Christian Devotional – August 15, 2020

Always Second – #1

The life of Jonathan will be the focus of my next study. Given some of my current circumstances, God brought this to me as my next topic and I am looking forward to the learnings and encouragement that God brings through the study of His Word. Lets start by reading 1 Samuel 13:1-4.

Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty two years over Israel. Now Saul chose for himself 3,000 men of Israel, of which 2,000 were with Saul in Michmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while 1,000 were with Jonathan at Gibeah of Benjamin. But he sent away the rest of the people, each to his tent. Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear.” All Israel heard the news that Saul had smitten the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become odious to the Philistines. The people were then summoned to Saul at Gilgal.
1 Samuel 13:1‭-‬4 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.13.1-4.NASB

Here we are introduced to Jonathan, son of the king and commander in the military. Saul was the first king of Israel. Samuel the prophet had annointed Saul king and he had now begun his reign. We see immediately that the army, and specifically Saul’s son Jonathan had great success and popularity among the people. By all accounts, Jonathan was first in line to move up right behind his Dad.

It can be very interesting the places and positions that we find ourselves. Jonathan, through no action of his own, all of a sudden found himself the firstborn son of the king and commander of the army. He was just successful in the area that he found himself in.

Are we obedient and successful wherever we find ourselves? We may not be in our situation through any action of our own, but that doesn’t lessen our responsibility to be obedient to God through it. Are we being obedient to God, no matter where we find ourselves today?