How should I respond to those in positions of power over me?

Job 12:16“Yes, strength and wisdom are his [God’s]; deceivers and deceived are both in his power.”

Psalm 66:7By his great power he [God] rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance.

Jude 1:25All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time!

God alone has ultimate power, so worship only him. He is the only one who perfectly uses his power for the benefit of all. God is the only power to whom you can confidently submit, knowing that his purposes for you will always be for your good.

Esther 9:1So on March 7 the two decrees of the king were put into effect. On that day, the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but quite the opposite happened.

Psalm 37:16-17It is better to be godly and have little than to be evil and rich. For the strength of the wicked will be shattered, but the Lord takes care of the godly.

Psalm 37:32-33The wicked wait in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them. But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

Proverbs 11:7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength.

Ezekiel 13:20-21“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against all your magic charms, which you use to ensnare my people like birds. I will tear them from your arms, setting my people free like birds set free from a cage. I will tear off the magic veils and save my people from your grasp. They will no longer be your victims. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

Nahum 3:18Your shepherds are asleep, O Assyrian king; your princes lie dead in the dust. Your people are scattered across the mountains with no one to gather them together.

Fortunately, the power of wicked leaders is only temporary. Eventually wicked leaders will usually cause their own downfall. No matter how potent a human leader, he or she is still subject to death and subject to God, whether they acknowledge this or not.

Romans 13:1-5Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished.

Throughout biblical history, people were most familiar with authoritarian governments led by kings, pharaohs, and emperors. Democracy was known by New Testament times (Athens), but in actual practice citizens of most nations had few rights when it came to choosing their leaders. The New Testament recognizes that human authority originates with God and that it is the duty of citizens to cooperate with those authorities as wielding God’s power. This concept elevates the common citizen by assigning them the responsibility to cooperate, but it also holds leaders responsible before God. The divine nature and wisdom of Scripture can be seen in that it requires an attitude from followers of Christ as citizens of earthly political systems to take their own roles seriously and view God’s sovereign role in the power of just governments.

Judges 3:12Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil.

Isaiah 45:13“I will raise up Cyrus to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide his actions. He will restore my city and free my captive people—without seeking a reward! I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

Daniel 4:29-32Twelve months later he [Nebuchadnezzar] was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, “Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.” While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.”

John 19:1-11“Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Romans 9:17The Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”

Earthly rulers and authorities have power only because God has allowed them to exercise it temporarily. God chooses to accomplish many of his purposes, including the judgment of nations, through the use of conquest, exile, environmental disasters, and the placement or removal of leaders. Respect earthly rulers for the power God has given them. But honor God for the ultimate power he has reserved for himself.

Colossians 1:15-16Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.

Jesus’ role in creation not only establishes Jesus’ ownership of creation and sovereignty over it, it also describes its original design as tailor-made for Jesus. Through Jesus Christ, God also created those in power, so be careful before you challenge someone in power. This, along with categories like thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities points to the principle of treating the offices or positions with respect even more than those who temporarily occupy them.

1 Chronicles 29:11-12“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.”

Psalm 119:161Powerful people harass me without cause, but my heart trembles only at your word.

Psalm 146:3Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.

1 Peter 2:13-14For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.

Honor powerful people, but not more than God does. Respect God’s designed line of authority while understanding and exercising your duties as a citizen or a leader within that political structure. You are not, however, to fear such power more than you fear God, or to put your ultimate faith in it.