I Choose To Be A Loyalist

Portraits of Loyalty

Mt 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Loyalty is a virtue. It is a commitment.

It is durability. Not looking for a place or a reason to quit or retreat.

It is less and less atractive today. Everyone is willing to give a pass and accept your excuse for not staying the course.

Divorce is more acceptable than ever.

Compromise is the norm and even encouraged.

THE WRONG KIND OF LOYALTY

There is a story of a Japanese soldier, Lt. Hiroo Onada, left on the island Lubang in the Philippines on December 25, 1944, with the command to "carry on the mission, even if Japan surrenders." Onada continued his war alone. All efforts to convince him to surrender or to capture him failed. He ignored messages from loudspeakers announcing Japan's surrender and that Japan was now an ally of the United States. Leaflets were dropped over the jungle begging him to surrender so he could return to Japan. He refused to believe or surrender.

Over the years, he lived off the land and raided the fields and gardens of local citizens. He was responsible for killing at least 30 Filipinos during his 29-year personal war. Almost a half-million dollars was spent trying to locate and convince him to surrender. Thirteen thousand men were used to try to locate him.

Finally, on March 10, 1974, almost 30 years after World War II ended, Onada surrendered his rusty sword after receiving a personal command from his former superior officer, who read the terms of the cease-fire order. Onada handed his sword to President Marcos, who pardoned him. The war was over. Onada was 22 years old when left on the island. He returned a prematurely aged man of 52. Onada stated, "Nothing pleasant happened in the 29 years in the jungle."

Loyal to Leadership

Benaiah=the Lord has built

Benaiah- a priest who became a soldier

He grew up in the family of a renowned levite priest and was being trained himself for the priesthood. As a priest, he was exempt from military service. Evidently, he felt a calling to show his loyalty in a more personal manner.

King David is probably the person with most death threats and attempts on his life. Kings and members of his own family sought to have him killed.

King David had a group known as "the 30" who were mighty warriors. Then, there was another group known as "the 3". These men were ferocious and did many heroic feats. But there was another man who had superior fighting skills than any of these.

Benaiah was a man with a special set of abilities that would make any navy seal quite jealous. He became the top secret service agent for David, and was very successful. David lived to at least 70 years old and died a natural death.

On Davids' deathbed, he told Solomon about some of the troublemakers that needed to be eliminated for Solomon to have a successful reign. So, even after the death of David, Benaiah was still loyal to his task of protecting the rightful king. He was able to rid the kingdom of the internal enemies of Solomon. He did his part in protecting the lineage from which came our Saviour.

1Ki 2:46 So the king commanded Benaiah the son of Jehoiada; which went out, and fell upon him, that he died. And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon.

1Ch 16:6 Benaiah also and Jahaziel the priests with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.

2Sa 23:20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:

Ittai=the Lord is with me

2Sa 15:19 Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.

2Sa 15:21 And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the LORD liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.

Ittai was a foreigner. He was a gittite; meaning that he was from Gath.; a philistine. Without a doubt, Ittai knew full well that David was the one who had killed Goliath.

Ittai had resolve. David told him in a few words, "this is not your fight". David even told Ittai to go back to the king (Absalom). I just love the reply of Ittai. He stated resoundedly that David, you are my king. His loyalty required no conditions. He was not bound, but pledged himself fully. He was a mercenary. Neverhteless, he made it his duty to loyally serve the king in the good times and in the bad times.