Proverbs 24:21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
Scripture gives two authorities that should be respected: The LORD and the king (ruler). The fear of the Lord is foundational. God is the ultimate authority. The king represents legitimate civil authority. Scripture does not teach blind obedience to rulers when they command something contrary to God’s Word. God’s authority remains supreme. Nevertheless, believers are generally commanded to respect lawful government and authorities.
Romans 13:1-7 and 1Peter 2:13-17 develop the principle that believers are to respect lawful authority. This does not mean that every government or ruler is righteous, nor does it mean that Christians must approve of everything a government does. Scripture records rulers who were corrupt, unjust, and hostile to God, and God’s people sometimes had to refuse commands that directly contradicted God’s Word. The apostles themselves continued to obey God when human authorities commanded them to stop preaching Christ (Acts 5:29).
The words “meddle not with them that are given to change” therefore provide a warning against becoming consumed by rebellion, political upheaval, or a continual desire to overthrow established authority. There is a legitimate place for exposing injustice, speaking truth, praying for rulers, defending the innocent, and seeking lawful and peaceful reform. But the believer must be careful not to allow opposition to a corrupt government to become an obsession that produces anger, hatred, disorder, or rebellion against authority itself.
To be continued…
