N
newton3003
Guest
James 1:13 may say, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one,” but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t use evil for His own purpose. And keep in mind that Romans 8:28 says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” So, the inference is that whoever is evil has become evil without God’s help, and God will use them from time to time for the sake of goodness.
This is illustrated in 1 Kings 16. There, Elah ruled over Israel and God determined him to be evil in His sight. How was he gotten rid of? His commander, Zimri, killed him. Zimri eventually becomes king of Israel, but God saw he did evil in His sight also. So, the people of Israel make someone named Omri a commander, who lays siege to the city Zimri was in. Zimri kills himself by setting his house on fire while inside, as explained in 1 Kings 16:18.
Did God orchestrate these killings? If not, He at least allowed for them to happen. God would at least be fulfilling what it says in Romans 8:28 when Daniel 2:21 says “…[God] removes kings and sets up kings…”
Does God require kings to rule with him in mind? In 1 Samuel, the people tell Samuel they want a king to rule over them. Samuel is at first reluctant, but then, in granting their request, he says in 1 Samuel 12 24-25 to “…fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, BOTH YOU AND YOUR KING.” So, God will not put up with evil, either from the people or from those who govern over them.
The question remains, Does God give authority to whoever rules? Pontius Pilate, who governed in the province of the Jews, says to Jesus that Pontius has the authority of life and death over him. Jesus replies in John 19:11, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above…” What authority is Jesus referring to? Is it the authority to act on God’s behalf, or the authority to rule with a free hand, regardless of whether the authority is of good or evil?
To make matters somewhat confusing, Romans 13:1 says to “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.” So how are we to know when the governing authorities have been instituted by God, and when they haven’t, in the manner of distinction that Jesus makes when he confronts Pilate? People, out of the fear and love of God, must know so they can determine whether they should abide by the governing authority or overturn it, as implied in 1 Samuel 12 24-25, in order to save themselves.
Safe to say, if the people appoint governing authorities over them who strive for righteousness and who rule in the same manner, there would be no problem to begin with. But as we see, in many parts of the world and close to home, people who love God are faced with soul-searching as to what is right and wrong, good and evil, and what to do about those who govern over them so that they won’t be “swept away.”
This is illustrated in 1 Kings 16. There, Elah ruled over Israel and God determined him to be evil in His sight. How was he gotten rid of? His commander, Zimri, killed him. Zimri eventually becomes king of Israel, but God saw he did evil in His sight also. So, the people of Israel make someone named Omri a commander, who lays siege to the city Zimri was in. Zimri kills himself by setting his house on fire while inside, as explained in 1 Kings 16:18.
Did God orchestrate these killings? If not, He at least allowed for them to happen. God would at least be fulfilling what it says in Romans 8:28 when Daniel 2:21 says “…[God] removes kings and sets up kings…”
Does God require kings to rule with him in mind? In 1 Samuel, the people tell Samuel they want a king to rule over them. Samuel is at first reluctant, but then, in granting their request, he says in 1 Samuel 12 24-25 to “…fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, BOTH YOU AND YOUR KING.” So, God will not put up with evil, either from the people or from those who govern over them.
The question remains, Does God give authority to whoever rules? Pontius Pilate, who governed in the province of the Jews, says to Jesus that Pontius has the authority of life and death over him. Jesus replies in John 19:11, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above…” What authority is Jesus referring to? Is it the authority to act on God’s behalf, or the authority to rule with a free hand, regardless of whether the authority is of good or evil?
To make matters somewhat confusing, Romans 13:1 says to “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.” So how are we to know when the governing authorities have been instituted by God, and when they haven’t, in the manner of distinction that Jesus makes when he confronts Pilate? People, out of the fear and love of God, must know so they can determine whether they should abide by the governing authority or overturn it, as implied in 1 Samuel 12 24-25, in order to save themselves.
Safe to say, if the people appoint governing authorities over them who strive for righteousness and who rule in the same manner, there would be no problem to begin with. But as we see, in many parts of the world and close to home, people who love God are faced with soul-searching as to what is right and wrong, good and evil, and what to do about those who govern over them so that they won’t be “swept away.”
