David - Part 5

DAILY BYTE

One of the ways in which David experienced God’s blessing in his life was through his friendship with Jonathan, Saul’s son. Jonathan had already established himself as a courageous officer in Saul’s army, a leader in the nation and a hero to the people (see 1 Samuel 14). With these qualities, and as the eldest son of the king, everyone expected that one day he would have assumed the throne as his birthright. But as we’ve already seen, it was David and not Jonathan who had been anointed as the future king of Israel.

If you think about it, this should have been cause for a lasting and bitter feud between Jonathan and David. Yet, Jonathan responds with remarkable integrity and grace, without the slightest hint of jealousy, and with a resolute determination to support what he recognized to be God’s will in this matter.

We read these words in 1 Samuel 18:3-4, “Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.”

In establishing a covenantal friendship with David, Jonathan gave to him the symbols of his birthright, his leadership, and his future role as king. He clearly recognized that God’s intention was for David to be king, and so he surrendered any personal claims that he legitimately had to the throne in order to align himself with what God was doing.

Later, when Saul’s jealousy of David provoked murderous intent within him, Jonathan risked his own life in speaking up for David, and then warning him of Saul’s plans to kill him.

What a wonderful example of the loyalty of a friend who was not threatened by the other’s glittering destiny. That’s what soul friends do – they look to the future, to the fulfillment of God’s good purposes in each other’s lives. They help and strengthen each other to accomplish God’s best for each other.

To have such a friend you need to be such a friend. So who do you know who needs your unselfish, supportive and encouraging soul-friendship right now?

PRAY AS YOU GO

Thank you Lord God for the special friendships I have through which I experience your blessing in my life. Thank you particularly for my special friend. Help me to be a true friend to him / her. Keep me from any selfishness, jealousy or competitiveness that would diminish the good gift of friendship that we share, and help us to encourage each other to fulfill your calling in our lives. Amen

FOCUS SCRIPTURE

1 Samuel 20:30-34, 42

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 and 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 month he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father's shameful treatment of David.

In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David….
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.


The devotions this week have been written by Rev Roger Scholtz, who is one of the ministers at Manning Road Methodist Church in Durban. Any comments or feedback can be sent to bdc@mrmc.co.za