When David begged for help – 1st Samuel 21 & 22, Part 1

A panhandler is back in my community. 

They stand at the end of the exit ramp that goes from the highway to the road my church property is located on. If you are making a left hand turn onto the road, you have to drive right by them.  Whenever I see the pandhandler standing there, I glance at the stoplight and think “Come on, turn green, light, or stay green, so I don’t have stop near them.  I do not want to stop.”  If I do have to stop and wait for the light to turn green, I want to stop three or four cars back in line, so the panhandler holding the sign isn’t right next to me.  Have you ever felt like that?

Panhandlers make me feel very uncomfortable.  If I’m being honest, sometimes they make me feel angry.  One a few years ago had a trashcan at the same location, filled so full it was overflowing and littering the ground.  I thought, “How many people gave him granola bars and water bottles to fill up the trash can?”  I wondered how many people gave him money, and how much.  Is this description making you uncomfortable?  Hold that thought.  We’re going to talk further about this week, as we continue our study of the life of David.

When we last left him, David is on the run. See post here.  His father-in-law, King Saul, has made it very clear that he wants to kill David because Saul is crazy jealous of David’s success.  Saul is the king.  Saul has the upper hand by far.  Saul commands a national network of informants who could be on the watch for David.  David is in an extremely precarious position. 

That brings us to 1st Samuel chapter 21. Since David first fled the King’s house, David has had help.  His wife, Michal.  The prophet Samuel.  His best friend, and crown prince, Jonathan.   But Saul is watching all those people.  Where can David turn now?  In verse 1 we read, “David went to Nob, to Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek trembled when he met him, and asked, ‘Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?’”

David, in his desperation for help, seems to be thinking, “I can find help from the Lord by going to the priests at the Tabernacle of the Lord.”  At this point in Israel’s history, the temple in Jerusalem has not been built.  In fact, the Israelites have not even conquered Jerusalem yet.  So the center of worship is the tabernacle, a kind of portable temple, which was literally a tent the size of a two-car garage where the Israelites priests would minister, keeping the regular pattern of daily sacrifices to God. 

It makes a lot of sense for David to go to the tabernacle to seek God’s protection and guidance.  The high priest had possession of the Urim and Thummim, which were stones used to ascertain God’s will.  One was a “yes” stone, and the other was “no.”  You ask God a Yes or No question, then the priest reaches into the pocket in the priestly ephod, and he pulls out a stone.  Whichever stone he pulls out is the answer from God. 

Thus David shows up at the tabernacle, hoping for help.  But when he shows up, the priest Ahimelek is troubled.  Why is Ahimelek upset at David’s appearance?  Ahimelek questions David about why he is alone.  What is Ahimelek getting at? 

Remember that David has become a very well-known person.  He is the king’s son-in-law, and a military commander who has distinguished by leading numerous victorious battles. Given David’s royal and military stature, Ahimelek is suspicious that David has shown up alone.  Shouldn’t David’s entourage be with him?  Yes, they should.  It is also highly likely that Ahimelek has heard rumors of trouble in the King’s household.  Remember the episode when Saul and his men tried to arrest David, but God intervened and Saul ended up writhing on the ground naked?  That’s the kind of story that spreads like wildfire.  There was easily enough time for Ahimelek to find out that David was being hunted by Saul. 

When a deeply troubled situation is unfolding, anything can happen, right?  You don’t know what you are dealing with.  Is David in a stable frame of mind?  Or is he now so desperate that he will try something crazy?  When people are under stress, filled with anxiety, they can act out of character, right?  Or maybe Ahimelek is thinking “I want no part in this soap opera.”  Ahimelek may even realize that, as unhinged as King Saul has shown himself to be, David is essentially bringing trouble to Ahimelek’s doorstep. 

In other words, Ahimelek is wise to be very cautious of David.

How will David respond to Ahimelek?  We find out in the next post.

