January 9, 2013
The Fall of Saul and the Rise of David
1st Samuel 16:1-20:42
I Lesson 10 The Heart of David
1st Samuel 16:1-17:58
II Lesson 11 Jonathan and David
1st Samuel 18:1- 19: 24
III Lesson 12 Sacrificial Friendship
1st Samuel 20:1-42
Welcome back----its really good to see everybody….
I hope everybody was able to get their homework done and to feel like you have a good understanding of these chapters, from your small group time. I know it wasn't easy, because it hasn't been easy to wrap them up----but I'm going to try and give you a brief summary of each chapter, emphasizing each chapter's most important points. And I hope we can do these chapters justice. I'm going to number the points as we go along….
I The Heart of David 16:1-17:58
"The entire church listened with rapt attention when our pastor called all the little children forward for their sermon. As they gathered around him, he held up 2 bananas. In one hand the banana was discolored with brown and black bruises all over it, and in the other hand, the banana was smooth and yellow, with no blemishes at all. The one banana appeared to be spoiled and over-ripe, and the other one looked perfectly appetizing----ready to eat.
What the children and the congregation didn't know, was that the pastor had purposely, prepared the 2 bananas for his object lesson. The night before he had put one banana in the fridge, so that he could hasten the discoloration of it's skin, to make it unappealing, and then, he had very carefully poked a tooth pick down one side of the other banana, numerous times, so that it would spoil the fruit in a much less obvious way.
The pastor said, " I have two bananas but I can't tell you which is good and which is bad---I want you to tell me which one is which." First, he held up the ugly discolored banana and asked the children how many of them wanted to eat it. None of their hands went up, and the looks of disgust on their faces, and their exclamations of gross and yuk…. let the pastor and the congregation know exactly what they were thinking. Then, he held up the nice-looking banana, and asked the children, how many of them, would eat that one. Every single child's hand went up.
Then the pastor said, "sometimes fruit may look good on the outside, when its really rotten on the inside." And he proceeded to peel the yellow banana with no blemishes (the one that he had sabotaged with the toothpick) and the children could clearly see that the inside of the fruit was ruined---it was mushy and brown and weepy. It was clear to everybody, that no one would eat that banana.
Then, he peeled the banana with the discolored and bruised skin-----it was beautiful inside----it was firm and ripe and ready to eat---mouthwatering, even--- everybody wanted a taste of it.
The point of the pastor's message to the children, was, that when God told Samuel to anoint one of Jesse's son's to be king over Israel, Samuel began to look on their outward appearance, much like he had when Saul was chosen, thinking that God wanted somebody who was tall and strong and already a man. But God had other ideas, He wanted David, who was young and still growing, and sensitive to the things of God, to be the king over His people. In 1st Samuel 16:7, God told Samuel, 'Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'
This is a great lesson to remind us that we need to be careful when we make assumptions about what God wants-----because, just because something may look good on the outside doesn't mean that it's good on the inside, and by the same token, just because something may look bad on the outside doesn't mean that it's bad on the inside. God doesn't care about our outward appearance or the face we present to the world----- He really only cares about how faithful to Him, we are in our hearts----because, if we are faithful to Him, then, we will be faithful to each other, and faithful to share His Gospel with the people we come in contact with. Jesus warned us in Matt. 6:21 "…that where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.
And we are going to see that David's life, from the beginning, when he is called in from the field and anointed, till the day he dies, as Israel's greatest earthly king, even though he is not perfect, by any means, clearly teaches us this truth.
When chapter 16 opens we can see Samuel mourning for Saul. We don't know if it was because he felt like he had lost a good friend, or because he missed a man that he had shared major events in life with or if he was just so disappointed in Saul's continual disobedience to Almighty God. But what we do know, is that God told him to stop fretting over it and get up and go on to the next task He had called him to----which was to go to Bethlehem, find a man named Jesse and anoint his son to be the next king over Israel.
1.) There is a time and a season for every thing.
Our commentary for this week, reminds us that Ecclesiastes 3:1,4 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season, for every activity under heaven… a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." The key phrase is "there is a time." Samuel had mourned for Saul long enough-----God wanted him to pick up his bootstraps and keep on working.
"times and seasons" come and go in our lives, and we have to have our hearts so open and tuned to the Lord, listening for His guidance and direction as we read the scripture and talk to Him in prayer, that we are ready to keep on a steady path if he tells us to, or we're ready to turn around and go in a completely different direction.
We need to be so in tune with the Lord that the loudest heartbeat we hear is His and it magnifies His voice to us-----Isaiah 30:21 says, "Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."
