When we look around today, it’s easy to see why many people struggle with the idea of authority. History is filled with examples of authoritarian governments and oppressive leaders who have used their power for control and personal gain, leaving behind devastation. From childhood, many of us have resisted authority—whether from parents, teachers, or any figure imposing rules. We often carry this resistance into adulthood, seeing authority as something that restricts our freedom.
But what if we’ve been misunderstanding authority all along? What if submitting to the right King is actually the path to true joy, freedom, and flourishing?
Psalm 47 paints a radically different picture of authority—one that invites us to rejoice. It calls for all nations to clap their hands and shout for joy because the Lord is “Most High” and “King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:1-2). This isn’t the oppressive rule we might expect but a reign that leads to celebration.
God’s Rule Brings Joy, Not Oppression
God’s reign is fundamentally different from the rule of earthly kings or dictators. While human authorities often seek power and control, God rules with perfect love, justice, and wisdom. His commands are not self-serving but for our good. “For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2).
In the Bible, a consistent theme emerges: when people submit to God’s authority, they experience life and flourishing. Deuteronomy 12:28 emphasizes this, instructing God’s people to “be careful to obey all these words” so that “it may go well with you and your children forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God.”
We see the heart of God’s authority in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, where we’re reminded why He gives us commandments: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? But to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good.” God’s commands are designed to help us live in joy and peace, in harmony with Him and each other.
Personal Freedom Through Submission
I know this firsthand. There was a time in my life when I sought freedom in all the wrong places—alcohol, drugs, pornography. I grew up being taught that these things were sinful, but in my quest for personal autonomy, I crossed those boundaries. I thought I was claiming my freedom, but instead, I felt more enslaved than ever. No matter how much I indulged, I was still depressed, weighed down by guilt and shame.
When I finally gave my life to Jesus, something changed. I experienced a kind of freedom I had never known before—freedom from the chains of sin that had been slowly suffocating me. Submitting to Christ didn’t feel like restriction; it felt like release. His authority brought peace and joy where I had only known emptiness and despair.
This is the paradox of God’s reign. When we submit to Him, we find freedom—not the kind of freedom that leads us into self-destruction, but the kind that brings life.
Flourishing Through Obedience
Scripture is filled with examples of people flourishing under God’s authority. One of the clearest is the life of King David. When David submitted to God’s rule, Israel thrived. Though David wasn’t perfect, when he aligned his heart with God’s will, he and his people were blessed.
Psalm 1 paints a picture of the person who delights in God’s law, comparing them to a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in its season. A person who delights in God’s commands is nourished, stable, and fruitful. They flourish because they live under God’s wise and loving reign.
In the New Testament, Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came to give us “life and have it abundantly.” True life—life to the full—is found when we submit to Jesus as King. His commands bring freedom, not restriction. As He says in Matthew 11:30, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Jesus’ authority isn’t burdensome; it’s life-giving.
Acknowledging the Misuse of Authority
Of course, it’s important to recognize that not all authority has been used for good. Throughout history, even within the church, authority has sometimes been abused. Christians and religious leaders who claimed to represent God have misused their positions for personal gain, causing harm and damaging the reputation of God’s loving reign. Events like the Crusades, inquisitions, and more recent abuses remind us that human beings—whether political or religious leaders—can distort authority.
But this misuse of power does not reflect the true nature of God’s reign. It’s crucial to acknowledge when Christians have misrepresented God’s authority because this opens the door to showing people the true character of God’s kingship. God is not like the flawed leaders of this world. His rule brings healing, justice, and peace, not oppression or control. When God reigns, we flourish; when we submit to His authority, we experience true freedom.
Living in a Broken World
Some might ask, “If God’s rule brings joy and flourishing, why do I still suffer?” It’s important to remember that while we experience many blessings under God’s reign, we also live in a fallen world. Sin has affected every part of creation. Romans 8:22 tells us that “the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Even when we walk in obedience to God, we still face pain, suffering, and challenges because of the world’s brokenness.
Faithful people like Job, David, and Paul experienced deep suffering, even while remaining devoted to God. Jesus Himself warned us that, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The joy of God’s reign doesn’t mean a life without suffering. It means that, even in suffering, we can trust in His goodness and sovereignty. We have hope because, while His reign is real now, it has not yet been fully realized. We await the day when Jesus will return and make all things new, wiping away every tear and bringing an end to suffering (Revelation 21:4).
Sharing the Joy of God’s Reign
This message is something a lost world desperately needs. So many see God’s authority as something to resist, believing that following Him means giving up freedom and joy. But the truth is just the opposite: God’s rule is the path to true freedom, true joy, and true life.
When we embrace God’s reign as something to be celebrated, we invite others to experience the joy of submitting to a King who brings life. Imagine what it would look like if the world saw God not as a dictator, but as a loving Father who desires the best for His children. Psalm 47 calls all nations to clap their hands and shout for joy because God is the King over all the earth—a King whose reign brings life and flourishing.
Conclusion
If you’ve been resisting God’s authority, I invite you to reconsider what it means for God to be King in your life. His commands are not burdensome; they are the path to flourishing. In a world where authority is often misused, God’s reign is perfect, loving, and just. When we submit to Him, we experience joy, peace, and the abundant life He offers.
Let us celebrate His reign, for it is good. His rule brings life, and His authority is the source of true freedom and joy.