Jeremiah 27 : 13

Jeremiah 27 : 13

Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

 

Would God ever let me be ruled over by Babylon? He did it with Israel and Judah. He actually let them be ruled over by several different nations up to the current days.

Why would God let someone rule over his people? Why would he let another act as a shield for his people? Would he let them instead of doing it himself?

How does he do this in my life? He has put the government over me and my boss and my pastor and I am OK with this. He could just do the things they do for me on his own but has given this role to them. BUT, first I have to submit to them.

As with the Israelites, Jeremiah was speaking to they had a choice to make – submit or fight back.  But if they fought back they were not just fighting against Babylon but against the authority God had given Babylon to rule over them. God determined that the people would be put under their yoke due to their disobedience and turning from him.

But what about me? Am I under the yoke due to my disobedience? By accepting Jesus and repenting of my sins haven't I been set free from the wages of my sin? Does this mean I don't need anyone over me. That I am set free from the control of the Government and others? Can I just send a letter to t eh President and tell him that as I am a Christian I am not under his authority and can do whatever I want. I know some have taken it this far but is it what God wants?

Jesus himself had Peter pay the taxes due to the Roman Government for the two of them. If he recognized that there was a level of physical authority that he needed to obey this tells me that I must likewise recognize the physical authorities over me.

Israel was put in the position of having dual authorities over them. A physical authority, Babylon, and an ultimate spiritual authority, God. As Jeremiah told them if they would bear the yoke of Babylon they would be safe and free to live in their land and worship God. If they refused they would be destroyed and driven from the land.

God does this today in my life. I have to submit to the physical authorities over me because God has placed them there while at the same time recognizing that the ultimate authority over my life is in God. Our government places a yoke upon us and demands that we obey their rules and pay taxes to them to support the government and the policies it deems proper whether we agree with them all of not.

This is the civil authority God has placed over us and which we must obey so long as they don't subvert the laws of God and when they do we must choice who we will obey. Thankfully I live in a land where this determination can be made, generally, without open rebellion. However, at times it can place me in the position of disobeying the civil authorities if I must obey the supreme authority.

This is a dangerous line though as the civil authority has the power of the sword and will use it if it deems it necessary to control me and bring me into line with the civil authorities rules.

When must I step out from under the civil authority over me and say "NO – I will follow God on this." Am I willing to accept the consequences of this decision? What do I do today that appeases the civil authority at the cost of disobedience to God? What would I be willing to do to appease the civil authority? Would I deny Christ? – NO. Would I permit that which God says must not happen? I already do this. God's laws are clear on many issues that the civil authorities permit and God declares that they should not be permitted.

Paul lived with this same dichotomy. He was as committed to Jesus as any man ever to live but he was also a Roman citizen and used that citizenship to protect himself. Ultimately, it was that Roman authority that killed him because he was a Christian.

Is that the fate of any who place God's kingship over the authority of the civil government?

Thankfully in this country no, but in many countries around the world it is. Will that day come to this country? If things continue I believe it will. The day will come when placing God over country will become a crime and becoming a Christian will become an offence against the civil authority.

Can we stop this? I don't know. I believe it can be stopped but at what cost to our society. Would it mean the creation of a theocracy and if so what faction of the church would rule it? Would that be any better? I doubt it. It would probably end up much worse as the rulers would see them selves as on "god's" mission and thus whatever they did would be seen as ok.

I don't know. But I trust God.

I know that someday he will return and set up his government and then man will see true peace but until then I have to live within the confines and under the yoke of Babylon. But I know who my true King is.