1 Samuel 26: Submitting to Authority

"But David said to Abishai, 'Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?'" 1 Samuel 26:9

The question before us today is one of submission to authority. Should a Christian submit to authority? Under what circumstances ought he submit to authority and not submit to authority? In the narrative of 1 Samuel 26, we find that we ought to submit to authority even when authority is oppressing us.

In 1 Samuel 26, we find the second opportunity of David to kill Saul. However, once again, David refused to kill Saul because it would be taking his hand against the Lord's anointed (that is, the one whom the Lord had placed in authority over him). Note the verse above. Furthermore, we see from this chapter that David not only spared Saul's life, but he honored Saul. He refered to him as "my Lord" (v. 19), which was a sign of both submission and honor. In the end, we can see David's example here as a great way in which we ought to submit to authority as well.

In 1 Peter, we find many commands on how we ought to deal with the authority above us. My favorite is 1 Peter 2:17, "Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor." The "emperor" Peter was speaking about here when he wrote these words was Nero, who you may remember from your history classes was extremely hostile against Christians. Nero was one of the biggest persecutors of the early church. He would wrap Christians in dead cattle hides and give them to the dogs to be eaten alive. He would stick them on poles and light them on fire to keep his garden lit at night. And what does Peter say in regard to this emperor? Honor him. Why? Because God had put him in authority. Even though Nero was not being a good ruler who carried out God's commands, Peter called for Christians in that time to submit to him in order that Christians might show the world that their hope was not fully in this world, but in another.

So, in response to both David's submission to unjust authority and Peter's commands to do the same, how have you submitted to authority? Perhaps even when the authority above you is unfair, such as your parents, teachers, or government, do you submit to them anyway? Furthermore, do you honor them? Surely we ought to, for God has placed them in authority over us for a reason. So, I encourage you today: follow the pattern of David and the commands of Peter. For by doing so, you may by your example bring someone to Christ:

"Keep your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation." 1 Peter 2:12