I think there is a diametrically opposed reasoning going on. We can't "submit" to an evil ruler even if God put him in place.
Daniel was put in the lions den for not "submitting".
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were put in the fiery furnace for not "submitting" to the authority.
The Hebrew mid-wives refused to obey the command of the King of Egypt to kill the male Hebrew babies and God blessed them for it. Exodus 1:15-20
The king of Jericho commanded Rahab to turn over the Hebrew men to him who were spying out the land and who had visited her house. She disobeyed and hid them so they would not be captured and God spared her life and her family because of what she did. Joshua 2:1-18
Esther ignored the law that forbid anyone to see the king without his permission, and God spared her life and the lives of all the Jews because she was convicted by her conscience to disobey the king. Esther 5
King Herod told the Magi to find Jesus and report back to him, but God told them in a dream not to report back to Herod. They obeyed God rather than the king, and God protected them from the angry king. Matt. 2:1-12
Peter and his companions refused to obey the leaders who commanded to stop preaching the gospel. Acts 5:29
God set up standards for who the leaders were to be.
Exodus 18:21 . . . Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
Those are the leaders I think Paul was speaking of. I think God put it this way.
Proverbs 8:15 "By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16 "By me princes rule, and nobles, All who judge rightly.
Only those who judge rightly have been sanctioned by God.
Then I think we can take Jesus words for the Pharisees as an example. Should Jesus have "submitted" to them because they had been set as authorities by God?
We do not disagree.. But we must remember that God has ordained that authority for our eternal good and His glory ...
John 19:10So Pilate said to Him, "You do not speak to me? Do You not know that I have authority to release You, and I have authority to crucify You?" 11Jesus answered, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin."
I continue to obey the authority over us.. even though I believe the President and the congress and most of the state /local authorities are evil , Christ hating authority ..
I obey speed laws, pay taxes, etc...those are laws of order...which is the purpose of government ..
If they ordered me to kill an unborn child, bake a cake for a gay wedding, or in anyway violate the supreme authority of God...like Daniel I would not submit