Is there something we need to move on with or do we need to run away from it? Is there something we need to be silent about or is it time for us to speak up?
Is there someone we need to hold at arm's length or do we need to embrace them? We need to learn that we can trust the Lord to lead us where and how He wants us to go---emotionally, spiritually and physically.
As Samuel traveled to Bethlehem, he had to pass right through Gibeah, which was Saul's hometown-----the scripture says that Samuel was afraid that Saul would catch wind of what God had told him to do and would kill him because of it---but we aren't told that God even addressed Samuel's fears---He just gave him enough information for his next step----and He assured him that once he got where he was going, God would tell him what he was supposed to do there.
2.) God leads us one step at a time.
God doesn't lay out our entire lives in advance-----if He did, we wouldn't live them----we would just sit back and wait for Him to act. Instead, He gives us information and direction, on a need-to-know basis, when we can handle it, as much as we can handle, at the time. (The other morning, I let Lizzie's dog out to potty in, the pitch-black dark, just before dawn----I had a flash light---but I could only see, one step in front of me, at a time)---sometimes that's the way it is with God-----He only illuminates our path, one step at a time----but that should't keep us from obeying------that should make us obey, all the more---because it keeps us in close communication with Him and keeps our ears constantly listening, for His voice----2 Corinthians 5:7 says, "We walk by faith, not by sight"-----It's a trust issue----when we can't see God's hand, we have to trust His heart and obey His commands anyway.
Samuel got to Bethlehem---where his presence scared the elders there to death----possibly because they had been present at his last public appearance and had seen his anger at Saul's disobedience and witnessed his public execution of King Agag of the Amalekites. But Samuel put their mind at ease, when he invited them, along with Jesse and his sons, to consecrate themselves and join him for a sacrifice celebration.
At some point, during the celebration, Jesse started introducing his sons to Samuel and Samuel waited to hear from God which one He had chosen to be the next king----but God rejected them, one by one.
3.) "Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart."
(1st Samuel 16:7)
We know that Saul was a tall, handsome, impressive looking man----Samuel must have been expecting the next king to look like that too. But God warned him about judging a person by their outward appearance. When we judge people by their outward appearance or the persona that they present to the world----we run the risk of overlooking truly wonderful people, or we run the risk of encouraging prideful behavior, that can be detrimental to the character of another person. We judge people by their weight, their looks, the beauty of their bodies or their faces, their intelligence, their clothing, their physical abilities, their wealth, their popularity and their possessions, just to name a few. None of these can really tell us about the character of the person, though.
Fortunately, God can see the heart of a person and He judges us by the faith in Him, that He finds there, which ultimately, defines our character.
Most of us spend hours every week, maintaining our outward appearance----we exercise, and we eat right and we spend time and energy and money on skincare and cosmetics and nails and toes and hair and clothes----to make us---- not even feel beautiful, most of the time, just presentable and acceptable-----and while there is nothing wrong with this-----the truth is, we need to spend more time nurturing the beauty of our hearts and our spiritual selves, on the inside----- through prayer and study and obedience, because in the long run, that's what the Lord is looking for; its what He cares about.
God knows that each one of us is just a sinner, saved by His grace-----and He knows whether or not we hunger and thirst after His righteousness; and He knows how many of us, despite our sinful natures, seek to obey Him as best we can and want to do His will, even when our will is weak. He knows….
Jesse had brought 7 sons with him to the feast and God rejected each one for the kingship, as they were presented to Samuel. Samuel was puzzled and questioned Jesse---which led him to call for his younger son, David, to come in from where he was tending the family sheep. God made it clear that David was the one, even though he was still just a boy. David was anointed king, but it wasn't a public anointing, like Saul's had been. David wasn't publicly anointed until much, much later. The scripture says that the Holy Spirit came upon David with a mighty power, from that moment, of his anointing, forward. And he wouldn't be crowned and seated on the throne of Israel for a long time.
But even though Saul was still legally king, God was setting David apart and preparing him for his future responsibilities.
4.) God always keeps His promises; what He says will come to pass, will happen, in His time.
We have to remember that God has given each of us many wonderful promises----we've already seen many come true in our lives----and there are others that are yet to be realized; and some won't come true, until we see Jesus in heaven----but we can rest assured, they will happen, in God's time, if He says that they will. We can stand on Hebrews 10:35-36, which says, "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."
Scripture says that just as surely as the Spirit of God had come upon David, He had left Saul. and in his place the Lord had sent an evil spirit to torment him. There's no way we can really understand this---we just have to accept the fact, that there is nothing in heaven or on earth, that isn't under God's authority, including satan and his demons. The consequences that Saul had to suffer because of his disobedience to God, were a lot worse than he could ever have imagined.
