1 Samuel 23:16-17 “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.”
This is an amazing passage. Jonathan should have been the next king. Certainly he had been raised with this expectation and trained to fill that position after his father Saul. Yet he was aware who God had chosen for that role and it wasn’t him; and that was okay. He was able to see the bigger picture – who God had chosen and anointed. He didn’t feel threatened. He knew that he would be near the king and that was enough for him.
Saul on the other hand, although he also knew God had chosen David to be king, was tireless in his efforts to hunt down and kill David.
I have heard a term used for what there seems to be so much of in the church these days – “spiritualized ambition”. So many people are waiting for their world wide ministry to materialize. Not content with the ordinariness of now, we waste today by always looking off into the dreamed of tomorrow. Oh that we would turn our focus on what is truly important – not our ministry, but our King – Jesus. Whatever our role is to be in serving Him on this earth, it is enough that we shall be next to Him.
He is my Delight 