Sometimes on a hike or long drive we notice changes in the landscape. Lush. Dry. Wooded. Massive. Rocky. Beautiful. Meh. (That last one is for the younger readers. 😊) These changes typically occur gradually, but sometimes the transitions are abrupt.
We experience similar changes as we journey along the path God painted into our landscapes. From frame to frame, varied backgrounds transform the scenery and our circumstances change. Sometimes these adjustments are difficult. Sometimes they take us by surprise.
This is how it was for David as a young man, and even as a king. God painted his path with ever- changing hues. In faith, David navigated the terrain, no matter how long, no matter how difficult.
[This is post 2 of a 3-part series on honoring our authorities within God’s big picture. Read post 1 here.]
God’s big picture makes perfect sense to God, of course, but often not to us because we view it frame by frame. We don’t always get to see around the corner, but we can follow the turn and honor God in the process.
In Part 1, we saw how David honored his authorities as if he was honoring God. We learned that God painted our authorities onto the canvas of life. God placed the figures where He wanted them to be. Parents, teachers, pastors, employers, government officials, and governments themselves are part of the long list of authorities God has painted into our lives.
Yes, this list includes people who aren’t looking out for us and those who may even oppose us. If you’re like me, for such people, respect is not really the verb you’d invoke.
But I did invoke the right verb some time ago. I emceed a retirement party for someone I didn’t particularly want to respect, but honor won over the disdain I bottled inside. When asked by a friend how I was able to do that, I answered, “It was about him, not me. I kept telling myself the purpose of the party was to honor him.”
I wish I could say that’s always my approach. It’s not. And when my authorities take back their promises, pull the rug out from under me, or even oppose me, honor is really hard to muster. Similar adversity visited David, too. Here are a couple of things we can learn from how he responded.
1. The more we admire God’s landscape, the more we adjust to changing arrangements.
David certainly had his share of unfavorable circumstances. When our situations take a turn for the worst, how do we respond? We like to walk away, don’t we?
- When traffic backs up, some of us make our own lanes in the shoulders.
- If our work situation degrades, we look for another job.
- If marriage isn’t working out, we might divorce or look elsewhere to fill the voids.
We can’t avoid the fact that sometimes, our agreements morph into something unfavorable. The paintings change and our lives are no longer picture perfect. God sometimes paints rocky landscapes.
New challenges, even very difficult ones, are a normal part of God’s big picture.
If we want to respond as David did,
we who follow and honor God
must continue to honor Him and
honor any agreements we made
until those agreements change.
The bottom line is that our agreements are not as much a contract with the other parties as they are with God Himself (who keeps His promises to us). (See Hebrews 6:13-20.)
When we truly understand that God appoints our authorities, we honor our agreements with them, even when our agreements later become unfavorable.
David experienced difficulties, but he didn’t run from his commitments. Of course, he ran from King Saul to save his life, but he stuck around at first to see if the relationship would resolve (1 Samuel 18:10-11, 19:1-10). It’s important to understand that, when he did run, David didn’t break his agreement with Saul. Saul, himself, terminated their agreement when he purposed to kill him.
David honored his agreement because he honored God. Even when his situation became unfavorable, he continued to do what was right: to endure difficulty after difficulty without running away. David met each situation with a drive that ironically improved his circumstances – each small success after another. He acquired weapons, assembled an army, secured allies, conquered nations, and gained the loyalty of the people of Israel during his 22-year journey to royalty. (Read about it in 1 Samuel 21-31 and 2 Samuel 1:1-5:4.) David saw only frame by frame, but he knew God painted a bigger, awe-inspiring, picture.
Another valuable truth we can learn from David regarding unwelcome changes:
2. The more we appreciate God’s design, the more we accept personal injustice.
As the man who defeated the Philistine giant Goliath, David was promised riches, Saul’s daughter as his wife, and an elevated social status for his family. He was to enjoy a life of royalty (1 Samuel 17:25). But the opposite very quickly became his reality. Saul grew jealous of David’s success and popularity, and of the fact that he was anointed as the future King of Israel. His riches were replaced with a death sentence, and Saul offered his daughter in marriage only as a ploy to send David to the dangers of battle as often as possible. And the daughter Saul gave him to marry wasn’t even the daughter he’d promised.
But how did David respond?
He continued to honor and serve Saul. His respect for King Saul didn’t falter because he knew Saul’s kingship was part of God’s design.
How do we respond when our superiors change their plans?
How do we respond when we realize those who hold the power
made false promises just to get our approval?
How do we respond when an organization that is supposed to
protect us doesn’t believe our story?
How do we respond when a parent apologizes, yet commits the
same offense over and over again?
If you’re like me, we often lash back because we don’t think it’s right.
Sometime after David’s story, Rehoboam, King of Judah, was ready to retaliate against Jeroboam, King of the remainder of Israel (1 Kings 12). Jeroboam was a harsh and unfair king who succeeded David’s son, Solomon. He killed one of Rehoboam’s leaders, so Rehoboam readied 180,000 soldiers to go to war against him. But God sent Shemaiah with a message to stop him. He told Rehoboam that He, God, was responsible for Israel’s division – for dividing His favored family and for the unfair situation under King Jeroboam. Allow me to say it differently:
God chose to have Israel endure unjust circumstances.
Does it seem right when God puts us in unjust situations? Well, it certainly doesn’t feel right. But God has a bigger plan and it doesn’t always match our preferences. Whichever direction our next steps take us, God wants us to maintain respect for our authorities and for Him, just as David did. (For a glimpse into the unrest between Judah and the rest of Israel, read 1 Kings 11.)
So, when our superiors, or even our equals, disrupt our lives, maybe running away can be a last resort. Maybe it’s better, and more God-honoring, to remain committed to those who depend on us, no matter how hard it gets, even when they are the antagonists.
We must stand fast to honor God, and when
we accept unfavorable situations as a part of His bigger picture,
God might soon consider us to be people after His own heart.
After removing Saul, he made David their king.
God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse,
a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
Acts 13:22
———- (additional reading) ———-
A word about getting out of a bad situation…
It’s okay to get out of a bad situation,
we just need to retreat in a God-honoring way.
Friends, we face real issues and I know sometimes we find ourselves so steeped in problems, that escape seems to be our only option. As much as I stress sticking it through, we don’t always need to remain in a bad situation. Sometimes our circumstances are detrimental and counter God’s plan for us. Sometimes they are even life-threatening.
As I write, I am praying for those of you in situations like that. God is faithful and sees your suffering and tears. He has reasons for this phase in your life, and as you rely on Him in faith, He promises relief. He will renew you and lead you along safe and God-honoring paths. There will be greener grass when you follow Him through dark times (Psalm 23). This is the God we love and serve.
David escaped. He didn’t stand still to receive Saul’s deadly blows. He dodged, he battled, and he fled. But he didn’t retaliate. He honored King Saul and remained in his subordinate position until he, with the help of his dear friend Jonathan, was certain that Saul changed his mind about him. He didn’t flee until he was sure Saul considered him his enemy instead of his favored musician. David stayed in and around Saul’s palace in the hopes that things would work out, but eventually he realized that, to honor God and His plan, he needed to flee. (See 1 Samuel 20.)
Every situation has its nuances, so I can’t offer a checklist that indicates if and when to escape. But I do know that every step includes choices – choices to honor God and the relationships He’s ordained for us, or to ignore Him and His big picture. So, if we get out, we need to honor God in the process. Our relationship with Him matters.
———- (end additional reading) ———-
If you have questions about honor and our authorities, or if you want to know more about living for Jesus and what it means to be a child of God, please email me at authordlv@att.net.
Read more blog posts here.
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