When the evil spirit plagued Saul, there was nothing that could soothe him, Eventually, though, a servant came up with the idea that harp music would make him feel better. Another servant knew David and knew that he wasn't just a beautiful brave boy, but that he knew the Lord and was a skilled harpist. So he suggested that David be brought to serve Saul at court. Saul loved him. Every time that David would play his instrument--- the evil spirit tormenting Saul, would go away. Saul made David one of his armor bearers and he asked Jesse to let David stay and serve him. And so, scripture says that David stayed part of the time with Saul and part of the time in his father's field, with the sheep.
5.) There is no such thing as a coincidence.
This clearly was all part of God's divine plan. He was working behind the scenes, through natural events, to accomplish His will. If God doesn't prevent something, He is allowing it, for a purpose. When Saul asked David to be part of his service, he obviously didn't know that David had secretly been anointed king. Saul taking David under his wing, provided the perfect opportunity for the young shepherd boy to gain firsthand information about kingcraft and how to
lead a nation. God uses everything in our lives for a purpose----- every talent, every ability, every handicap, every asset, every advantage, every disadvantage, every relationship and every chance encounter-----they are all gifts from God, to be used in service to Him, and to each other. Nothing is wasted… but sometimes our plans, even the ones we think God has called us to, have to be put on hold, with no end in sight----when this happens we have to make the most of the situation we've been given, by choosing to learn and grow in the circumstances, whatever they are.
In chapter 17 we see that Jesse was an old man and that he was worried about his older sons. They were with Saul and the army, in a standoff between the Israelites and the Philistines. The battle had been going on for 40 days, without one side attacking the other. There were two reasons for the delay in the battle---the first one, was because they were camped on opposite sides of a valley, with steep walls. Whoever would rush down the valley and up the steep cliffs, would be at a disadvantage at the beginning of the battle and would probably suffer major casualties, from the outset. Each side was waiting for the other one to attack first.
And the 2nd reason was because of Goliath, the giant man, who was over 9 feet tall, who came out and verbally taunted the Israelites every day. The common tactic in that day, to avoid the high cost of battle, was to pit the strongest warrior, for one side against the strongest warrior, for the other one. Doing this helped both sides to avoid a lot of bloodshed, because the winner of the fight was considered the winner of the battle. Obviously, Goliath was the choice for the Philistines, and its interesting, that Saul would probably have been the logical candidate for Israel, to send out to fight Goliath, since he was considered to be a head taller, than any other Israelite man, and had a mighty warrior reputation----but Saul must have been just as scared of Goliath, as everyone else was, because he was offering quite a reward, to the man who would volunteer to fight him-----his daughter's hand in marriage, great wealth and exemption from paying taxes.
Jesse sent David to the battlefield with food and supplies for his brothers with instructions to bring him back a report of their well-being.
David got there just as Goliath was delivering his daily challenge. It made him furious that anyone would dare to defy the army of the Living God.
He overheard some soldiers talking about the reward, and asked them to clarify it for him. Then, there was an exchange with his eldest brother that reminds me of the same kind of sibling rivalry that Joseph had with his brothers, that led them to sell him into slavery. I believe that jealousy, was the root of the issue. David's brothers had been present and passed over, when he was chosen and anointed to be king-----I think him showing up in the camp, and witnessing the justifiabe, but cowardly behavior of his brothers and the rest of the Israelites, was more than Eliab could take. Everybody's nerves were at a breaking point. That's why he lashed out at David.
6.) But---- we can't control other people's words or their behavior, we can only control our own. And we have to do what God tells us to do, no matter who ridicules us or makes us feel guilty or inadequate or silly or tries to undermine us. We have to stick to the path He's called us to and let other people stick to theirs.
David went to Saul and told him not to worry about the Philistine---- that he would fight him. At first Saul tried to discourage David from what seemed like a ridiculous undertaking, but David persisted in his insistence, by telling Saul about the lions and bears that he had killed, while tending his father's sheep. But the most convicting thing that David did, was to remind Saul that Goliath might be a match for a mortal man, but he was no match for the Living God, who would give David the victory. Saul relented and gave David his permission. David tried on Saul's armor, but it was too big and too heavy----so he rejected it----then he picked up his shepherd's staff, put 5 smooth stones in his bag, clutched his slingshot in his hand and went out to face Goliath.
7.) We can't, but God can.
