As I continue recovering from hand surgery, my guest today is Denise Loock. I know you will be blessed!
Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 1 Samuel 18:1
To disobey the king’s command was treason. To betray his best friend was unthinkable.
What would Jonathan do? His father, King Saul, had told Jonathan and all his attendants to kill David, who Saul considered his most dangerous enemy (1 Samuel 18:8, 19:1). Jonathan, however, loved David and knew that David was God’s chosen heir to King Saul’s throne. Was it possible to remain loyal to both men and to God in such an unwinnable situation?
Jonathan balanced the seesaw of his relationship with both men because he remained focused on God’s sovereignty. He set aside his personal feelings and ambitions and aligned himself with God’s plans no matter how much pain it brought him. He honored his father’s position as king even after he lost all respect for him. He also resisted the temptation to abandon his obligations as a prince of Israel and as a general in the army even though his heart may have yearned to follow David into exile.
Jonathan’s submission to God in both these matters stuns me. Of course he didn’t know that he wouldn’t live long enough to be a co-regent with David as they planned (1 Samuel 23:17). But he did fully embrace that God was in charge of his circumstances. Throughout this ordeal, he deferred to God’s will rather than to his own desires. Even as his heart was breaking, he assured his friend, “Go in peace, David—God is with us. He’s still in control. Rest in that fact” (1 Samuel 20:42, paraphrase).
Sometimes we face situations like Jonathan’s –serving a leader we don’t respect, parting from someone we cherish, and/or submitting to God’s plans when they conflict with our dreams. How do we maintain our spiritual balance in these circumstances? We do what Jonathan did. We focus on God’s absolute sovereignty and inherent goodness. And we walk by the light of those truths hour by hour.
Are you walking in that light today?
About the Author:
Denise Kelso Loock is a former English teacher, Bible teacher, speaker, writer, and editor. Her work has appeared in a variety of well-known devotional publications. She is the founder and writer at http://digdeeperdevotions.com/.
A collection of Denise’s devotions, Open Your Hymnal: Devotions That Harmonize Scripture With Song, was released by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas in 2010. To read more about the book or to order it, click here. A second volume of hymn devotions, Open Your Hymnal Again, was released June 2012. To read more about it, click here:Open Your Hymnal Again.
Denise taught a weekly women’s Bible study at the Montgomery Evangelical Free Church in Belle Mead, NJ, for 15 years. Over the last 5 years, she developed and taught her own Bible study curriculum: The Life of Joseph, The Life of Moses, and The Life of Joshua, and the books of 1 Samuel and 2 Samuel. Denise is currently teaching a Bible Study on Ruth at Long’s Chapel, in Waynesville, NC.
Denise is an associate editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She also accepts freelance editing projects. http://lighthousepublishingofthecarolinas.com/. She is also a staff writer and editor for a monthly online and print publication, The Journey C
She lives in Western North Carolina with her husband and their cat, Ginger. Son Jeff is a student at UNC Wilmington; daughter Kelsey is a student at Western Carolina University.
One Comment
“But he did fully embrace that God was in charge of his circumstances. Throughout this ordeal, he deferred to God’s will rather than to his own desires. Even as his heart was breaking, he assured his friend, “Go in peace, David—God is with us. He’s still in control. Rest in that fact” (1 Samuel 20:42, paraphrase).” The toughest spot to be in is one like Jonathan’s. A very timely word to me indeed. Thank you Denise. Enjoyed this devotion! 🙂