Compliance & Obedience
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:
INDEX:
INTRODUCTION:
Who are we supposed to submit to and obey? Since Satan is currently the prince of this world and in control of all governments and militaries, what is the proper conduct for a believer of Torah and Messiah?
Organized religion teaches submission but I don't think this is the correct response. Daniel was put in the den of lions because he refused to submit (Daniel 6:13). Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to comply (Daniel 3:12), Mordecai refused to comply to Haman (Esther 3:2-3) and the early Christians certainly did not turn themselves over to Saul nor did they volunteer to be fed to the lions.
It is widely understood that, in a democracy, people vote their own selfish interest (whether it is good for the whole, or not). Self-seeking is understood to be “just part of the democratic process,” and compromise (rather than purity) is seen as the essence of the deal. However, when did YHWH ever bless compromise? Doesn't YHWH bless those who hold out for purity, instead (and punish those who compromise with evil)?
A common rebuttal response is that our leaders are ordained by God and therefore we should obey them. (Romans 13:1-8) However, this belief is in direct conflict with the word of YHWH in Hosea 8:4 which states, 'They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off'. I've yet to hear a reasonable rebuttal.
Since all man-made governments are corrupt, they will eventually cause their subjects to also be corrupt. I find the argument for following these corrupt governments (except in certain mitigating circumstances) to be very weak and they seem to promote disobedience to YHWH's commands and instructions.
I am attempting to gain discernment on this issue with this page.
FEAR OF GOD:
(10) Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. (11) Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psalm 34:11
(11) Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
A hundred other verses say essentially the same thing: We must have the fear of God in us. Nevertheless, many persist in believing that, in Christianity, the fear of God has been replaced by love for God.
There is no doubt that God wants us to fear Him. Notice that Psalm 34:11 says that the fear of God is a quality that we must learn, indicating that we do not have this characteristic in us by nature. The fear of God, then, is different from the fears we normally have in life. Thus, it must be learned.
Fear is a powerful motivator. Our normal understanding of fear spans from being a mild apprehension or awareness of anxiety all the way to outright, bowel-moving terror. As an extreme, it creates the "fight or flight" response. Why, then, does a loving God want us to fear Him? Would He not rather want us to snuggle up to Him with no thought of fear?
Many people have that conception, but it is a mistaken one. We must not forget that God is not a man; He is God. He reminds us in Isaiah 55:8-9 that He does not think like a man. Yes, He wants us to love Him, but even in that love the sense of fear should always be present.
Recall that Psalm 2:11 commands, "Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling." To a Christian, fearing and rejoicing seem to be an odd couple. Paul writes in Philippians 2:12 to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Ordinarily, we associate "trembling" with fear, of being frightened. What is there to fear and tremble about in taking salvation to its conclusion?
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." Within a Christian setting, we are much more comfortable with this command to love, yet notice verses 1-2:
Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the LORD your God to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
Immediately preceding and following (verses 13) His command to love Him, He also affirms that we are to fear Him. The sense of verses 1-2 is that this fear is produced as we keep His commandments, not before! Clearly, fear of Him and love for Him cannot be separated from our relationship with Him.
Isaiah 8:13 adds another interesting aspect. "The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread." Surely, we might think that someone as close to God as Isaiah did not need to fear Him, but here God commands Isaiah to fear him. Why? Because the fear gained within the relationship with Him always motivates movement in the right, godly direction, regardless of the intensity of life's circumstances.
What about I John 4:17-18? Does it not contradict the assertion that our relationship with God should contain godly fear?
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
This passage does not contradict in the least, once we understand the kind of fear the apostle John is writing about. The clue to this fear appears in verse 17 in the term "boldness." John is referring to being bold in spite of the circumstances we face from life in this world once we are converted. The love of God works in us to dispel the fear of disease, oppressions, persecution, and death, but it does not drive out the fear of God. If it did, John would be contradicting what the Bible says elsewhere about the necessity of continuing to fear God. Christianity has not replaced the fear of God with the love of God, as many wrongly believe. Instead, the two work hand in hand.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:(KJV)
3"After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances." (KJV)
4"Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God." (KJV)
5"Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD." (KJV)
YHWH wants us to follow HIS way.
YHWH was displeased with Israel asking for a king.
14'If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:' (KJV)
15'But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.' (KJV)
22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.(KJV)
When King Shaul was delivered into David's hand in the cave, David would not strike Shaul down, for Shaul was YHWH's anointed government leader.
When King Shaul was delivered into David's hand a second time, David would not strike Shaul down, and clearly states this is because he (Shaul) is YHWH's annointed.
29"And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:" (KJV)
30"And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:" (KJV)
31"And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:" (KJV)
32"(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)" (KJV)
33"Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father." (KJV)
34"Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:" (KJV)
35"But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes." (KJV)
36"And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there." (KJV)
37"And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel." (KJV)
38"And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee." (KJV)
This was a conditional promise.