Goliath was such a formidable opponent-----he had immobilized the entire Israelite army with his swagger and his mockery. He had made them forget that the God that they served, was bigger, than any obstacle, they could face. It took David's unreserved faith to remind them who they were.
What a difference perspective can make----the Israelite army saw a fearsome giant, but David saw a mortal man who was daring to defy Almighty God----he didn't see him as an insurmountable obstacle or an opponent too powerful to defeat----he saw him as a target too big to miss. He looked at him from God's point of view-----which tells us that there is nothing that is too big for God to handle. Viewing impossible situations from God's point of view, helps us to put giant problems into perspective. Once we can see clearly and remember that if God is for us, who can be against us, we can fight much more effectively.
Goliath was a problem to be faced on his terms, but not with his weapons. Goliath's strengths were obvious---size, armor and arrogance----but David couldn't fight with those tools---Goliath's strengths would have been David's handicaps. David was shepherd boy----he needed the tools that he knew how to use-----he faced Goliath with the two weapons that he knew that he could count on----his trust in God and his shepherd's slingshot. David's armor was invisible---He was spiritually equipped----just like we can be when we put on the full armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18) Way too many days we try to face our world on its terms, with its weapons----but we can't---we have to use God's weapons---they may not be as obvious, but they will never fail us.
8.) The battle is the Lord's.
David defied Goliath, right before he threw the fatal stone, that knocked him to the ground, with the words from 17 45-47…."I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me and I'll strike you down and cut off your head….all those gathered here will know that its not by sword or spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord's…"
I love being able to claim that truth---"the battle is the Lord's"----it doesn't matter how powerful the enemy is, or how mighty the opposing weapons are or how weak and defenseless we are----in the end, we will always win---because, "the battle is the Lord's."
God gave David that victory with his sling and a small stone and Goliath's own sword-----and when the Philistines realized that Goliath was dead---they ran as hard and as fast as they could---but they were no match for God's army----the Israelites chased them down, slaughtered them, and then came back and raided their camp. Their victory was complete. David's belief and trust and confidence in God and the slaying of Goliath, had encouraged the rest of the army to move out in faith.
9.) We have no idea how our faith will affect other people.
When the Lord calls us to a task, we need to step out in faith and see how God uses our obedience to encourage other people.
Although David had been a favorite of Saul's, because his music could sooth Saul's troubled soul----he must not have paid very much attention to him personally. But after the episode with Goliath, Saul couldn't help but notice him as an individual, and possibly that's where his irrational jealousy of David began.
10.) We are to do everything we do as though we're doing it for the Lord.
We can clearly see from the moment we are introduced to David that everything he did he did with the Lord in mind and he gave Him the glory for it. His words and his actions, give us a clear insight into his character. What we can see on the outside, is being fueled by his conviction on the inside. Out of the overflow of his heart, come his words and his actions. Knowing that he is the author of most of the beautiful words and instruction that we find in the book of Psalms----its really wonderful to see him grow from a boy into a man and to see that his life matched the words that he spoke and that he penned.
II Jonathan and David
1st Samuel 18:1- 19:24
"In May 1970, Gale Sayers, the Chicago Bears halfback, was given the George S. Halas award, for being the most courageous player in professional football, at the "Professional Football Writers" annual dinner in New York. The six-foot, two-hundred-pound Sayers had been Rookie of the Year in 1965, scoring 22 touchdowns, which was an NFL record. But midway into the 1968 season, Sayers suffered a ruptured cartilage and 2 torn ligaments in his right knee, and was out for the rest of the season. After rehabilitation and physical therapy, Gale Sayers returned to the Bears lineup in 1969, and won a second rushing title. Later in 1970, Sayers suffered an injury to his left knee that effectively ended his short football career. Nevertheless, he was elected to the College Football Hall of fame, the Black Athlete's Hall of Fame, and even greater still, the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But what amazed the "professional football writers" who attended that dinner in May, 1970, was what Gale Sayers said, as he accepted the Halas award and took the trophy. Sayers didn't speak about himself; he spoke about his friend Brian Piccolo: he said, "You flatter me by giving me this award, but I tell you here and now that I accept it for Brian Piccolo. Brian Piccolo is the man of courage, who should receive the George S. Halas Award, I love Brian Piccolo and I'd like you to love him also. Tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him too."
Brian Piccolo was Sayers friend, and he was lying at home in bed, dying of cancer.
