Romans 13: 1 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Similarly, Daniel 2:21 says, “[God] …removes kings and sets up kings…”
There are those who will assert that ANYONE who is in authority has God’s blessing, and we are not to question what they say or do, instead, we are to do what they say. They would have you believe that God has given them the authority by virtue of Romans 13: 1.
But there are writers who say that Romans 13: 1 is not talking about being subject to the person in authority, rather it says to be subject to the office itself, for in any nation under God, it is the office that has a direct link to God, not the person. Daniel 2:21 bears this out since it says that God will replace those who are in office if they do not administer in a righteous manner.
In the Book of Jonah, God was ready to obliterate the Ninevans, including the king. Under the king’s authority the people had sinned, making a mockery of the office of authority under God. It was only when the king showed repentance and commanded the people to do the same, that the Ninevans were spared.
The Book of Kings is full of kings who did evil in the sight of God. For example, consider this passage from 1 Kings 15:25-28—“Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. HE DID WHAT WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. SO BAASHA KILLED [NADAB] IN THE THIRD YEAR OF ASA KING OF JUDAH AND REIGNED IN HIS PLACE.” In accordance with Daniel 2:21, God had a hand in replacing this king. BTW, Verse 29 says “And as soon [Baasha] he was king, HE KILLED ALL THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM.”
And who is to say that God didn’t have a hand in replacing Hitler and devastating Germany under him? So, we who live under God must be watchful as to who takes the helm of the office of the governing authority. George Harrison, who wrote and performed a song called “My Sweet Lord,” wrote another song called “Beware of Darkness.” One of the lyrics is as follows: “Watch out now, take care beware of greedy leaders, they take you where you should not go.” He may have gotten the inspiration for this lyric from Romans 16:17-18 which says, “I appeal to you, brothers, to WATCH OUT for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
So, we are to be mindful of whom we put in any authority over us so our nations can be blessed. Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”
There are those who will assert that ANYONE who is in authority has God’s blessing, and we are not to question what they say or do, instead, we are to do what they say. They would have you believe that God has given them the authority by virtue of Romans 13: 1.
But there are writers who say that Romans 13: 1 is not talking about being subject to the person in authority, rather it says to be subject to the office itself, for in any nation under God, it is the office that has a direct link to God, not the person. Daniel 2:21 bears this out since it says that God will replace those who are in office if they do not administer in a righteous manner.
In the Book of Jonah, God was ready to obliterate the Ninevans, including the king. Under the king’s authority the people had sinned, making a mockery of the office of authority under God. It was only when the king showed repentance and commanded the people to do the same, that the Ninevans were spared.
The Book of Kings is full of kings who did evil in the sight of God. For example, consider this passage from 1 Kings 15:25-28—“Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. HE DID WHAT WAS EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin. Baasha the son of Ahijah, of the house of Issachar, conspired against him. And Baasha struck him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. SO BAASHA KILLED [NADAB] IN THE THIRD YEAR OF ASA KING OF JUDAH AND REIGNED IN HIS PLACE.” In accordance with Daniel 2:21, God had a hand in replacing this king. BTW, Verse 29 says “And as soon [Baasha] he was king, HE KILLED ALL THE HOUSE OF JEROBOAM.”
And who is to say that God didn’t have a hand in replacing Hitler and devastating Germany under him? So, we who live under God must be watchful as to who takes the helm of the office of the governing authority. George Harrison, who wrote and performed a song called “My Sweet Lord,” wrote another song called “Beware of Darkness.” One of the lyrics is as follows: “Watch out now, take care beware of greedy leaders, they take you where you should not go.” He may have gotten the inspiration for this lyric from Romans 16:17-18 which says, “I appeal to you, brothers, to WATCH OUT for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
So, we are to be mindful of whom we put in any authority over us so our nations can be blessed. Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”