Photo by Hennie Stander on Unsplash

How to read the Bible – 1st Samuel 21 & 22, Preview

When I teach adjunct classes, I almost always end up sharing a specific article with the class.  It doesn’t matter what the topic of the class is, I find a way to share the article because it is that good.  Could be biblical studies, could be theology, could be interpretational studies, could be church history, I find that the article applies to them all.  In fact, I have shared the article, or at least talked about it, many times among my church family as well.  I would wager a guess that I have talked about the article somehow or another two to three times every year since I became pastor in July 2008.  I’ve referred to the article in some sermons, but it has also applied to numerous life situations, so I encourage people to read the article. Because I’ve relied on the article so often, I have mentioned it here on the blog too.  

Here’s the article: “The Law of Moses and the Christian: A Compromise” by David Dorsey.  Why do I find it so important?  Because the author, Dave Dorsey, who was my seminary Old Testament professor, provides a wonderful way of understanding how we Christians can interact with the Old Testament Law.  

This is important because some Christians have taught that to be faithful to God, Christians need to observe the Mosaic Law.  But do we need to follow all those rules?   Can Christians get tattoos, work on Sundays, eat shellfish, and get divorced?  There are loads and loads of other laws.  How do we know which laws to follow and which we don’t have to?  Dorsey’s article answers that important question.  I encourage you to read it.

I’m sharing Dorsey’s article, because the question of the Mosaic Law and the Christian relates to the next sermon in our Life of David series.  David is on the run, not sure of who he can trust, needing food and protection from the raving mad King Saul, who is hunting him.  Take a look at 1st Samuel chapters 21 and 22, and see if you can figure out how Dave Dorsey’s article relates to David’s story.  Then join us on the blog next week as we’ll talk about it further!

Photo by Kiwihug on Unsplash

How to have friendship that supersedes any divisive categories – 1st Samuel 20, Part 5

Let’s consider how the friendship of David and Jonathan might help us learn to be better friends.  As we saw last week when we studied 1st Samuel 18 & 19, their relationship began with Jonathan in the power position.  At that time, Jonathan is the crown prince, and David is a peasant.  They are in different classes.  To bring equality, Jonathan actively expresses selflessness to David.  I said last week that when this relationship began, it appeared that Jonathan was the one who had everything to lose, because he had everything to begin with.  Likewise, it appeared that David had nothing to lose, because he brings nothing to the relationship.

Thankfully, genuine relationships are not defined by class, wealth, or status.  They are defined by the heart that people bring to the relationship.  We are all humans made in God’s image, as we read in Genesis 1:26-27, so we all have equal value.  If you are friends with the crown prince, if you are friends with a wealthy person, if you are friends with someone the world says is a no-name, if you are friends with a felon, you are friends.  Period.  You are friends with another human who is human like you. 

David and Jonathan’s friendship is a wonderful model for us because these men clearly have class status that should keep them separate.  But Jonathan, the upper class, does not allow that class distinction to supersede genuine friendship.  Jonathan doesn’t even allow family to supersede his relationship with David.  Instead, Jonathan makes a covenant with David, and it is that covenant that is primary. 

In our culture, we don’t typically refer to our friendships as covenants.  Marriages we do, but not friendships.  That lack of the word “covenant” though, or the lack of a formal ceremony like a wedding ceremony, does not mean that we get to be a poor friend.  We can still be friends based on the principles we see in a covenant. 

Theirs is a covenant of loving friendship.  This reminds me of what Jesus said to his disciples just hours before he was arrested, a kind of last words to them before he was taken from them. In John 13:34-35, Jesus taught, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

We Christians are to be known for how much we love one another. 

So how do we love one another?  Let’s go right to the most famous love passage of all.  1st Corinthians 13.  We typically hear this passage at weddings.  It is not a wedding passage.  It works for weddings, of course, but this passage is meant for friendship. 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 

This reminds me about the difference between being nice and truly caring.  They seem similar.  But care goes further and deeper.  Care, like love, looks for what might be going on beyond the surface.  Care speaks the truth, in love.  Here those phrases again from 1 Corinthians 13:  Love protects, love hopes, love rejoices in the truth.  Love goes deeper in caring for one another. 