Brian Piccolo was signed by the Chicago Bears as a running back, and he played only 4 seasons, in the overwhelming shadow of Gale Sayers. Sayers and Piccolo became roommates and fast friends. Their deep friendship shattered racial boundaries, and was the subject of the 1971 movie, Brian's Song (and its 2001 remake) and Sayer's 1973 autobiography. I Am Third. Piccolo died at the age of 26, a symbol of courage and a cherished friend.
The scripture records another amazing friendship, that of David and Jonathan. First Samuel 18:1 tells us that Jonathan's heart was "knit" to the soul of David. David and Jonathan had a true friendship, which was godly in its character and in its essence, and has served as an example of true friendship down through the ages.
From a human perspective, Saul was wise in the fact, that he kept David with him and the army, instead of sending him back to his father, after Goliath was killed. By having him under his command, he could keep a close eye on him, and monitor how popular he became with the people, as his reputation as a warrior and even more importantly, as a godly man, began to grow. There wasn't any task that Saul sent David to do that he didn't accomplish successfully. Saul had no choice but to promote David to higher and higher positions in the army. But, if he had known that he was ultimately grooming his successor, he would have sent David back to Jesse, faster than he could blink his eyes. But God had other plans.
One precious thing that manifested itself during this time that Saul could never have anticipated and never could have controlled, was the friendship and love that grew between David and Jonathan from their first meeting.
1.) Friendship is a pure gift from God.
When David and Jonathan met, they became close friends immediately. Their friendship is one of the deepest and closest that is recorded in scripture. It was based on a commitment to God, not just to each other. They didn't let anything come between them, not even career or family problems. They didn't let adversity push them apart; they let it draw them closer together, even when the friendship itself, was tested. Jonathan was the crown prince of Israel and eventually he realized that David was going to be the next king, not him, but it didn't weaken his love for David----nor his conviction that God's will was always right-----Jonathan would rather have lost his throne than, to step outside of God's will, or to lose David's friendship.
When the army retuned victoriously from defeating the Philistines, the women from all the towns came out to greet them, singing and dancing and playing tambourines and lutes. It was a wonderful time of celebration---unfortunately, it fueled Saul's jealousy of David. It offended him, that the women elevated the extent of David's exploits, above his. Saul had to have been wondering, if David was the one that Samuel was talking about, when he told him that the kingdom had been taken from him and given to another man. But instead of bowing to God's will and allowing His plan to unfold----Saul kept a "jealous eye" on David, just waiting for an opportunity to get rid of him.
Even though David had become a full-time member of the army, he was still Saul's favorite and most skilled harpist. So, the day after they came back from the Philistine campaign and the evil spirit came upon Saul, David tried to ease his distress by playing the harp for him. But jealousy and envy, and fear that David was going to take his kingdom, were controlling Saul's mind----their relationship was destroyed as Saul, in a fit of rage, threw his spear twice, at David, trying to kill him.
2.)Jealousy may not seem to be a major sin, but in reality, it is one step short of murder. It doesn't belong in any relationship, romantic, platonic or spiritual. Jealousy starts as you resent a rival; it leads you to wishing that the rival would be removed from the situation, then it manifests itself into our seeking ways to harm that person in words or actions. We have to be vigilant about letting jealousy get a foothold in our lives, because it can sneak up on us.
The fact that God's spirit had left Saul and was clearly with David, just exacerbated Saul's fear of David.
We can again see the character of David's heart---- and Saul's-----as we see Saul try to kill him because he was jealous of David's popularity with the people. Even during Saul's rage, David still tried to protect and comfort him. When people are ugly to us or attack us, in some way, it's natural to try and strike back or to avoid them, but a better response would be to be nice to them or befriend them, and to ask God to give us the insight and the strength to find a way to show love to them, the way that David did to Saul.
In a sneaky attempt to get rid of David in another way, Saul put him in charge of 1000 men, thinking that surely he wouldn't survive another battle. But God gave him great success and Saul just became even more afraid of him.
3.) Sin cannot control us if we confess it to the Lord.
I think that most of the time, we feel like our jealousy and hatred can be kept under control----and that no one will ever know. But unfortunately, those sins just keep seeping out or blowing up, contaminating everything they touch. It would all have been different for Saul, if he had gone to God and confessed his sins of jealousy and bitterness and fear and hatred. Because, only God can take sin away and cleanse us, so that there are no hidden pockets of it, hiding in our hearts.
Saul allowed his strong feelings against David to fester, and he didn't give up trying to destroy him. Saul twisted one of the rewards, for having slain Goliath, to suit his own purposes. He was supposed to give his daughter's hand in marriage free and clear to David since he was the victor----but he added a little codicil to it-----David could marry her if he would serve Saul bravely, by going back out into battle against the Philistines. But David humbly declined, with the excuse that he wasn't worthy to marry a king's daughter.
