Do not curse authority

Do not curse authority

S - Exo 22:28 (NASB)
 ²⁸ “You shall not curse God, nor curse a ruler of your people.


Acts 4:18-21 (NASB)
¹⁸ And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. ¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge;²⁰ for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” ²¹ When they had threatened them further, they let them go (finding no basis on which to punish them) on account of the people, because they were all glorifying God for what had happened;


O - The verse from Exodus comes from the laws laid down by God right after he gave Moses the ten commandments.   They were  many detailed laws to help govern the people by rules that would keep them from sinning against each other and against God.  Verse 28 says do not curse God or any ruler of your people, because God is in control of even who is placed in authority over you.   The very rebellious nature that lies in man, needs to be resisted and put under self control, for a man who practices rebellion against those  who are leading him will have great difficulty submitting to the Lordship of God.   But we are not to be chumps, we are simply not to curse the rulers.  The example from Acts is John and Peter, when questioned by the Sadducee' and ordered to stop teaching the resurrection of the Jesus, responded not by arguing or curse them, but simply stating truth, that if given an order by God, or a ruler over you we should probably follow God.


A -  The application is not all that controversial, and not meant to allow me to ignore authorities in my life that God has placed.  But I believe it is to allow me to resist the desire to rebel against authority, and to respond in truth and love, much like John and Peter did.


P  - Dear heavenly Father, thank you for today's lessons, may they be sealed to my heart.  I pray Lord that you would help me to be a good follower, of you, and those you place in authority over me.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.