A friend recently told me about a two-day bike trip he took with his closest college friends.  He hadn’t seen them in a year.  Planning was tough because one guy has a super-busy job, and two of the guys have families with young kids.  But they had a window in June where it could work.  Then they looked at the weather, and it was going to be hot.  Imaging biking 65 miles in our steamy east coast humidity when temps are in the 90s.  They debated.  Maybe they should wait for cooler weather. The next time that it might work would not be until late September.  Even that date was iffy given family schedules.  So despite the weather, they went for it, and they had a great time!  Reflecting on how much he enjoyed being with his closest friends, my friends said, “I need to be a better friend.  I need to reach out to them more.”

So are you a good friend?  Do you reach out?  Do you look for ways to make sacrificial actions to care for your friends?  Be like Jonathan who was sacrificial, putting himself in a very uncomfortable position to love and care for his friend.

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The resolution of the crisis in David and Jonathan’s friendship – 1st Samuel 20, Part 4

David’s life hangs in the balance.  But he has proposed an idea to his best friend, Prince Jonathan, in which Jonathan will try to discover if his father, King Saul, truly intends to kill David. Jonathan, though he doubts David’s interpretation of the situation, agrees to the idea.

Jonathan will tell his father Saul that David is not coming to the New Moon festival at Saul’s house.  Saul’s response should reveal Saul’s heart toward David. Here’s what happens, reading from the middle of verse 24 in 1st Samuel chapter 20: 

“…and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat. He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty. Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, ‘Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.’ But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. ((David was hiding out all that time!!!)) Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?’ Jonathan answered, ‘David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, “Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.” ((Total lie.)). That is why he has not come to the king’s table.’ Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, ‘You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!’ ‘Why should he be put to death? What has he done?’ Jonathan asked his father. But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David. Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David.”

David’s test works.  Saul reveals his true colors, as his anger even spilled over to Jonathan!  Saul truly does want to kill David.  It is unlikely that Saul wanted to kill Jonathan, but in the heat of the moment, feeling betrayed by Jonathan, Saul attempts to spear Jonathan just as he had attempted with David. 

None of it, however, does anything to change Jonathan’s mind about David.  Jonathan will not be intimidated to join in with his father.  Not by his father’s harsh words, not by his father’s harsh actions.  Saul has totally lost his mind with rage and jealousy here.  But Jonathan remains faithful to what is good and true, to his friendship with David.  Jonathan does not give in to intimidation.  It’s amazing.  Jonathan has great faith in God, and thus Jonathan has godly character.  So different from his father.

David’s test has its result.  And the result is that Saul is bent on killing David, and now Jonathan knows this is true.  Remember how Jonathan said that he would inform David of the test results?  Look at verses 35-end,

“In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, and he said to the boy, ‘Run and find the arrows I shoot.’ As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, ‘Isn’t the arrow beyond you?’ Then he shouted, ‘Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!’ The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, ‘Go, carry them back to town.’ After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most. Jonathan said to David, ‘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.”’ Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.”

In this chapter, 1st Samuel 20, therefore, we get a confirmation of what we already knew from chapters 18 and 19.  First, that King Saul has gone mad with jealousy and wants to kill David.  Second, that Jonathan and David are best friends.  This confirmation of Saul’s deadly intentions really launches David on his fugitive journey.  If there was a sliver of hope that David might be able to return to Saul and serve him safely, that hope is gone.  David is a wanted man.  Period.  After having quite the moonshot of success, it seems now like David has lost everything. 

Think about how rapidly David went from being a no-name little brother shepherd who played the lyre, to being anointed as the next king, victorious in numerous battles, promoted to a high-ranking military general, serving in the king’s house, marrying his daughter, and a household name across the country.  Just like that, it’s all gone.  By human standards it looks like David’s life is done.  Story over.  Except that it is not all gone, is it?

