I Pledge Allegiance -aka- The Importance of Being Second

When's the last time you spoke the word 'allegiance?' Most of us don't even salute the flag very often any more. Allegiance? To what? To whom? Police? Priests? Presidents? Parents?
 
Police brutality, sexual misconduct among church leaders, government control, absentee helicopter parents, Wall Street moguls ... Many "Millennials" (18-29 yr olds) see those with power as the problem. Authority is nearly synonymous with Abuse - limitation, exploitation, demeaning, insulting ... Allegiance? Hardly.
 
Which makes what Jonathan pledged to David after affirming that David would be Israel's next king seem very out of place, inappropriate, even weak. Some Biblical translations have enough trouble with it that the text seems sanitized. Here's what Jonathan really said:
 
 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.”  1 Samuel 23:17
 
A number of translations have it: I will be next to you  which is all very nice except that the meaning is to be 'second' or under one's authority. By saying, "I will be 'second' to you," Jonathan placed his relationship with David above his own personal ambition. Though legal heir to the throne Jonathan acknowledged that he was under, and willing to support, the future king's leadership.
 
How can that be? It is because there was a difference between their relationship and the role each was called to. In relationship Jonathan was David's equal. That secure connection gave Jonathan freedom to fully support, encourage and yes...be next to as well as under David's authority and oversight, recognizing that God had placed David in a position of kingly responsibility.
 
What does it take to be in a healthy relationship under authority? The key is equality. A level playing field. One is not above, over, or superior to the other in their relationship. We read that David and Jonathan made a covenant with one another. When two individuals meet eye to eye as equals there is no fear. The apostle John puts it this way, "There is no fear in Love." The principle can apply in any relationship. (marriage?) In Christ we are called to equality in relationships and to be second / next to (supportive of) the one God has appointed to lead. Especially when it's not us.
 
Ironically, they never saw one another again. Not long after, Jonathan (and Saul) died in battle. Nevertheless, Jonathan's support strengthened David in the Lord.
 
 

Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest...
It's about who came, and never left your side...

Read more...

VISION CASTING

If King Saul had a drone it would have been searching for David. It was that serious. Saul had 3,000 troops pursuing the would-be king. "King David?" Ha! That must have sounded like mocking ridicule to the young musician appointed to sooth the Saul in his distress. Yet here he was hiding out in the woods, fearing for his life; threatened, undermined, attacked, and abused by the very man to whom he had pledged and given his loyal support. It just didn't make sense. How could the king turn on one so faithful? (1 Samuel 23)

David's situation, though more extreme, is not unlike ours. Maybe you went all out for something you believed in, hoped for, longed for ... and it all came crashing down for reasons you could not fathom or control. You worked hard, committed time, energy, resources and sacrificed - and then it happened, you were undercut, attacked, slandered by the very people for whom you gave your all. Sometimes it just creeps up on us until one day ... one day we're just tired of trying, tired of caring, tired of keeping up the appearance of having it together.

That's when Scripture records Jonathan "helped him (David) find strength in the Lord." How?

To answer that recall Gideon. I'm talking about that freaked out guy hiding in his dad's back yard. "The Angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak (I love that detail)...where Gideon was threshing wheat, he said, 'The Lord is with you O mighty man of valor!'"

Ha! Gideon was nothing of the sort. If we didn't know the rest of the story we'd think this was Comedy Central! Listen to Gideon's response, (remember he's talking to the Angel of the Lord!) "Pardon me, but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us...the Lord has abandoned us!" (Judges 6)

Oh, boy! I've had moments like that. Haven't you?

Yet the Angel of Lord encouraged him with a vision of who he could be, who he was called to be, in God's plan, a man of valor. In the same way Jonathan saw David as God saw him, "Do not fear. You will be king in Israel!" Encouragement inspires with hope and courage. It supports in the worst of times as well as the good. It builds confidence.

We help someone find strength in the Lord by casting a vision of who they are in Christ and giving them hope to grasp and live into that identity. When we do that, we are taking part in God's calling and allowing God to speak through us.

Who can you encourage today?
Where do you need encouragement? 

Who will strengthen you?

Read more...