February 19 Submit to Government

Esther 2:15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.
 
WE have looked at submission as it relates to Jesus’ submission to the cross, our submission to Jesus’ church and submission in human relationships. Now we’ll consider submission as it relates to living under a government authority. This is Esther’s challenge. Should Esther have submitted to the ungodly king and his officials?
    The most direct answer comes in Romans 13:1-6 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. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities, resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad conduct. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.” 
    To understand this passage, I quote from the Life Application Bible commentary: “Rulers are in their position only because God has placed them there, and they are ultimately responsible to God. God is sovereign, and the church may grow even in a hostile environment under an atheistic leader. (Underline mine.) Note, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.” (Proverbs 21:1). All earthly governments are temporary. Only Christ’s reign will be eternal. To rebel against them is to rebel against their God-given authority. In practice, the responsibilities and opportunities of the politically powerful and the politically powerless will differ. For believers in a hostile environment, cooperation may be the most realistic approach. Believers who have the opportunity to affect change must challenge, speak out, offer solutions, and confront the power structure.”
    In short, yes we are to submit to government’s authority. And we are to work peaceably to affect change.
    There are many stories throughout the church where Christian men and women have submitted to anti-Christian forces that have ruled them. We know of stories in our news today from across the United States and from around the world. Although it can seem that God’s ways are being buried in evil opposition, God will work his purposes in and through his faithful people.
    Esther was in an ungodly circumstance against her will. She could have resisted the evil outright. But she could easily have been killed or ostracized from the king. Instead, she seemed to see her circumstance under God’s authority, and she remained submissive to King Ahasuerus. As a result, God would redeem Esther from the evil as he used her to redeem God’s people from annihilation.
    That is exactly what happened to Jesus. Jesus submitted to the governing authorities in Jerusalem. The governing authorities in the church and Roman government and Jewish government killed him. The Father used Jesus’ submission to redeem the world.
    “Should Esther submit?” In a place where she had no choice, it was right for her to submit and to wait for God to redeem her. She did. And God used her. God to Genesis and see how Joseph did that. David did that as he submitted to Saul’s persecution. The Apostles and early evangelists submitted to their government’s persecution. God used them all to redeem people to himself.
    As you are wondering, perhaps, “Should I submit to this hard circumstance that I’m experiencing right now?” I encourage you to remember this basic truth: Often the current snapshot in life can seem to be the whole picture. Be aware that God has a future picture you can’t see. In all circumstances we must submit to God’s will revealed through his Word. Doing so, he will use us to redeem circumstances and people. He will use us to his glory. Life has no greater purpose.
 
Prayer. Father God, give to me true training in your Word. Help me to know when to speak and when to be silent, when to oppose and when to submit to the authorities you have established to govern my country, my state and my local government. In Jesus’ name, amen.