Christian Devotional – August 20, 2020

Always Second – #6

Jonathan is willing to follow God’s commands. As the battle has continued, it comes a point where God stops answering Saul and he wants to know why. So he sets up a test. Read 1 Samuel 14:37-45.

Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will You give them into the hand of Israel?” But He did not answer him on that day. Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and investigate and see how this sin has happened today. For as the Lord lives, who delivers Israel, though it is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not one of all the people answered him. Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” Therefore, Saul said to the Lord , the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot. ” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken. Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” So Jonathan told him and said, “I indeed tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am, I must die!” Saul said, “May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan.” But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, who has brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die.
1 Samuel 14:37‭-‬45 NASB
https://bible.com/bible/100/1sa.14.37-45.NASB

Through these test, Jonathan’s deed is uncovered. But jonathan doesn’t try to hide or deny what he did. He accepts the punishment for what Saul had commanded. He recognizes that even though he disagreed with the law, it was still the law. As a result, he’s willing to accept the judgment that comes with that. The people are the ones who saved him. It’s interesting to see how Jonathan has built a relationship with the people and they love him. They stand up for him and demand that Saul back down from his judgment.

For us, it’s important to recognize that we are still subject to the authority around us. We may not agree with our local authorities or state authorities or government authorities, but that doesn’t change the fact that they are in authority over us. It’s also true that those various authorities may not agree with God’s authority. As believers, we recognize that God’s authority in our life is the top. We must follow God no matter what. If we can follow local authority, then we should as long as it doesn’t go against God’s authority. However, if there’s a difference and we followed God’s authority, we must recognize that may open us up to the consequences of man’s authority.

Are we willing to experience the consequences of man’s authority? If we are following God, he will work out the rest. However, that may meaning that we have to go through man’s authority. We don’t know what the results of that will be just like Jonathan didn’t know that the people would cry out to save him. But that didn’t change Jonathan’s commitment to being honest.