Wednesday, May 7, 2008

The Right Stuff

Good morning friends,

Today we read about the tragic end to a life of unfulfilled promise. King Saul did not want to be king or feared to be king and yet became a great leader. He led Israel well even after his falling out with God. However, the king represented the wisdom and strength of God to the people and Saul had decided to disobey God. He took himself off the list of "servants" and put himself on the list of enemies. It could not end well. However, regardless of what Saul was not, he was the king.

It is very interesting to see the respect that was given to Saul simply because he was the king. Even though Saul was trying to track David down to kill him, David would not touch the king even when he had opportunities to kill him. King Saul's armour barer refused to follow the king's order to kill him to keep him from being "abused" by the enemy. Why? Because he feared to raise a hand against the king. He did not fear for his life because he took his life after the king took his own. His fear was of God. The valiant men of Jabesh Gilead risked their lives to rescue the bodies of king and sons from the public display of humiliation, because Saul was king. They buried the bones and then mourned for 7 days, because he was the king.

Most of you know that I continue to be move and impressed by the decision and actions of Jonathan in this matter. He knew the kingdom had been given to David. He knew that his father was wrong. He knew that his dad would be defeated at some point. He knew this but he also knew that he was the son of the king and the place of the son of the king was by his father's side. He knew this decision would be certain death but it was his duty. It did result in his death but this decision continues to testify to the character of Jonathan over three thousand years later.

Doing the right thing is not always easy. In our age of liberal thinking, when the individual's will and wants reign supreme over everything else, it is a hard concept for us to understand. It was not easy for David to do the right thing. It was not easy for the men of Jabesh Gilead. It was not easy for Jonathan, but it was the right thing to do. This is what makes people instruments of valour when facing terrible odds and difficult decisions. This is what causes individuals to rise up into acts of great heroics. It is what causes some leaders to become great leaders. It is when we understand that we only have one choice and that choice is to do the right thing. Not right according to the individual but right according to God's morality and standards.

In an age when we change our morality and standards according to what we want it becomes increasing difficult to live by a higher code. This is one reason why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide us to always choose to do what is right according to God's standards of right.Whether it wants to recognize it our not this world needs more Jonathans and men of Jabesh Gilead, men and women of valour. Will you be one?

10 comments:

Brandon said...

Saul was one of the greatest leaders until he disobeyed.I do find David to be loyal because he wouldnt kill Saul even though he was trying to kill him. Doing the right thing always helps us in the end.

jessika said...

Doing the right thing can sometimes be very hard, but in the end it will always make you feel better.

Ray said...

Jonathan still, and always will, amaze me... it is hard to stick by someone that you're supposed to stick by when you KNOW they are wrong...

Kendall said...

David was loyal to the King but even if i was in the same position as David i would at least tell King Saul that what you are doing isnt right. Just like Samuel.

Olivia said...

Like I've said before, Jonathan is one of my favorites in the Bible.He didthe right thing, and even though it lead to his death, and he knew it would...he still did the right thing...that amazes me.

Naomi S. said...

I cant imagine what it would be like, or how I would react if I were in Davids or Jonathans or those other dudes position. I know I probably wont do like they did. It is so hard to obey some one and to stay loyal to them like they did when you know for a fact that what they are doing is wrong and that if you stay with them it means certain doom. Like you said, the world needs more of Davids, JOnathans and men of Jabesh GIlead.

audrey said...

we need to fix our eyes on Jesus and set our standards according to His standards.... because the world's standards are unstable and only lead to destruction.

Anonymous said...

Gods standard is the first slandered there ever was

Niki said...

It's incredible that Jonathan would stick by his father... when he knew that he would die because of it. That's what I would call 'loyal' It must have been really hard on David though... losing his best friend...

Stephen said...

I think that we don't always obey because we're afraid of what will happen, but people like Jonathan obeyed God even though he died by doing what was right