How does 1 Kings 20:5 connect with Romans 13:1 on authority? Setting the Scene in 1 Kings 20:5 • “The messengers came again and said, ‘This is what Ben-hadad says: I have sent to you, saying, “You must give me your silver and your gold, your wives and your sons.”’ ” (1 Kings 20:5) • Ben-hadad, king of Aram, lays an absolute claim on Israel’s king and people. • His demand is made solely on the basis of brute power, not on divine appointment. Authority Stated in Romans 13:1 • “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.” (Romans 13:1) • Paul describes legitimate authority as something God Himself establishes. • Submission is required because refusing rightful authority equals resisting God’s order (vv. 2–4). Shared Thread: Authority Is God-Given • Both passages deal with rulers issuing commands. • Romans 13 clarifies why authority matters: God ordains it. • 1 Kings 20 exposes a ruler who is acting without that divine mandate; his claim is therefore unjust. When Human Authority Oversteps • Scripture distinguishes between God-established rule and tyranny: – Ben-hadad’s grasp for Israel’s treasure and families contradicts God’s covenant with His people (Exodus 19:5–6). – God intervenes later in 1 Kings 20 (vv. 13–28) to defeat Ben-hadad, proving the limits of illegitimate power. • Other examples of resisting ungodly rule: – Exodus 1:17: Hebrew midwives “feared God” and disobeyed Pharaoh. – Daniel 3:17–18: the three Hebrews refuse Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. – Acts 5:29: “We must obey God rather than men.” Putting It Together • Romans 13 teaches that genuine authority is delegated by God and meant for good. • 1 Kings 20 illustrates what happens when someone claims authority God has not granted—God Himself opposes it. • Submission is therefore twofold: – Gladly obey rulers who act within God’s design. – Stand firm when rulers rebel against God’s higher law, trusting Him to vindicate His own authority. |
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