20240103

the lure of authority

Psalm 141:1-10 (JDV)

Psalm 141:1 [A Psalm of David.] Yahveh, I call on you; hurry to help me. Listen to my voice when I call on you.
Psalm 141:2 May my prayer endure before you as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering.
Psalm 141:3 Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.
Psalm 141:4 Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing or perform wicked acts with men who commit sin. Do not let me feast on their delicacies.
Psalm 141:5 Let the righteous one strike me — it is an act of covenant faithfulness; let him rebuke me- – it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the criminal acts of the wicked.
Psalm 141:6 When their rulers will be thrown off the sides of a cliff, the people will listen to my words, because they are pleasing.
Psalm 141:7 As when one plows and breaks up the soil, turning up rocks, so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.
Psalm 141:8 But my eyes look to you, Yahveh, my Lord. I seek refuge in you; do not let my throat be exposed.
Psalm 141:9 Protect me from the trap they have set for me, and from the snares of evildoers.
Psalm 141:10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by safely.

the lure of authority

Lots of preachers are pushing authority nowadays. They are telling us that God has constituted authority and we should not question it — that our duty is mere submission. Well, David was in authority as king of Israel, and he wrote these words. They are the words of a king who is cautious, who prayed for God to protect him from falling into a trap set by the wicked. He prays for God to protect him from sin so that he can protect those who follow him. Authority is not a mere principle in God’s word. It comes with skin on. Human authority is always flawed and we should be careful in our allegiance to it.

The purpose for submission for Christians is to “silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good” (1 Peter 2:15). But when they stray away from God’s will, we must side with God rather than them (Acts 4:19). This is true of any authority, whether in the state or in the church.

Godly leaders recognize that the world is setting a trap for them — that they are in danger of failing in their words and deeds, and that the best advice they can give others is to only follow them as far as they are following Christ.