David was presented with a problem:  He was to become king, and now had the opportunity to make it happen by killing Saul.  What he learns gives us some valuable information about the timing and agency of God's plan in our lives. 

We clearly have man's way versus God's way in gaining power and authority:

• David did not try to accomplish God;s promises by himself, in his own power, although he did have the opportunity and the means;
• David repented from behavior thta made him mre like the world;
• David recognized the authority of another, even though that authority and recognition was undeserved;
• David left if up to God to judge, rather than human arbitration;
• David hears Saul's words of repentance, but trusted only in God.

The crucial questions for David were:

• Is it God's timing for me to assume this position?, and;
• Is it to be by my hand?

There are crucial questions for us to ask ourselves frequently also:

• Does opportunity necessarily mean permission?
• Are we to respect the position, and not necessarily the person?
• Will respectful honesty win over passive aggressiveness?
• Are we to respect those in authority over us, but not look to them for praise, validation or deliverance?
• Are we to respect God more than man?

Read Romans 13:1-7.  We have all heard it:  Christians are to submit to government under all conditions, right?

Do these verses teach that we should not oppose any political leader, and that civil authorities have unlimited power to do anything they want, without opposition?

There are limits to power and authority:

• A father has authority in the home, but he does not have the power to abuse his wife and children;
• An employer has authority on the job, but he does not have the power to control the private lives of his employees;
• A pastor has overseer authority in the church, but he does not have the power to tell employers in his church how to run their businesses.

All human authority is limited in nature.  No man has unlimited authority over the lives of other men.  Lordship and Sovereignty are the exclusive doman of Jesus Christ.

By the same token, civil authorities have power in civil matters, but that authority is limited and defined.

America's "higher powers" are not men who occupy elected offce, but they are the tenets and principles as set forth in the Constitution of the United States.  Under our laws and form of government, it is the duty of every citizen, including our elected officials, to obey the Constitution.

Furthermore, Christians, above all others, should desire and demand that their elected representatives submit to the Constitution, because it is constitutional government that has done more to protect Christian liberty than any governing document ever devised by man.

It is obvious today that a majority of our government leaders currently have almost no fidelity to their oaths to defend our Constitution.  It is becoming more and more likely that we, like our forefathers, will need to rediscover Benjamin Franklin's declaration that "Rebellion to tyrants is obdeience to God".  This, too, must be accomplished within the scope of law - both civil and divine.

The problem in America today is that we have allowed our political leaders to violate their oaths of office, and to ignore and blatantly disobey the Constitution.  Therefore, if we truly believe Romans Chapter 13, we will insist and demand that our civil authorities submit to the United States Constitution.

Howard Fleury, Pastor, Crossroads Christian Fellowship

For further informaiton regarding this topic, please listen to the following study:

Godly Character - March 15, 2009
http://biblestudies.aroadinthewilderness.org/2009/03/15/godly-character--1-samuel-24-romans-13.aspx