The Spirit of God is with David.  As we saw in chapter 19, David not only has the prophet Samuel on his side, he has God on his side.  Here in chapter 20, he also has a friend, Jonathan.  When you have a friend with you, you can walk through the most difficult times, with a different ease, confidence than when you are alone.

In chapter 18, we saw how David and Jonathan began their friendship, and here in chapter 20, we learn how their friendship matures and survives an extremely difficult challenge.

In this closing scene where David bows down before Jonathan and David weeps the most at their parting, we see how much this friendship means to him.  The truth is out.  There is no question anymore.  David is a wanted man.  These two men will now have to part ways, and they will never again have the freedom to enjoy their friendship. 

So what can we learn from this story of a friendship tested and found solid? Join me tomorrow for the final post, as we’ll discuss what we might learn.

Photo by Mike Cox on Unsplash

How to avert crisis when you disagree with your friends – 1st Samuel 20, Part 3

David and Jonathan’s friendship is in crisis. How so? Read the previous post here.

In the previous post, we read that David has proposed a test in which Jonathan would lie to his father, King Saul, telling Saul that David had not shown up at Saul’s house for the New Moon festival because Jonathan gave David permission to travel to his (David’s) hometown to celebrate with his own family. All of that is a lie. But David’s intent in asking Jonathan to lie to his father is that David believes Saul will reveal his true feelings about David to Jonathan. In response to David’s proposal, Jonathan basically says, “David, I know my father, and he is not trying to harm you. He tells me everything. I would know if he had ill plans. Trust me!” This is a crisis moment in David and Jonathan’s relationship. They have differing viewpoints on Saul. Whose viewpoint will win the day. Will David concede, saying, “Ok, Jonathan, I trust you. I will go to the New Moon dinner. Forget all that I said about lying to your dad.”? Or will Jonathan concede and say, “David, lying to my dad puts me in a terrible position with my father, but you are my best friend, and I will trust you.”?

Look at verse 10: “David asked, ‘Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?’”

David makes a surprising choice in this tense moment between himself and Jonathan. David just continues on, as if it is a done deal that Jonathan is going to lie to his father to test out Saul’s intentions! When David says in verse 10, “Who will tell me if your father answers harshly,” David moves right past Jonathan’s “I would know if my father meant to harm you,” response, and continues with his own test idea that involved Jonathan lying to Saul. In other words, David is resolute in his viewpoint. David is pushing the limits of his relationship with Jonathan. How will Jonathan respond?

We find out in verse 11,

“‘Come,’ Jonathan said, ‘let’s go out into the field.’ So they went there together. Then Jonathan said to David, ‘I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.’ So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.’ And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.”

Jonathan concedes to David!  He affirms that he will sound out his father, promising to let David know of the response.  With that, crisis in their friendship is averted.  So the two men renew their covenant with each other.  In this covenant, their friendship is more binding than bloodline.  When Jonathan says in verse 16, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account,” is it possible that Jonathan is talking about his father?  Whether Jonathan fully believes that his father is David’s enemy at this point is still in doubt.  But Jonathan is about to find out.

The test has been proposed.  But they still haven’t finalized how Jonathan will report the results of the test to David.  Look at verses 18-24,

“Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty. The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. Then I will send a boy and say, “Go, find the arrows.” If I say to him, “Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,” then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. But if I say to the boy, “Look, the arrows are beyond you,” then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.’  So David hid in the field…”

We pause there in the middle of verse 24.  The method for delivering the results of the test has been established.  Jonathan will shoot arrows as a kind of code for good results or bad results depending on where the arrows fall.  David will stay hidden.  This secretive action reminds us of the seriousness of what these men are proposing.  David’s life hangs in the balance.

All that is left now is for Jonathan to tell his father Saul that David is not coming to the New Moon festival.  How will Saul respond? Check back tomorrow for the next post, as we find out.

