To Obey God or Man

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 19:4, Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you.

Although Saul was trying to spread his hate for David among his servants and the people, Jonathan had the courage to stand up to his father, respectfully, and do what was right before God. Jonathan was a brave young man who had much faith in the LORD. We saw this plainly when he took his armorbearer with him and attacked the Philistines, while his father Saul stood by doing nothing in 1 Samuel 13 and 14. Here, he must decide between his loyalty to his father and standing up for what he knew was right before God. I am sure that Jonathan knew that standing up to his father and standing up against his orders could cost him his life, as a king would even take the life of their own family if disrespected or an order was disobeyed. As born again followers of Jesus, we will face moments when we will have to choose between obeying man and obeying God. In a world that clearly accepts wrong as right and right as wrong, we will find ourselves, and our obedience to God and His Word, being challenged by those who will mock us and call us intolerant when we choose to stand up for what is right before God. As Christians, we are not to be troublemakers and rebels. However, we are to stand firmly in what we know is truth, when that truth is challenged and when we are called to disobey God’s truth. There are many “hot topics” today and many issues in society that will challenge our faith and our obedience. In obeying God and His Word, we may even put ourselves in a position to be persecuted by friends, family, and people in general. There are many relationships in the Scriptures that the LORD speaks of, as far as our submission to authority. Some of those relationships are parents and children, citizens and governmental authority, and our submission to local church leaders, just to name a few. However, in all of those relationships, God never gives those in authority the power or permission to force those who are supposed to submit to do something that would cause them to sin against the LORD or disobey one of God’s commands. Jonathan knew that taking David’s life violated God’s law, which states, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13). Jonathan could have quietly disagreed with King Saul and secretly gone to David only. However, when standing up for what is right, the LORD will give us the strength to stand up, and also the strength to speak up. Note that Jonathan did not start a protest or cause an upheaval in the kingdom. He simply approached his father, with humility, and attempted to remind him that he was wrong in seeking David’s death, because David was innocent of what the king falsely accused him of in his own mind (v. 4-5). The Apostles faced a similar decision in Acts 5 when they were faced with whether or not they should continue preaching the Name of Jesus. In that same chapter, their decision to continue preaching earned them a severe beating. Act 5:26-29 reads, “Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’” In Acts 5:40-42 we also read, “And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.” The bottom line is that when we are faced with whether we should obey God or man, we should ALWAYS choose God; and if we suffer for our decision, we must count it joy to have suffered for the cause of Jesus Christ, as Peter wrote in his Epistle. 1 Peter 3:12-13 states, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).