Rereading thru David’s bloody times… I feel for those ordered to kill or those honestly believed to be honorable by obeying. Sometimes they were right and rewarded for it… sometimes NOT and ‘rewarded’ for it as well. Makes me think of our soldiers, policemen, and people trying to obey authority, as is biblical to do.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.
For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God:
and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.
Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?
do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
for he is the minister of God to thee for good.
But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain:
for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
For for this cause pay ye tribute also:
for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due;
custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”
– Romans 13:1-7 AKJV

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice:
but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.”
– Proverbs 29:2 AKJV

Even Jesus submitted to authority, whether it was as a child submitting to the authority of his parents, or as an innocent man wrongly convicted, sentenced, and executed by the hands given the authority to carry out the unjustified punishment. We must be careful to obey God’s voice so that whether we are blessed to raise our swords in victory, or our lives are placed into the hands of men with authority, we will have the peace of mind to know it is God’s authority in which we have trusted, and will be justly rewarded.

“And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them:
but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”
– Luke 2:51-52 AKJV

“Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me?
knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me,
except it were given thee from above:
therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”
– John 19:10-11 AKJV

“But without faith it is impossible to please him:
for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
– Hebrews 1:6 AKJV