Photo by Resume Genius on Unsplash

When should you choose to break relationship with family? – 1st Samuel 20, Part 2

David and Jonathan’s relationship is at a crossroads. Jonathan is stuck in the middle between his father, King Saul, and his best friend, David. David adamantly believes Saul wants to kill him (David). Jonathan can’t imagine that his father would intend to kill David without consulting him (Jonathan) first. Jonathan could view David as being way off base. In other words, Jonathan has to choose who to give his allegiance to, and the choice is between the two most important men in his life. Here’s what happens in verse 4,

“Jonathan said to David, ‘Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.’

For Jonathan, blood is not always thicker than water.  Jonathan chooses right.  Jonathan chooses David.  Jonathan helps us process allegiance here.  When it comes to allegiance, we choose the right, the good.  I get how tricky this can be.  When do we break relationship?  When do stop interacting with family?  David did so.  David has fled from Saul.  David’s action was self-protective, and that is helpful to us.  When there is abuse of any kind, we should get to a place of safety.  David does so. 

Jonathan, however, is not being abused, so he remains in relationship with Saul. Jonathan thinks he has won his father over, that the situation is resolved, that Saul is going to welcome David.  But David is saying, “No, you haven’t won your father over.  Saul is trying to kill me.  You’re wrong, Jonathan.”  That’s a difficult moment in a relationship, when you see things differently, believe things differently.  What do you do?    

It seems to me that David believes Jonathan truly has David’s best interest in mind, but David believes that Jonathan is wrong.  David wants to help Jonathan see the truth.  So David has a plan to reveal the truth of the situation. 

Look at what David proposes in verses 5-9,

“So David said, ‘Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him, “David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.” If he says, “Very well,” then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?’ ‘Never!’ Jonathan said. ‘If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?’”

Jonathan’s final comment of “Never! If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?” confirms that Jonathan and David are viewing Saul’s intentions differently.  David believes, rightly, that Saul definitely wants to kill David.  Jonathan does not see it that way. 

So David proposes a test.  I think David is proposing this test simply so Saul will reveal his true intentions to Jonathan.  In other words, David wants to convince Jonathan to see a side of Saul that Jonathan doesn’t want to see.  The test of Saul’s reaction to David’s absence from the dinner will prove Saul’s heart. 

But if Jonathan isn’t seeing it David’s way, will Jonathan go through with the test?  To perform the test, Jonathan will have to lie to his father.  That’s risky.  Jonathan could easily say, “David, trust me, my father isn’t trying to kill you.  I don’t need to lie to my dad and test him.  You just need to trust me.”  Actually, Jonathan is kind of saying that when he says to David in verse 9, “David, if my father was trying to kill you, wouldn’t I tell you?”  That is another way of saying, “Don’t you trust me?” 

How will David respond?  How should David respond?  He is convinced that Jonathan is mistaken here, and his own, David’s, life is at risk.  And the truth is at risk.  Jonathan’s heart is at risk.  Jonathan is in danger of giving his allegiance to one who isn’t who he says he is.  How should a person who wants to be a good friend to Jonathan respond in this situation? How would you respond?

In the next post, we’ll find out.

Photo by Malachi Cowie on Unsplash

Have you ever felt like a fugitive? – 1st Samuel 20, Part 1

Are you a good friend?  Would your best friends say that you are a good friend?  If your best friends could fill out an anonymous survey evaluating your friendship, what would the results be?  I suggest it needs to be anonymous because it is often very difficult for even our closest friends to tell us the truth, if that truth is critical or confrontational.  But if it is anonymous, they might. 

Think about that evaluation a minute.  What kinds of questions should it have?  What kinds of questions will help us learn about the quality of our friendship?  What makes a good friend?  Love, kindness, honesty, shared experiences, communication, truth, trust?

There are all sorts of ways that we can show we are good friends. 

Last week in 1st Samuel 18 & 19, we learned that David secretly escaped from King Saul’s house because Saul was trying to kill David. Now David is a fugitive.  Who can he trust?  The most powerful man in the nation is out to get him.  King Saul has a network of spies that are loyal to Saul, and Saul has already commanded his spies to find David. 

Maybe you’ve experienced that feeling of being trapped, hunted, on the run.  You can be a fugitive for many reasons.  You can be in the wrong, trying to avoid getting caught and facing the consequences. 

