Adult Christian Life. R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

Чтение книги онлайн.

       1. A King on the Warpath (1 Samuel 19:1)

       Know It

      Here we find an angry and sorely vexed king fueled by the kind of rage that can come only from jealousy. In the previous chapter, we read a saga of Saul’s growing contempt and jealousy for David that would make even the seediest tabloid television show green with envy. Saul was jealous because David had been successful and Saul’s subjects didn’t just know it, they showed it by making up songs about David’s success (18:7). What was worse was that even Saul’s children took strong likings to David—first Jonathan, whose soul knit with David’s (18:1), and then Michal. Ironically, Michal is the first woman in Scripture recorded as loving a man (18:20), which suggests she was head over hills for the courtyard rock star and giant-slayer David. That was enough to rev up the jealous wrath of the king.

      Saul made several attempts to rid himself of David. Saul threw a spear at him (18:11), put him on the front line of battle (18:13), reneged on a marriage arrangement (18:17–19), and sent him on a suicide mission into enemy territory (18:25). All of these attempts to sabotage and sink the rising star were rendered unsuccessful and, worse yet, made David even more popular. No wonder by the time we meet Saul in this text he was out for blood and wanted David dead. However, what truly made this tragic for Saul was that he realized Yahweh was with David (18:28). Yet Saul, the king of Israel, failed to realize that when the King of eternity has favored an individual, no earthly power can derail what God already has set in motion for this person.

      It is good to know as the anointed children of God that God has the final say regardless of how jealousy and fear co-opt others who may be planning and aiming for our downfall. His yes is louder than all of their attempts to sabotage what God wants to do in us!

       2. The Responsibilities of a Friend (1 Samuel 19:2–5)

      Jonathan’s actions stand as a sterling example of what godly friendship looks like. As soon as he heard about the danger David was facing, he immediately sprang to action. We will examine closely what friendship in action looks like.

      Friends warn other friends of imminent and approaching danger. In verse 2, Jonathan warned David of the threat upon his life. As friends, we have the obligation to warn our friends when they are headed toward destruction. Conversely, we also see through the actions of David in our story that as a friend we also have the responsibility of being approachable and open to listening to the sound counsel and advice of our friends. Can you recount a time in life when you wished someone would have pulled you by the coattail or shared sound godly advice with you when you were heading down the wrong path?

      In verses 2 and 3 Jonathan understood the value of his friendship and the peril his friend was in; thus, he devised a plan to help. This suggests godly friendship may require proper prior planning at times to help the ones we love. This is especially true when our friends may be facing grave danger. Prior planning is essential. Even the secular world realizes this reality. In 1983 the Ad Council launched a campaign entitled “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk.” The whole ad concept was aimed at preventing drunk driving, but it centered around the responsibility of friends to plan to protect each other. This is what Jonathan did for David.

      In the first part of verse 4, Jonathan spoke highly or well of David. That’s an impressive feat in and of itself. However, when we factor in the dual realities that David was not around and Saul was certainly not a fan of David, Jonathan’s complimentary speaking about his friend is all the more exemplary. As godly friends, we too should talk up our friends, especially when they are not around, and remain vigilant in talking them up even when the audience changes. God has divinely designed it so friends are able to give each other confidence for life by speaking life and encouragement to them. Have you ever experienced a chameleon crony? One who was friendly and spoke well of you when in your company, but then as soon as the audience switched, they changed their tune and dished dirt on you? How did it make you feel? If able, share the experience with someone, and use your testimony as a lesson of the importance of being a godly friend.

      Jonathan also settled down his father Saul and persuaded him not to harm David in verse 5. Real friends broaden our outlook to see and consider perspectives beyond our own. Jonathan reasoned with Saul to consider that while he may not be fond of David, the man had been good for Israel. No doubt Jonathan remembered how David slew Goliath and was mighty in battle against their Philistine enemies. Sadly, Saul was blinded by his jealousy-fueled rage and oblivious to these realities. Like a true friend, Jonathan overlooked Saul’s anger and offered him a different perspective.

      In these same verses, we also see in the actions of Jonathan the attributes of what it means to be a friend to God. Jonathan appealed to his father on the basis of morality, values, and a firm sense of choosing right over wrong. Jonathan chose principles (the right thing) over personality. He chose to stand for the right thing and did it even when it put him at odds with his father—literally the king of Israel. This is an absolute mark of a friend to God. God’s friends can be trusted to choose to do the right thing regardless of who that puts them at odds with. Sometimes standing up to family and loved ones is difficult. Truthfully, it is downright hard. However, in those moments of difficulty, God is counting on us to choose the right thing (principle) over whom the choice may put us at odds with (personality).

       3. Resolution and Restoration (1 Samuel 19:6–7)