworthy, reliable and faithful, they would have expected him to side with Jezebel and her evil wishes and to therefore do nothing. However, Obadiah did not do that. He went against the will of his master’s wife and secretly took a risk, so as to please the Lord.

Given how evil Jezebel was and the nature of Obadiah’s role, were he to have been found out, he surely would have been accused of treason, lost his position and his life. However, the fear of the Lord gave Obadiah the courage to do what he did, irrespective of the outcome. He could not sit and do nothing, when he realized that he was perfectly positioned to be able to help God’s people.

This gives us a good understanding of what it means to be respectful, yet resolute. We are to do the wishes of those who are in authority but only in so far as they do not go against the wishes of almighty God. If it reaches a point where they want us to take a path or to do something that goes against God’s will, we are to resolutely yet respectfully, pursue the will of God and without compromise, even as Obadiah, the apostles, the Hebrew Midwives, Daniel and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had done.

CONCLUSION

In closing, there are sufficient examples in the Bible to guide us as to how we can strike a balance between being respectful of those in authority on the one hand, while being resolute in our stance, that we will not go against the will of almighty God, that we will do the things that please him always (even if this means displeasing the earthly authority) and that we will remain faithful to him, above all others.

Wherever the two are able to co-exist peaceably, we are to give due honour in both spheres. We are therefore not allowed to rebel against the authority under any circumstances. Respectfully refusing to do something that would go against God’s will or is too unreasonable, is not rebellion. However, demonstrating insolence, undermining the earthly authority, being malicious or engaging in any vengeful acts, including the badmouthing of that authority, is. Also, if we have an issue with how we are treated by the earthly authority, we are to take it to our Lord, the one who is righteous and with whom vengeance belongs. He is able to handle it, in his own time and in his own way and he is no respecter of persons.

Romans 12:17-19 and 21 instructs:

  • “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord…Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Colossians 3:25 clearly states, But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”

Romans 2:9-11 also states:

  • “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.”

The Word of God clearly tells us that we are to give honour where honour is due (Romans 13:7) and as a brother in the Lord once pointed out in a Bible Study, the emphasis is on “due”. The earthly authority often times exploits and tries to overreach the authority that they have been given by God and don’t just want us to give them honour where honour is due but to worship them. They want blind allegiance and for us to do everything that they say, whether right or wrong, reasonable or unreasonable, rational or irrational. Yet, complete allegiance, which is worship, is not due to them. This is only due to God. 

To please God as Christians therefore, we must be respectful, yet resolute, as other godly men and women in the Bible have demonstrated is possible to do. Any other equation, like respect to the point of worship or resolute to the point of rebellion is sure to bring him dishonour.

(Written on 13th and 14th September, 2024)

Dear Reader, if you found the above Article to be interesting, informative, beneficial or edifying, you may be interested in reading the following:

  • Note 197 – ‘For His Name Alone Is Excellent’
  • Note 249 – ‘Called to Honour People, Not To Worship Them’

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