Some time passed and Saul found out that his younger daughter Michal was in love with David-----so he schemed a way to use her, to create a situation that would set David up, one more time, to be killed. Instead of expecting a monetary dowry from David, who was too poor to provide one, Saul made it clear that he had another form of dowry in mind. David knew that Saul wanted revenge on the Philistines-----so David felt comfortable agreeing to his plan. Saul sent David out to get the foreskins of 100 Philistines---secretly anticipating David's death----but before the allotted time had elapsed for the task----David and his men were back with double the amount of foreskins and Saul had no choice but to give Michal to David, in marriage.
4.) We can be our own worst enemies.
Saul was his own worst enemy----no matter how hard he schemed to get rid of David, God just kept protecting him. God's plan cannot be thwarted, no matter what we do. We set ourselves up for failure all the time, because we try to take matters into our own hands. I don't know why we think we can get around God or change His mind, but we do----we would save ourselves a lot of grief and a lot of angst, if we would just get in line with God's program, and understand, that we can trust Him, to work out everything for our good and for His glory.
How different things might have been if Saul had repented and yielded himself to God. He had lost his kingdom but he would have restored his relationship with the Lord----he would have had the privilege of mentoring his son-in-law to be the next king and the possibility of one of his grandchildren becoming king in the future----but his hatred and jealousy and fear destroyed anything good that might have been.
Every devious plan that Saul tried, in his attempt to get rid of David, failed----so he stopped trying to be devious about it---- and became blatant about it----he commanded his servants and Jonathan to find a way to get rid of David permanently----but sweet Jonathan refused---he warned David, and urged him to hide himself, and then he confronted Saul and reminded him of all the good things that David had done for Saul and how God had blessed their family and the entire nation, because of him. And for that moment, Saul was chastened, and he rescinded his order for David's death----but unfortunately, his good-will didn't last very long. Now, a son shouldn't disobey his father, unless that father instructs the son, to disobey one of God's laws---but there hasn't been a single time that we have seen Saul and Jonathan together, that Saul doing soemthing to disobey God, hasn't been an issue between them.
It wasn't long before the next time there was a battle between the Philistines and the Israelites and David, once again fought valiantly and brought honor to God and Saul and the Israelite army----- and was praised by the people for it. And Saul yielded to his jealousy and fear again, and broke his promise to jonathan.
They had just retuned home from the battle, and the evil spirit had come upon Saul, and David was trying to soothe him, with the harp music when Saul went berserk and tried again to kill David, by throwing his spear at him, one more time. David fled to his home, but Saul sent men in pursuit, with instructions to watch his house, and kill him when he tried to leave.
How heartbreaking this must have been for David----no matter what he did, he couldn't temper Saul's hatred of him----David had not stepped over any line-----he was honorable in everything he did, and it still wasn't enough. How many of us have felt the brunt of another person's jealousy or hatred? How many of us have been accused unjustly, or lost some benefit, because someone doesn't like us?
What happened to David doesn't seem right----but we live in a fallen world where things aren't always right, and justice isn't always carried out. But the blessing for God's children, is that we can always go to Him, in times of trouble and He will hear our cries and He will answer them, with Himself. He loves us and He will strengthen us and He will see us through any storm or any heartache. Psalm 59, was written during this time in David's life, and you can see the purity, of his trust in the Lord, when he said---"But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." (56:16-17)
Apparently David's wife Michal, saw the guards, that were lying in wait for David, so she helped him escape out a window. And when he was good and gone, she put an idol in the bed, to act as a dummy for David (what she was doing with and idol, we don't know---but we aren't ever told in scripture, that she was a worshiper of God)
Michal loved David and she was right to help him escape, but when she was caught, in her deception, she sold him out saying that he had threatened to attack her----she lied to her father because she was afraid of getting in trouble herself.
With this episode, a new phase in David's life had begun---he was a man on the run ----who was being hunted down by another man, who had lost his mind. But David, with a heart for God, knew where to go for refuge and guidance----he ran to Samuel----the man of God, who had anointed him king. Running to Samuel was the same thing as running to God.
5.) When we face trouble, we need to run to God.
God will always handle the situation and not often in the way that we expect Him to. In this situation, he intervened supernaturally----He poured His Spirit out on the prophets, and out on three different groups of soldiers, who came to kill David, and then, He poured it out onto Saul, himself, who prophesied all day and all night---- which God used to give David a chance to get away. This is the last record in scripture, of God's Spirit ever coming upon Saul----and we can see the sadness of his lost soul, in that he prophesied all day and all night, but his heart was so hard that he never repented.
