The Concept of Authority

Scripture:
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.

Psalms 2:2-4

 

Observation: The psalmist is directly discussing the thoughts of earthly kings. Kings make plans, discuss schemes, negotiate with each other, identify other sources of authority that are a threat to them, then look to attack and break those sources of power. Meanwhile, God laughs at them. He 'holds them in derision' - not even concerned about what they are plotting.

 

The reason for this is fairly clear when you consider the Lord who commands the entire universe. The plots of kings are so limited to issues of power and authority over earthly matters - matters of relative insignificance often even to earthly people - that to consider those kings powerful is laughable. Not to go all Hemingway here, but to God it would be like watching a small child plot and plan about how to destroy an ant hill. In the short term, it is actually a sign a weakness and smallness of thought to consider such power to be important, and in the long term it is meaningless and utterly insignificant to both the child and the world regardless of the outcome.

 

Application: This is a relevant question as we watch the overtly bitter presidential election swirling around us ... What is earthly authority?

 

As I tick through ideas in my head - from ruling nations, to fearmongering, to conquering I war, to even good ideas like inspiring employees and preaching powerfully - I am left with the idea of how completely empty all of these are. In ever single case, they are at best temporary, and usually they are meaningless in the context of the entire world but even often in the long-term lives of those affected by them. However, there was one thought I left off that list, because as I thought about it I believe it does hold authority.

 

Love.

 

Love possesses power and authority. Giving someone your live also gives them authority to control you, to guide you, to join you, and to affect you forever. When you love someone, you listen to their ideas, and change according to their values.

 

This is why human love is so volatile and dangerous. Improper love - given to the wrong person, or abused by others - creates SO much pain! Misunderstood love is a core issue undermining society today. Self love is the force that literally destroys people, families, and communities. However, the love of Jesus creates power. That love creates communities, drives miracles, inspires action, and changes lives. The love of Jesus - and directing that love toward others as commanded by Jesus - can actually alter the direction of wide swaths of humans for generations. That is power.

 

As I shake my head in sadness over the prospects of the coming presidential election - this wildly misguided quest for power and authority - I will choose to foster my love for Jesus as a way of affective the lives around me.

 

Prayer: Lord, please guide me. Thy kingdom come, and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Please keep your spirit within me to guide me and strengthen me - not on worldly power, but in the love of Jesus that is heavenly power. All authority on heaven and earth belongs to Jesus, so may my love for Jesus produce results worthy of that authority. Amen.