October 10, 2018
What's Good?
Romans 13:3–4
Abbey Snow
Central Truth
The Lord is sovereign over the governing authorities and uses them as instruments to bring about holiness in His people. So do what is good, and do not be afraid.
Romans 13:3–4
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer.
Dive Deeper | Romans 13:3–4
"[F]or he is God's servant for your good." (Romans 13:4a)
What was Paul thinking in imploring followers of the Lord to see rulers as God's servants? Had he completely forgotten his Jewish history? Pharaoh enslaved the Jewish people. Jezebel persecuted the prophets of Yahweh. Herod the Great murdered all the babies under two years of age in Bethlehem. Did Paul just temporarily lose his mind?
How could God consider any of these rulers, biblical or contemporary, His servants?
Let's look at the Old Testament to find the answer. Between 607-586 B.C., Babylon took the Jewish people captive. This was prophesied by Jeremiah, who warned the Jewish people not to rebel against the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 27).
In fact, the Lord calls the brutal Nebuchadnezzar His servant! "Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, my servant . . . ." (Jeremiah 27:6a)
Before their captivity, God's people had rebelled against Him and practiced idolatry. The Lord used Babylon as an instrument of judgment against Israel for their sins.
" [F]or he is God's servant for your good." (Romans 13:4a)
I think it's easy to find confusing what Paul writes here when so much of our history and present day doesn't seem to reflect goodness as we would choose to see goodness. But God does not equate our good with our happiness. Instead, He equates our good with our holiness. He uses those in authority to refine and purify us, just like the Jewish people in Babylon.
In fact, the prophet Daniel, under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, obediently submitted to the governing authorities and sought the good of Babylon as God instructed (Jeremiah 29:7). Through Daniel's obedience, many believed, and many more were blessed under his leadership.
So in the same way, just as Nebuchadnezzar did not know he was fulfilling the will of God, the rulers of all the nations today are still servants of the sovereign God, who is working all things for the good (holiness) of those who love Him.
This month's memory verse
A Living Sacrifice
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
– Romans 12:1–2
Discussion Questions
1. How are we to respond when someone suggests we should rebel against the governing authorities? What assurance do we have that doing good will result in goodness/holiness? Have you seen any examples of this either in history or in your own life?
2. "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7) How does this verse relate to Romans 13:3-4?
3. Spend some time this week reading the book of Daniel and reflect on how he sought the welfare of the city where he lived (Jeremiah 29:7). How can you follow Daniel's example?
4. What does it mean to "do what is good" (Romans 13:3b)? How are we expected to conduct ourselves as followers of Christ in light of the current governing authorities?