People commit one of two errors: either they contempt the evildoers or they don’t tell them off (this when they don’t flatter them so that they can gain favors – Proverbs 26.28; 28.23; 29.5). Nevertheless, see the excerpt below:
On this occasion, the people of Israel were not valuing the priests and the elderly. And rightly so:
Before so corrupt and hypocrite authorities, our inclination is to deride and disdain them. Nonetheless, the Creator said that He won’t more regard Israel’s people because they contemned the authorities. And Paul and Peter wrote about this type of attitude:
And Paul goes beyond this:
Notwithstanding, this doesn’t mean accept passively this behavior, what, in turn, ends up abetting it:
When Sapphira, in complicity with his husband, lied to the Holy Spirit, it costed her dear (Acts 5.1-10). On the other hand, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah weren’t complaisant toward the king (Daniel 3) and were helped in a supernatural way by the Creator. Even Jesus made a scourge of small cords and drove out of the temple the sheep, oxen, poured out the changers' money, overthrew the tables, all this when religious leaders make the cult to the Creator into trade (John 2.15).
So, how can we sort out this quandary (obey or not to the authority)? Think over about this. Tomorrow we will see the answer (if Jesus reveals it). For the time being, have a magnificent weekend.
- “The face of Jehovah hath divided them; he will no more regard them. They respected not the persons of the priests, they favoured not the aged.” (Lamentations 4.15,16).
On this occasion, the people of Israel were not valuing the priests and the elderly. And rightly so:
- “There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with plaster, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, thus says the Lord GOD, when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.” (Ezekiel 22.25-29).
Before so corrupt and hypocrite authorities, our inclination is to deride and disdain them. Nonetheless, the Creator said that He won’t more regard Israel’s people because they contemned the authorities. And Paul and Peter wrote about this type of attitude:
- “Let every soul be subject to the authorities that are above [him]. For there is no authority except from God; and those that exist are set up by God. So that he that sets himself in opposition to the authority resists the ordinance of God; and they who [thus] resist shall bring sentence of guilt on themselves.” (Romans 13.1,2).
- “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverse. For this deserves giving of thanks, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.” (1Peter 2.18,19).
And Paul goes beyond this:
- “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2.3).
Notwithstanding, this doesn’t mean accept passively this behavior, what, in turn, ends up abetting it:
- “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5.11).
- “All of you shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: you shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbour.” (Leviticus 19.15).
When Sapphira, in complicity with his husband, lied to the Holy Spirit, it costed her dear (Acts 5.1-10). On the other hand, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah weren’t complaisant toward the king (Daniel 3) and were helped in a supernatural way by the Creator. Even Jesus made a scourge of small cords and drove out of the temple the sheep, oxen, poured out the changers' money, overthrew the tables, all this when religious leaders make the cult to the Creator into trade (John 2.15).
So, how can we sort out this quandary (obey or not to the authority)? Think over about this. Tomorrow we will see the answer (if Jesus reveals it). For the time being, have a magnificent weekend.
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