Living Under Someone Else’s Authority

It is not easy…

not easy

… to live under the authority of someone else especially if they do not have the wisdom that comes with understanding God’s truth shown to us in His Word. David is an example for us especially during the years when he lived under a jealous King Saul who rather than rule as God would have him do became ever more jealous of his servant David who did according to God’s wishes.

Saul’s actions caused God to remove His Spirit from Saul and anoint David as King yet buyingSaul held the throne and saw the favor David seemed to have so he sought David to be a part of his “administration”. Those who govern without God often find themselves in a position of needing help and if we follow their lead (yet remain separate from their ungodly policies) we too may one day be found in some type of authoritative position. This is how David would ultimately find the throne through his befriending Saul (1 Samuel 16:21). Perhaps as Christians the use of a little more honey rather than vinegar would be advisable.

The ultimate inroad to the throne was defeating the enemy of King Saul and Israel which was Goliath and the Philistines. The love of a nation and its people often comes down to a person’s ability to defeat a common enemy. In 1 Samuel 17 we see how David subdued the Philistines beginning with its central figure of strength in the person of Goliath. As we at the time of this writing find a need to fight the ungodly terrorism of militant Islam perhaps we need to look for those who can do so understanding its makeup through the eyes of God’s Word and how it can be brought down rather than by a piecemeal secular way of handling this critical issue.

Interesting for David was that King Saul’s own family saw David’s wisdom and became devoted to him. The message seems to be that without compromising our beliefs by staying within the structure of the administrative apparatus before us we can make a difference and perhaps those not inclined toward God’s wisdom and solutions may come to respect our wisdom.

We need as believers in a secular world to unite in word and deed praying the prayer of King David written in psalm 59. LIVING UNDER SOMEONE ELSE’S AUTHORITY especially when it is rule by a weak or secular person requires no less of us.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: David led a people out of darkness and danger by doing what the Lord desired.

DEVOTIONAL VERSE FOR TODAY: 1 Samuel 18:14 “David behaved wisely”.

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord may my actions show your wisdom.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT:

1. How do you live under a non-believers authority.

2. Have others changed their ways by seeing in you a life of faith?

3. Who in our nation speaks for God with authority?

4. How can we today pray the prayer of Psalm 59 with effectiveness?

*** Gary Jerke *** Is a  former State Representative, author and Life and Liberty News contributor

gary jerke    View Gary’s website, Encouraging Others in Christ

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