This can happen in relationships.  You can be a fugitive in your own marriage or at work or as a child.  You did something wrong, something you feel shame about, and the people around you are slowly figuring out that it was you.  You screwed up the deal, you lied to your spouse, you disobeyed your parents.  You’re trying to hide it, but slowly you get found out.  You’re trying to cover your tracks, but we can rarely hide the truth forever.  If that’s you, you have a taste of the fugitive life.

You can also be hunted down because someone is incorrectly blaming you for something you didn’t do. 

Have you seen the 90s thriller movie, The Fugitive, starring Harrison Ford.  He is blamed for killing his wife.  He doesn’t know who he can trust, so he changes his appearance, he hides, and tries to figure out why he is being wrongly accused.

David is like Harrison Ford’s character, on the run, but he didn’t do anything wrong.  In our study of the Life of David, this we week are studying the beginning of David’s fugitive years in 1st Samuel chapter 20.  David is on the run from his father-in-law, King Saul.  In his jealousy of David’s success and popularity, Saul has twice tried to kill David, so David fled.  Last week we read in chapter 19 that David’s first instinct was to get help from someone he believed he could trust, the prophet Samuel.

Saul’s spies reported on David’s whereabouts, so Saul sent men to arrest David.  When they showed up, they found Samuel leading a group of prophets in ecstatic worship, and the Spirit of God fell upon the soldiers too, so they were unable to arrest David.  So Saul sent a second group, and the same thing happened to them.  And to a third group as well.  So Saul himself decided to go, and that’s when he too got slain in the Spirit and ripped off all his clothes and was ecstatically writhing like a nude human snake on the ground.  In other words, God saved David from Saul.

Here’s what happens next in chapter 20, verses 1-3,

“Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, ‘What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?’ ‘Never!’ Jonathan replied. ‘You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!’ But David took an oath and said, ‘Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, “Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.” Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.’”

When you are a fugitive, perhaps your most pressing question is “Who can I trust?”  In the previous chapters 18 & 19, we learned that David became fast friends with the crown prince, Jonathan.  In chapter 18 they entered into a covenant with each other.  Jonathan, though he was the more powerful one by far in the relationship, gave his status symbols of power, his robe, his belt, his sword, etc. to David.  We read that the two men became one in spirit, which is another way to say “they became best friends.”  Then in chapter 19, King Saul, after unsuccessfully trying to kill David, asked Jonathan to go kill David.  Imagine being in Jonathan’s shoes at that point.  Who do you give your allegiance to?  Your father the king who has the power to kill you?  Or your best friend who has also become your brother-in-law, whom your father wants to kill?  As the saying goes, “Blood is thicker than water.” 

But Jonathan does not choose blood.  Jonathan chooses David, warning him to hide.  Then Jonathan goes back to his father to try to convince Saul to change his mind.  Jonathan sticks his neck out for David, his best friend, standing up for the truth.  And it seems to work.  In chapter 19 verse 6, Saul says, “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”  Jonathan tells David that his father has changed his mind, and then Jonathan brings David back to Saul’s house.  Saul’s promise doesn’t last long, and he tries to kill David again.  That was when David said, “I’m done, I’m out of here,” and he became a fugitive on the run.  But the point in all this is that Jonathan has shown himself to be trustworthy.  So after God protects David from Saul and his men who came to arrest him, David knows he can trust Jonathan, and he goes to see Jonathan, to tell him what Saul has been doing. 

Jonathan seems incredulous, because last he knew, his father promised never to harm David again.  David responds, “Jonathan, I’m telling the truth.  Your father is hiding his true intentions from you.  He wants to kill me.”   Will Jonathan believe David?  Once again, Jonathan is the middle man.  Being the middle man, the peacemaker, is difficult.  As peacemaker you are torn between two opposing sides.  Each side wants you to take their side.  Each side thinks their side is obviously the only right side, and they get upset at you because you aren’t seeing it their way.  When you are in the middle, you can have both sides angry at you.   So there is Jonathan, between David and Saul. In this case, there is a clear right person and a clear wrong person.  Will Jonathan choose right or wrong? 

