Honor the King (1-21-12)

1 Peter 2:17 - "Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king."

"Honor the king." The word here is the same one used at the beginning of this verse where we're told to honor all men. I suppose that he is clarifying that we are not exempt from giving honor even to ungodly authorities. He says a few verses earlier in 1 Peter 2:13-15 - "Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men." It's God's will for us that we submit to the authorities over us and that we obey the laws that they establish, whether we like them or not. The only time we have the right to disobey the government is when they command us to do something that is against the law of God. For instance in Daniel chapter 3 when everyone was commanded to bow down before the golden image that the king had made three Hebrew boys refused because the law of God says that you shall not bow down to any graven image. Another example is in Acts chapter 5 when the apostles were on trial for preaching in the name of Jesus, and the governing authorities told them not to speak anymore in the name of Jesus, and this is how they responded - "We must obey God rather than men." Also in the case of Moses' parents, when Pharaoh commanded that all the Hebrew boys be killed Moses' parents hid Him for three months "not fearing the kings edict." And there are other examples, but suffice it to say that if the command of the king and if the laws of the land do not directly contradict the laws of God we are to submit to them.
Paul says in Romans 13:1-5 - "Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake."
The king, the emperor at the time when Paul wrote this and at the time when Peter wrote his epistle was a man by the name of Caesar Nero. Caesar Nero is the emperor who put both Peter and Paul to death, and yet both of them in their letters tell us to submit to and honor the king, the governing authorities. If they could submit to and honor Nero, a man who would put Christians in cages and set them on fire to illuminate his gardens, if they could submit to and honor him how much more should we submit to and honor the President of the United States and the Governors and Mayors, and lawmakers and law enforcement officers that have been put in authority over us. They have been established by God, for there is no authority except from God. We have the responsibility to pray for the leaders of our country, to pray for our governing authorities. Pray that they would have the wisdom to rule well, and if they do not know Christ, that they would give their lives to Him and come to know Him as their Lord and Savior. God desires all men to be saved, even kings, even presidents, He died for them just as He died for you. Honor the king.

1 Timothy 2:1-5 - "First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."