III Sacrificial Friendship
1st Samuel 20:1-42
A recent study, by Australian scientists, found, that having friends around in our old age, can actually help people live longer. The team looked at how a range of social, health and lifetime factors, affected the survival rates of more than 1500 people, over the age of 70.
The individuals, with the strongest network of friends and acquaintances, were statistically, more likely to be alive, at the end of the study, than those with the fewest. And the study found, that people with a network of friends, are also more likely to encourage each other, to look after their health and to help reduce feelings of depression and anxiety at difficult times.
The Bible recognizes that godly friends help us grow spiritually too. A godly friend "loves at all times" (Prov 17:17), and a true friend will stick "closer than a brother" (Prov 18:24). Even criticism from a Christian friend can keep us accountable (Prov 27:6). If we stumble, the godly friend is there to help us up (Eccles. 4:10). Regardless of the circumstances, believers need to be godly friends, honoring others, above themselves (Romans 12:10). The friendship of Jonathan and David, is an example of what godly friendship should be. It was based on genuine honor, integrity and faithfulness. If we could be this kind of friend to others, it would not be hard to win the world to the Lord Jesus.
While Saul was prophesying, thanks to God's intervention, David had escaped and went to find Jonathan, to see if they could get to the bottom of Saul's hatred. David's questions revealed his bewilderment, as he said, "what have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father?"
David, had just been a boy, tending his sheep, when he was thrust onto the world's stage------and in a matter of days---he was given a command position in the army; he became the best friend to the crown prince; he became the king's son-in-law; and he was fleeing for his life, because the king wanted to kill him. He was a smart boy---but he was a gentle, compassionate one too----he couldn't seem to figure out what was going on, and what he needed to do.
I know there have been times when we've all felt like this-----when we've said to God and to other people---"What have I done? Why is this happening? Help me know what to do?" One minute, we're bouncing along, with all our ducks in a row, and the next minute, life happens and suddenly, we're jerked out of our comfort zone. Sometimes, as our commentary says, "we're reaping what we sow" and sometimes "we're on the receiving of someone else's disobedience and wickedness". When this happens, we have to look into our hearts, to make sure that we haven't done something that we didn't realize that we had, and we have to be reminded that we aren't alone.
1.) God still cares even when we can't see that He does.
David wasn't perfect, but in this situation, he was definitely on the receiving end, of Saul's jealousy and his fear. But God had a plan, and He'd already put it into motion. David came to realize, that it was because God did care, that he was experiencing his suffering. The years that David had to spend fleeing from Saul, shaped and molded him into a great leader----into a beloved king---into the man after God's own heart, who's future descendant is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords and the Savior of the World, and through David and ultimately, through the Lord Jesus, God's kingdom will never end.
God cared, He really cared-----He just knew what it would take to make David be who He wanted him to be----God used the situation with Saul, for David's good, and for His glory.
Jonathan had a hard time believing, that Saul was still intent on his mission to kill David, because of the last conversation he had had with his father, where Saul had promised that he would back off. David convinced him, though, that because Saul knew that the two young men were close, he wasn't going to disclose his true plans about David, to Jonathan.
Jonathan was skeptical, but he loved David and he trusted him---- so, they devised a plan, to prove Saul's purposes once and for all. And David told Jonathan, that no matter what happened, he would rather Jonathan kill him, himself, than to turn him over to Saul. I believe that Jonathan knew that God's hand of blessing was on David----I think he knew that David, not him, would be the next king of Israel. And I believe he trusted God's hand and His heart and His wisdom, in this. So, Jonathan assured David of his love and his loyalty, and he requested for David, to always honor his life and the life of his family members, and to spare them, when the day came to eliminate all of his enemies. (Years later, David took great pains to keep his promise, when he brought Jonathan's son into his palace to live.)
David agreed, and then he put his life into Jonathan's hands. We have to trust God and His promises even when the situation seems bleak.
At the beginning of each month, the Israelites gathered to celebrate the new moon festival. And while it was mainly a time for fellowship, it was also a way to dedicate the next month to God. other nations had celebrations during the full moon and worshiped the moon itself. But the Israelites celebrated their festival at the time of the new moon, when the moon wasn't visible in the sky. This was an added precaution against false worship. They were only supposed to worship the Creator, never the created.
The next day was the New Moon Festival and David was supposed to dine with Saul. Instead, he decided to find out if Saul was serious about letting him live. So Jonathan and David came up with a plan, which necessitated his going into hiding for 2 days---if Saul asked Jonathan where he was----the two young men felt like they would know Saul's intentions by his reaction.