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Are you a good friend? – 1st Samuel 20, Preview

When my kids were younger, especially in upper elementary or middle school, some of them tended to label multiple friends as “best friends” at the same time.    

When I first heard them declare that Friend B was their best friend, I was confused.  I questioned them, “I thought Friend A was your best friend.”  They responded that, yes, Friend A was also their best friend.  So was Friend C and Friend D.  Come to find out they believed they could have a whole alphabet of best friends.  

As I questioned them further, I tried to explain the definition of the word “best.”  By definition the word “best” is singular, solo, alone, by itself, above all others.  There can be only one best friend.  That best friend is one with whom we are closest, more so than any other person in our life.  For most married people, it is their spouse.  For a child, it is likely a parent, until those sometimes troubled teenage years come along.  For single teens and young adults, it usually a friend of the same gender.  Of course best friendships can occur in all sorts of relationships.

In the Gospel of John, we read about the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” the identity of whom is technically unknown, and yet many scholars through the ages believe it is the Apostle John himself.  Jesus’ best friend, in other words, just might have been John, as evidenced by the fact that while hanging on the cross, minutes from breathing his last breath, Jesus declares to his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son,” referring to the disciple he loved, and to that disciple, Jesus says, “Here is your mother.”  

Who is your best friend?  Come to think of it, maybe you do have more than one.  Maybe my kids weren’t wrong.  Yes, best is best, but what I suspect my kids really meant is “these are all people whom I feel are very close friends.”  So who are your close friends, your best friends?  Better yet, how do you treat your best friends?  And still better than that, how would your friends say that you treat them?  

I’m asking you about the quality of your practice of friendship because in our study of the Life of David through 1stand 2nd Samuel, this coming week we are going to observe two people who are best friends.  We already learned about David & Jonathan’s friendship in this post when we studied how it all began in 1st Samuel 18, and how it was briefly tested in chapter 19.  But this coming week, as we study 1st Samuel chapter 20, the entire focus will be on not just a test, but a crisis moment in their relationship.  Will it survive?

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How to overcome jealousy – 1 Samuel 18 & 19, Part 5

What in the world can we learn from 1st Samuel chapters 18 & 19?  In this post early in the series, I wrote about Jonathan’s generous act of friendship.  And because next week we’ll return to David and Jonathan’s friendship in chapter 20, in today’s post, I’d like to focus on another theme in chapters 18 & 19.  The crippling power of jealousy, which is defeated by the enlivening power of the Spirit of God. 

King Saul is bound up by discontentment, jealousy, and it ruins him.  David is contented in the Lord, filled with the Spirit who gives David victory. See the stark contrast between Saul and David.  Discontentment versus contentment. 

When we are discontent, we are much more susceptible to embrace a viewpoint of life and actions in life that are contrary with the heart of God.  I’ve often had very dark thoughts creep into my mind, flowing from my discontent. That makes me think about my basement, which I introduced in the first post in this series.

A house just down the road from where I live and work burnt down 6-8 years ago.  I would drive my office every day watching as a construction crew demolished the ruins and cleared out the lot. Then their next step in the process surprised me.

They dug out the basement.  I thought “Why are they digging out the basement?”  It hit me.  They were digging out the basement because it was an old house with a basement like my old house.  It wasn’t an 8 foot basement or deeper, like new houses.  They dug it out, then rebuilt the house so the new house could have a nice, finished basement with 8 foot ceilings a tall person like me could actually walk in. 

You know what came to my mind?  Not that I needed to dig out my basement.  No.  The thought that came to my mind was “I need to set my house on fire.” Why? If I burned my house down, then the builder can dig out my basement.  A devious plan of arson and insurance fraud.

That’s dark, right?  But that is what happens when we allow discontent to breed jealousy in our hearts. 

But when we are content, we are much more inclined to be satisfied in God, and pursue him and his ways.

