As examples for us, the bible shows stories and case histories for our study and guidance. Both positive and negative examples are given and we must determine which is which, not based upon our own understanding, but upon what God has told us throughout his Word.

Two men under authority: David and Jonathan
Jonathan, son of King Saul, was the friend of David. His father Saul began to envy David who had always been a good and faithful servant to him. Saul began to behave erratically, even wanting to kill David, of whom he had become envious. Saul began throwing spears at David and later began plotting to kill him.

Jonathan honored his father and also honored his friend David with whom he had made a blood covenant to always be faithful. Although in line for the throne of his father, Jonathan did not grasp for what was his right, but warned David of his father's plot to kill him. This preserved the life of one he knew to be a potential competitor for the crown.

David already had been secretly annointed as the future king by God's prophet, Samuel. Jonathan had to be aware of this fact, being David's best and most faithful friend. As Jonathan's reward for being a faithful friend and son, his father, Saul, began throwing spears at his own son. Even thus provoked, Jonathan did not take this opportunity to rebel or dishonor his father. He remained faithful to the authority God had placed over him in the person of his father and king.

Jonathan fought along side of his father Saul even though he knew the king's strength and glory were fading. I believe he knew what the outcome of the battle would be. The battle ended in the death of both Jonathan and his father King Saul. David became king. He grieved the death of not only Jonathan but also of King Saul, who had been trying to kill him.

Jonathan had shown honor and respect for his father even unto death, even though Saul's actions did not seem to indicate him deserving of such a noble sacrifice. Jonathan submitted to authority because of the office which Saul held, not because of Saul's behavior, out of obedience and humility towards the Lord.

All authority is God-ordained.

David realized that if God wanted him to be king, it was up to God to determine and arrange the circumstances without any need for David himself to act or engage in sin by usurping a lawful but misbehaving authority.

Absolom: an example of a man not under authority
A third example of authority in the Bible is that of David's son Absolom. Absolom had taken his own vengeance in disobedience to the command of God who says all vengeance is His alone. He had done so out of anger, rage, and resentment over the rape and incest of his sister Tamar by her half-brother Amnon.

After the murder of his brother, Absolom went into hiding for many years. Finally, King David, at the behest of his second in command, Joab, allowed his son to return to the city but he still wouldn't completely forgive him or be in his presence.

Because of this lack of full forgiveness, and perhaps the very human need of a sinner for a scapegoat,{considering Absolom's guilt over his crime of murder} Absolom usurped the throne and lawful authority of his father David.

David had to flee for his life. David still loved Absolom dearly, but he knew when to run. How does one get a rebel to stop and listen to reason? One must wait until the rebellion has run its course; a father must wait patiently until the prodigal is ready and willing to return with a humble heart, to be his father's servant.

Alas, Absolom met a sad end as the result of his rebellion. David was not the one who harmed him, having instructed all his men to avoid any harm to his son. Joab, his lieutenant with bloody hands and political ambitions, decided the kingdom would be better off without Absolom to foment trouble, so he ignored David's wishes and killed David's son.

David thought he did not have the power to oust Joab even for this, and such bloody murders continued throughout Joab's service to David until his own death at the hands of David's son, Solomon, as Joab held onto God's altar begging for mercy.

Those who show no mercy to others, receive none when it is their time to receive justice.

It is always tragic when sons rebel against their fathers or against any legal authority. What a wasteful thing and so often ending in sorrow for all. If only the sons could understand God insists upon their submission and honor for the ones He has placed over them. It is for their own protection and peace, and necessary if God is ever to raise them up to be authorities over others once their character is molded to be at peace with being "under authority."

Perhaps I need to stop stuggling and cease from trying to substitute my will for the will of God in my life.

Coming from the South, I used to think being a rebel was some sort of badge of honor. I was shocked to learn God sees it differently; that it is actually a badge of dishonor. God says "submission to authority" is the true badge of honor. I have to deal with it, and change the false ideas which are in my deceitful heart, that I picked up from a world of false beliefs and ungodly concepts.

So must we all, if we are to come into line with God's will and his best for our lives.

A man cursed due to exposing his father's shame
A fourth example of the principle of honoring authority and honoring one's father is the example of Noah and his son Ham. This incident occurred just after the great flood, from which God had saved Noah and seven other people by Noah constructing the Ark according to the instructions of God.

Apparently, as soon as Noah got the boat unloaded of all the animals, he planted himself a vineyard. He decided to make some wine and get loaded, perhaps in some sort of a survival celebration. Ham went into his father's tent and saw his father naked and passed out drunk. Ham immediately went and told the rest of the community about his father's great shame.

I can hear it now. "How awful. My father is an abusive alcoholic. He raised me wrong. It is no wonder that I sin, rather that having an abusive father causes me to become dysfunctional. I think it must be a disease based on bad genes I inherited from my dad."

As God's judgment against exposing his father's shame, Ham's offspring were cursed. His two brothers who covered the shame of their father with their love, had their offspring blessed by God.

Does this mean if we expose the shame of our parents that our own children will pay the price and suffer negative consequences? I think that it does. No spouse should ever talk down the other spouse in front of the children or anywhere for that matter. Nor should any parent speak ill of their own parents because attitudes are being formed in those who listen which will have repercussions in future generations.

This Bible example clearly shows the error of today's therapy and 12-step groups where the emphasis is on exposing the shame of the father, mother, or spouse. Without such slander and dishonor for fathers and mothers, the therapy industry would be out of business.

Another reason each of us needs to always honor our father and mother is that our own personal sense of honor is dependent on how we view our parents. One cannot dishonor that which they are a part of, without condemning oneself. The good news is that God not only permits us to keep on loving and honoring our parents in spite of the many flaws, He insists upon it.

God didn't qualify his command to honor parents on how well a parent fulfills their office of authority. Perhaps those whose authority figures are behaving badly need even more to maintain honor and respect for that authority. Otherwise, a root of bitterness is likely to spring up and result in a hardened heart by which a person becomes defiled.

Insisting our parents must be perfect is not honoring them. As children we may idolize our parents and put them on a pedestal. Our self-esteem is tied up in keeping them on that pedestal. This also sometimes occurs in how we view our spouses or our children and even our siblings.

If we condemn the person when such failings are revealed to us in those we idolize, it may be due to failings within our selves, due to our inner guilt, so that we automatically blame these scapegoats, whom we only wish to love.

Such feelings trigger our guilt and shame and our criticism of their performance is really a reflection of our own failure to be perfect and without sin, knowing there is a future and certain judgment.

Thus, instead of loving, we push away the ones to whom we owe respect and love.

The solution is to take the beam from our own eye, before we attempt to help those we idolize to take the splinter from theirs. There are no perfect people. Real people make mistakes.

Without mistakes there can be no forgiveness. Without forgiveness there can be no love.

Lifting up truth is like one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread. May we all be able to say to God our Maker, "I am a man under authority."

Those who have never submitted to authority will never be qualified to lead others. Before a man is qualified to lead others he must learn how to follow. Before character can be molded in others, a man must allow God to mold character into him.

Recovered Memory a Pandoras Box?