Title
Honoring God’s Appointed Authority
Scripture
Then David lamented . . . over Saul and over Jonathan his son.
(2 Samuel 1:17)
Devotional
David did not take joy in the death of the one that sought to kill him. He did not rejoice because the throne would now be his for the taking. He never raised his hand against his enemy Saul. He honored him and loved his son Jonathan. When God says that David was a man after His own heart, here we see some of the reasons why. Saul was chosen by God to be Israel’s first king. Therefore, if he were to be removed from being king, God would have to do it. David honored God’s chosen, even when God’s chosen fell from God’s favor. Let us learn this profoundest of lessons. We are to never raise our hands against those chosen by God. If God placed them in authority in our lives, let God remove them from that place of authority. The scriptures are clear, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”(1)
(1) Romans 13:1
Text For The Day
2 Samuel 1:17: Then David lamented… over Saul and over Jonathan his son.
Thought For The Day
“Submission is not subjugation. Subjugation turns a person into a thing, destroys individuality, and removes all liberty. Submission makes a person become more of what God wants him to be; it brings out individuality; it gives him the freedom to accomplish all that God has for his life and ministry. Subjugation is weakness; it is the refuge of those who are afraid of maturity. Submission is strength; it is the first step toward true maturity and ministry.” Warren Wiersbe, former pastor of Moody Church, Chicago.
Questions To Ponder
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Has not God always dealt with His people through designated authorities, even if those authorities were angels?
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Were not the patriarchs and apostles designated authorities?
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Who are God’s appointed authorities in your life?
Morning Study Guide
Defining: “Authority” in the Scriptures is not just having knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, but is being designated by God to rightly apply them. Remember, God appoints all authority (Romans 13:1).
Referencing: “These dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” Jude 1:8-9
Applying: “Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same,” Romans 13:3.