Here how Paul describes this in Philippians 4:11-13,

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

In Christ we have everything we need, Peter writes in 2 Peter 1.  We can be content because of him, because of his presence in our lives.   That’s where we should start.  Battling discontent and jealousy in our lives by seeking to find our identity, our stability, our satisfaction in Christ alone.  His love for us is enough.  In Jesus we have everything we need.  Rest in him. 

What is causing you discontent?  What are you jealous about?  Take it to God. He already knows how you are feeling. It won’t be a surprise to him. But take it to him anyway, and cry out for his help, asking him to help you have a heart and mind that is content in him. 

This is why we talk so frequently about walking in step with the Spirit, because to be filled with the Spirit of God is to be content in him, or growing in contentment in him. 

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How (and why) a king was left writhing nude on the ground – 1st Samuel 18 & 19, Part 4

King Saul is losing his mind because of the young upstart David.  As we learned in the previous post here, Saul unsuccessfully attempts to kill David. In this post, we are studying 1st Samuel chapter 19. As the chapter begins, Saul now asks his son Jonathan to kill David.  Saul likely knows how close Jonathan and David are, so this is a devious dark request, putting Jonathan in an awful position, having to choose between his father the king or his best friend.  In a previous chapter Jonathan has clearly demonstrated his faithfulness to God.  So Jonathan does not do what Saul asks.  Instead Jonathan warns David to go into hiding, and then Jonathan attempts to talk his father out of this ridiculous evil plan. 

Amazingly in verse 6, Jonathan convinces Saul to relent, and disaster is averted.  But not for long.  David has more military victories, and Saul has more spiritual oppression, jealousy and anger.  Again Saul tries to spear David while David is playing the harp. 

For David, Saul has just crossed the line.  David knows Saul is totally unhinged, and he plans to escape from Saul’s clutches.  At the same time, Saul suspects David will try to escape, so Saul sends his spies to watch David. 

That night, David’s wife Michal helps David escape, even making his bed look as though David is sleeping in it.  Saul sends men to arrest David, and Michal lies, saying David is ill.  This buys David time.  The men tell Saul that David is ill, and Saul isn’t having it.  He sends them back where they discover that Michal has fooled them. Saul then confronts his daughter, and Michal lies to Saul, making it sound like David threatened to kill her unless she would help him.  Sounds like she is her father’s daughter.  It’s not the last we’ll hear from her.

Meanwhile, in verse 18, we read that David was on the run.  He flees to the prophet Samuel.  Together the two of them travel to the town of Naioth, but remember Saul has a network of spies.  They report on David’s whereabouts, and Saul sends soldiers to arrest him. 

When Saul’s men get to Naioth, they see prophets prophesying, and Samuel leading them.  This prophesying is ecstatic speech and movement.  Very similar to charismatic worship, like being slain in the spirit and speaking in tongues.  We read that God’s Spirit comes upon Saul’s men, and they join in the prophesying!  What a sight to see! 

When Saul finds out, he sends more men, and the same thing happens to them.  He then sends a third contingent, and they also prophesy.  This has me thinking that our military has it all wrong. Instead of the airborne, or artillery or infantry, the Army needs to hire prophets and preachers who can slay the enemy in the Spirit or cause them to go into convulsions.  (I’m joking!)  

Finally Saul goes himself to deal with this.  Trust me, you need to read what happens when Saul shows up.  Look at verse 23-24,

“So Saul went to Naioth at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth. He stripped off his garments, and he too prophesied in Samuel’s presence. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why people say, “‘Is Saul also among the prophets?’”

That is one great Bible passage.  It’s not often that God causes public nudity, but when he does, it’s quite a show.  Can you imagine that?  The king of the nation, nude, moving around wildly, writhing on the ground, all day and night?  King Saul can be very glad there was no social media at that time.  I hope he was prophesying on some comfy grass. 

Thus God has protected David.  We stop the story there, with King Saul’s jealousy and discontent leaving him writhing nude on the ground. 

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