And they did-----Saul didn't ask where he was, until the second day, but when he found out that David wasn't at the festival, Saul went ballistic-----Jonathan tried to reason with him, but his anger was so deadly, that as he was raging verbally, he picked up his spear and threw it at Jonathan trying to kill him.
2.) Anger is a very dangerous emotion.
It is deep-seated fury, of an emotion, that rises up and and takes over, spewing itself over, whatever is at hand---even if the object of the anger isn't physically present. Murder and hatred and any kind of abuse, really, is an end-result of that fury. The scripture has a lot to say about anger, and none of it is good. Sin is sin is sin, and it's all level at the cross, but it seems like anger, is the cause of a lot of other sin, because it leads to so much heartache and destruction, for everybody that it touches. Some of us, probably have more issue with anger than others do, but it doesn't really matter if we get angry a little or a lot---it is never appropriate for a Christian to be angry, unless our anger is directed at sin or satan. If we're being led by the Spirit, we don't want to be responsible for the damage that it can cause. That's why David was so bewildered and why Jonathan, just couldn't believe that Saul would let his anger get the best of him------they were being led by the Spirit and anger was the last thing they wanted to participate in or be exposed to.
When we get angry, we probably don't throw physical spears like Saul did, but our words, can be just like spears, because they have the same power to maim or kill, whatever target they hit.
So, being easily angered, and allowing bitterness and anger to spill out of our mouths, and speaking in sharp tones, with an edge to our voices, and combative attitudes, doesn't have any place in a Christians's life-----if we find ourselves yielding to this kind of behavior---we need to ask God to change us---and to cleanse our hearts and renew a steadfast spirit within us. (Psalm 51:10)
The scripture speaks of Jonathan having a "fierce anger" in verse 24, but that anger, that Jonathan found himself experiencing, was more like, a profound grief, at how lost his father was in sin, and how precarious, David's life was, as it hung in the balance. He came to the realization, in his heart and mind, that there was nothing for him to do but help David escape.
As prearranged--Jonathan, went out early the next morning to let David know what was happening. He had a servant boy, who didn't have a clue that he was being used as an emissary, between the two men. Saul shot an arrow near where he knew that David was hiding-----then he sent the boy to retrieve it. As the boy was running to get it, Jonathan told him, to go quickly beyond where he thought it was, and not to stop!
Those were the words David had been waiting for. They meant that Saul would stop at nothing to see him dead.
After the servant left, David came out to greet Jonathan and they kissed each other with affection, and then wept together, for their loss, and their uncertain future.
Knowing that he couldn't delay David's departure---sweet Jonathan blessed David with the words, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying ' the Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'"
3.) All our relationships should be grounded in our relationship with the Lord. That's where the center should always be, no matter what kind of relationship it is. And we should always behave the way we're supposed to, regardless of how another person behaves.
Jonathan went back to his responsibilities as the king's son and David fled, alone, not knowing what the future held----but knowing in his heart that God was in control. And we are privileged to know, just how much David trusted God, from the Psalms that he wrote during this time of upheaval and uncertainty and fear.
4.) We can take heart from this lesson!
We know that Saul did disobey and God did give him over to his sad, crazy ways and he did lose his kingdom-----but through it all, David had been given an even greater promise, and we can clearly see, that David was devoted to the God of that promise, and so was Jonathan-----and they were devoted to each other, with the Lord as the foundation and the sustainer of their friendship------and in God's time, God's will did prevail---as it always will, no matter what the crazy people in this world do.
But, if we're children of God, and that is what we are-----we've been given wonderful, wonderful promises. Our sins yesterday, have been forgiven---we've been given grace to live today---- and our tomorrows are full of hope and possibility and joy-----we need to live every day, resting in the arms of our Heavenly Father, with our ear right up against His chest, so that the loudest heartbeat we hear, is His. If we will do that, then the world and the craziness in it, cannot touch us.
I read a story about a teenage boy who lost all his hair after radiation treatments and chemotherapy. On the way home from the hospital he worried about going back to school with a bald head. When he came home, several friends surprised him with a welcome-home party. But what surprised the young man the most was not the party but that all of his friends had shaved their heads! His friends had sacrificed their hair to make him feel loved and less embarrassed.
This precious behavior is the kind of godly friendship we need to offer the world. We need to go out of our way to invest in others, to share what true friendship is like.
Jesus did this for us, and we're called to follow his example. He gave his life on the cross so that we might have life: "greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13
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