How does 1 Kings 12:22 connect with Romans 13:1 on authority? Setting the Scene 1 Kings 12:22 – 24 “But the word of God came to Shemaiah the man of God: ‘Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people, “This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your brothers the Israelites. Every man is to return to his house, for this word is from Me.” ’ So they listened to the word of the LORD and turned back according to the word of the LORD.” “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been appointed by God.” One God, One Source of Authority • The same divine voice that stops Rehoboam’s army is the voice Paul references centuries later. • God explicitly claims responsibility: “this word is from Me” (1 Kings 12:24). Paul echoes: “there is no authority except from God” (Romans 13:1). • Whether in monarchy (Rehoboam/Jeroboam) or empire (Roman rule), Scripture attributes every governing structure to God’s sovereign appointment. Why God Forbade the War • The divided kingdom looked like political chaos, but God had decreed it (1 Kings 11:29–33). • By halting Rehoboam, God upholds the new northern authority under Jeroboam—even though Jeroboam would soon plunge into idolatry (1 Kings 12:28–30). • Lesson: legitimacy comes from God’s ordination, not from a ruler’s personal righteousness. Paul’s Universal Principle • Romans 13:1 universalizes what 1 Kings 12 illustrated locally: – God creates, limits, and uses rulers (Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 8:15–16). – Submission honors God’s order unless obedience to men would mean disobedience to God (Acts 5:29). Practical Takeaways • Respect human authorities, even imperfect ones, because God is behind their appointment. • Resist the urge to “take matters into our own hands” when leadership changes seem wrong; God may be accomplishing His purposes in ways we don’t see (Isaiah 55:8–9). • Pray for leaders (1 Timothy 2:1–2), recognizing that their power is delegated and temporary (Psalm 75:6–7). Scriptures in Harmony • 1 Samuel 8:7 – Israel’s demand for a king still falls under God’s plan. • Jeremiah 27:5 – God gives kingdoms “to whomever seems right to Me.” • John 19:11 – Jesus reminds Pilate, “You would have no authority over Me unless it were given you from above.” 1 Kings 12:22 and Romans 13:1 together paint a seamless picture: every throne, office, or desk of authority bears God’s unseen seal, calling believers to trust His sovereignty and live in orderly submission to the structures He ordains. |
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