KINGS 1
The Bible says: Honor all. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17 NKJV)
How do you honor a king? And what “king” is deserving of honour? A good one only?
When the apostle Peter gave the instruction to “honor the king,” the ruler at the time was the Roman Emperor; a government known for its harsh rule and oppression. The Romans had already subdued the Jews, imposing heavy control and often treating them unjustly. This was not a ruler that they loved.
So, Peter’s command raises important questions: How does it make sense to honor a ruler who appears oppressive or self-serving? Why would God ask His people to show honor to a ruler like that? And more importantly, what does honoring the king actually look like in practice?
Pause and reflect on these questions before you go on.
Welcome to Thinking Thursday.
Honouring Leaders Under the Law
The Bible says: You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people (Exodus 22:28 NKJV)
Even in your thoughts, do not curse the king, nor in your bedroom curse the rich.. (Eccl. 10:20 ESV)
This is a direct instruction under the Law: no insulting, and no cursing of rulers. It speaks to the way we address and speak about those in authority; honour begins with our words.
Old Testament Examples
In the Scriptures, we see those who lived out these principles. An early example was David. David never insulted King Saul or spoke evil of him, even though Saul repeatedly tried to kill him. He also refused to take revenge.
In fact, when David had clear opportunities to harm Saul, he did not do it. He restrained himself and others.
That is because he understood that as long as God had anointed Saul and placed him in that position, he (David) had no right to touch him.
He said: “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him…” (1 Samuel 24:6 NKJV)
Later, when David again had the chance to kill Saul, he said: “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?… The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed?” (1 Samuel 26:9, 11 NKJV)
David’s attitude was not weakness. It was the fear of God and respect for His order. He believed that if God wanted Saul removed, God Himself would handle it in His own time.
Also, let us consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego before King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:16-18).
When their faith was tested and they were threatened with the fiery furnace, they did not insult the king. They did not speak rudely. They did not say, “Do your worst, we don’t care!”
No. They responded to King Nebuchadnezzar with courtesy: “0 Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Dan. 3:16-18 ESV)
There was firmness in their tone, but there was also respect.
Similarly, Daniel did not curse King Darius after being thrown into the lions’ den because of the King’s unjust decree (Daniel 6). There is no record of Daniel insulting the king. He maintained his honour for the king:
Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.” (Dan. 6:21-22 ESV)
Daniel and his friends stood for God without dishonouring earthly authority.
An Example from the New Testament
Paul looked directly at the Sanhedrin and said, “Brothers, I have conducted myself before God in all good conscience to this day.” At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit here to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck.” But those standing nearby said, “How dare you insult the high priest of God!” “Brothers,” Paul replied, “I was not aware that he was the high priest, for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.” (Act 23:1-5 BSB)
Paul was protesting the injustice of being hit when he had done nothing wrong. But when those standing near him pointed out that the person he had just spoken against was the high priest, Paul immediately corrected himself. He had not known that that was the high priest; and he quoted Exodus 22:28 to establish that what he had done was wrong. Even though the strike was still unjustified, Paul acknowledged the authority of the high priest’s office and humbled himself.
The examples cited above all recognised the role and office of authority; that it is part of God’s design.
Now, this does not mean that every government is righteous. Notice that the Scripture says, “Fear God. Honour the king.” This means fear God first, then honour the king. A Christian is never to replace loyalty to God with loyalty to government. But neither should a Christian behave with disrespect, contempt, or rebellion as a lifestyle.
ALSO READ: CHANGING GOD?
Give Ceaser His Dues
Another way you honour leaders is by obeying the laws or rules that they make – as long as it does not make you sin against God.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. (Romans 13:1, 3-4, 6-7 NIV)
The Lord Jesus lived at a time when the Romans oppressed the Jewish people. Yet you do not hear Him cursing the government. You do not hear Him insulting Caesar or stirring up rebellion. Instead, He paid his taxes (Matt. 17:24-27), and He said: “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21 NKJV).
The one instance people often point to is when He referred to Herod as “that fox” (Luke 13:32). But even there, it was descriptive language, not reckless insult. Throughout His ministry, He did not model disregarding, abusing or cursing civil authority.Have you been following the Lord’s example? Think on these thin
READ NEXT: HONOUR (PART 25)