39"And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever." (KJV)
6"And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel." (KJV)
7"And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel." (KJV)
8"For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:" (KJV)
9"And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:" (KJV)
10"And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled." (KJV)
Kingship is not a hereditary “right,” but rather a sacred duty and calling. If a king does not obey YHWH, his anointing can be revoked. Further, YHWH will hold him accountable for the consequences of his actions. For example, when Jeroboam's descendant King Ahab, his wife Jezebel, and their son Yoram (Joram) became corrupt. YHWH raised up Yehu (Jehu) the son of Yehoshaphat (Jehoshaphat, meaning “YHWH shall judge”), to strike down all the house of Ahab, in judgment for what they had done.
28'Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.' (KJV)
This was done to stop the lions from attacking.
7And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.(KJV)
Another example of a righteous man rebelling against an earthly king.
11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.(KJV)
12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?(KJV)
13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. (KJV)
In order to bring a sin offering, you have to first sin.
16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;(KJV)
17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.(KJV)
Doing what is right is what YHWH wants.
11For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,(KJV)
12Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.(KJV)
13Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.(KJV)
14And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.(KJV)
Seems pretty clear what we should be doing and who we should be following. HE will be our sanctuary.
'16For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. ' (KJV)
This speaks of poor leadership
Leaders that cause the people to err
'...and they that are led of them are destroyed.'
Looks like the kings, princes, and priests are NOT always right.
It also seems that there are times that YHWH will expect us to stand against them and HE will protect us from them.
22For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices:(KJV)
23But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. (KJV)
2"Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. " (KJV)
3"For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. " (KJV)
4"They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. " (KJV)
5"They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good. " (KJV)
5"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. " (KJV)
'3Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.' (KJV)
These verses detail the apostasy of the prophets and the consequences of their actions.
'16Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.'
Do not hearken to false prophets.
6"My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace."" (KJV)
...their shepherds have caused them to go astray...
'18But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols:' (KJV)
We are NOT supposed to blindly follow what we have been taught.
8In the land shall be his possession in Israel: and my princes shall no more oppress my people; and the rest of the land shall they give to the house of Israel according to their tribes." (KJV)
9Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD." (KJV)
Obviously the princes were oppressing the people.
18Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession." (KJV)
Princes should not oppress the people.
These verses are excellent examples of how men use the laws of man to trick others and to compel them to do wickedness.
4"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:" (KJV)
5"Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days." (KJV)
6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.(KJV)
YHWH is concerned with is living righteously and not vain sacrifices and offerings.
4"They have set up kings, but not by me: they have made princes, and I knew it not: of their silver and their gold have they made them idols, that they may be cut off." (KJV)
6Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?(KJV)
7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?(KJV)
8He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?(KJV)
YHWH is concerned with is living well and being just, not vain sacrifices and offerings.
1He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (KJV)
25The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in YHWH is set on high.
26Many seek the face of a ruler, But right-ruling for man comes from YHWH. (KJV)
2'And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.' (KJV)
3'Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?' (KJV)
Mordecai disobeying the king's commandment.
16'Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.' (KJV)
Ester disobeying the king's law.
28'Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.' (KJV)
29'Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.' (KJV)
40'And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.' (KJV)
41'And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.' (KJV)
42'And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.' (KJV)
7'Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.' (KJV)
- mitzvoth (H) - YHWH's Commandments, Or Man's Obedient Deeds, Or Obedient Works Of Torah Done In Complete Submission And Willingness
- emunah - (faith); Faith, Or Trust, Or “The Faith”
- manhigim - (leaders)
- machshiv - (respect)
- mechabed - (honor)
- dvar nevuah - (word of prophecy)
- Hashem - (Tetragrammaton)
- toitzaa - (outcome)
- derech - (way)
- emunah - (faith); Faith, Or Trust, Or “The Faith”
2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.(KJV)
The world (or majority) will NOT always want to do what is good, acceptable, and perfect in the eyes of YHWH.
1"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." (KJV)
This verse seems to contradict Hosea 8:4.
2"Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." (KJV)
3"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:" (KJV)
This verse is incorrect as there have been plenty of rulers who were a terror to good works.
4"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." (KJV)
5"Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake." (KJV)
6"For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing." (KJV)
7"Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour." (KJV)
8"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." (KJV)
20"Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances," (KJV)
21"(Touch not; taste not; handle not;" (KJV)
22"Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?" (KJV)
23"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" (KJV)
1"Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed." (KJV)
This verse seems to contradict Hosea 8:4.
2"And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort." (KJV)
3"If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;" (KJV)
4"He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings," (KJV)
5"Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." (KJV)
