Page 102 - Foundations

Psalms 73:3-16
For I was envious of the arrogant, as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pains in their
death; And their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men; Nor are they plagued like mankind.
Therefore pride is their necklace; The garment of violence covers them. Their eye bulges from
fatness; The imaginations of their heart run riot. They mock, and wickedly speak of oppression; They
speak from on high. They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue parades through
the earth... And they say, "How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?"
Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased in wealth. Surely in vain I have
kept my heart pure, and washed my hands in innocence; For I have been stricken all day long, and
chastened every morning... When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight.

This world is truly an unjust place, for it is ruled over by the prince of darkness. He has corrupted all
his ways. He rewards those who are wicked while persecuting the righteous. Such is the perverted
condition of spiritual rule in this world that the apostle Paul declared, “If we have hoped in Christ in
this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (I Corinthians 15:19). Paul knew much of suffering
and injustice. He was frequently delivered over to punishments by the rulers of the nations, men who
were given power by the prince of this world. Even as Pilate derived his authority from Satan to
crucify Christ, so too did those who beat, scourged, and imprisoned the apostle Paul derive their
authority from Satan. Yet, of this world authority this same apostle declares an astounding truth.

Romans 13:1
Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from
God, and those which exist are established by God.

The apostle goes on to describe the purpose for which governors are given authority by God.

Romans 13:3-4
Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same;
for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear
the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who
practices evil.

Yahweh has ordained authority to encourage the righteous and to punish the wicked. We know,
however, that the rulers of this world frequently do just the opposite. Each ruler will give an account
for the manner in which he exercised his authority. If they have upheld justice and righteousness they
will receive praise from Yahweh. If they have acted corruptly, they will be punished. Nevertheless,
they remain God’s authority until such a time as Yahweh deposes them.

Accepting that these words of the apostle are true, it must be conceded that Satan’s authority over this
world is established by God. This is what I testified in an earlier chapter when I compared the career
of King Saul to that of Satan. It was Yahweh who instructed the prophet Samuel to pour the oil of
anointing over the head of Saul and declare him to be the first king of Israel. Saul was established by
God. His authority existed because Yahweh had ordained it.