I Samuel 18 - I Samuel 20

“The King In Exile”  11.20.07  Autonomy, Authority And The Man Of God, Session ^#11

Intro.

- The death of the Philistine champion Goliath at the hands of David changed everything.

- The momentum was now on the side of Israel in the war and the people of Israel had a new champion to be proud of. There is a celebratory mood until the singing starts.

• I Samuel 18:6-9 : “Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.’ Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’ So Saul eyed David from that day forward.”

- From here, things get worse for David, the Lord’s Annointed, the future King of Israel.

- While performing his duties as the King’s minstrel, Saul attempted to pin David to the wall with his spear two times.

- Realizing that the Lord was on David’s side, Saul decides to kill two birds with one stone.

- Saul sends David out to the front lines, hoping that the Philistines will handle his dirty work.

- In exchange for his service, Saul promises his daughter, who he ends up giving to another man, only to promise David a second daughter, Michal who loved David.

• I Samuel 18:25 : “Then Saul said, ‘Thus you shall say to David: ‘The king does not desire any dowry but one hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to take vengeance on the king’s enemies.’ But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.”

- Saul required 100 foreskins (ouch!) but David brought him 200!!

• I Samuel 18:29,30 : “and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually. Then the princes of the Philistines went out to war. And so it was, whenever they went out, that David behaved more wisely than all the servants of Saul, so that his name became highly esteemed.”

- Saul’s plans were foiled and he inadvertedly promoted David’s name to greater stature.

- Saul settles on a more direct approach in chapter 19, including a raid on David’s house.

- Chapter 19 ends with David hiding out and beginning a life as a fugitive.

- Chapter 20 brings this story to a climactic end.

- David is still confused about why he is being hunted by Saul.

- He asks Jonathan to intervene subtly on his behalf and Jonathan because of his love for David complies.

- Jonathan discovers at dinner that Saul is indeed bent on murdering David.

• I Samuel 20:30-34 : “Then Saul’s anger was aroused against Jonathan, and he said to him, ‘You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.’ And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, ‘Why should he be killed? What has he done?’ Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.”

- Jonathan, determined to honor his friendship with David, went out and performed the pre-arranged series of events that would show David the outcome of his investigation.

- When David saw that evil was determined against him, it was set that this would be David and Jonathan’s last meeting.

• I Samuel 20:41,42 : “As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so. Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’ So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.”

- Jonathan’s actions in these 3 chapters are the focal point of what we want to examine.

- Men like Jonathan are rare. He possesses 3 great characteristics here that we would do well to emulate. Jonathan and men like him

I. Welcome The Righteous Help (18:1-4)

II. Withstand False Charges Against The Righteous (19:4-6)

III. Weep When The Righteous Hurt (20:41,42)

Text

I. Welcome The Righteous Help (18:1-4)

• I Samuel 18:1-4 : “Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.” : Jonathan was a man of war himself, having routed the Philistines with his armor-bearer just a few chapters ago.

- Jonathan was also the King’s son, first in line of royal succession.

- However, Jonathan was also one of the men watching Goliath while zero action was taken.

- It’s possible that Jonathan was injured at this time, as one as brave as Jonathan would probably not have avoided the conflict. Jonathan saw what David did and cheered with all of his soul!

- The Bible tells us that Jonathan’s soul was knit to the soul of David. The concept is one of being bound together or in league with another.

- He was not threatened by David’s prowess. He did not care who won the battle for Israel. He just cared that Israel won! Jonathan saw a great man in David and he welcomed the help and even went so far as to welcome him into the family, clothing him as if he were a royal.

- Compare this to Saul’s reaction to David. Saul feared David and attempted to destroy him.

- Jonathan loved David and attempted to raise him up.

- In this world, we have one enemy: His name is Satan!

- Often though, I have found that we as Christians make enemies of everyone else who is fighting because they fight differently than they do! Friendly fire is often responsible for fallen Christians. Jonathan and men like him, see the enemy for who he is and welcome the help!

- This was happening in the time of Christ, with even the disciples getting carried away in sectarianism.

• Mark 9:38-40 : “Now John answered Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side.”

- Can you imagine the tone of voice that John used. “Hey, put that demon back in him! Only WE can do that!!” How sad!

- Jonathan was not this way at all. He saw David as a mighty warrior and he decided that he was going to be a resource for David, giving him his armor, weapons, even to his sword and belt!

- The best way to become a Jonathan is to make yourself a resource for someone else.

- Be their prayer support. Be their sympathetic ear and advocate. Come along side of them. That is what a Jonathan does.

II. Withstand False Charges Against The Righteous (19:4-6)

• I Samuel 19:4-6 : “Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, ‘Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you. For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?’ So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, ‘As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed.’”

- It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last, but it’s often the truth that the ones who are most effective for Christ, are also the ones who are the targets of the most unfair campaigns.

- Saul was looking to pin things on David all the time!

- Jonathan saw what was happening and he withstood the pressure, and proverbially, “went to bat” for David.

- Jonathan spoke well about David. His heart was all for David and his lips made that clear.

- He interceded on David’s behalf, knowing that David had done nothing wrong.

- It’s possible that at this time, Jonathan thought that there was some misunderstanding, something that will get cleared up for him in the next chapter, but at this time, Jonathan reasons with Saul about David.

- Jonathan points to David’s loyalty, his track record and his recent victory over the Philistines.

- Jonathan put himself in a very difficult position in one way. This man was the King, and an unstable King at that! It’s not difficult when one considers that God is on the side of the righteous.

• Psalm 33:18-21 : “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name.”

- Jonathan will not let an action take place against David without rising up to his defense.

- Oh that the Lord would make us more like this man!

- How often have we watched character assassinations with silence on our lips?

- How often have we seen men of God brought down by gossip, while we stood by and let it happen in our presence?

- How many times have we entertained slanderous conversations without even a hint of displeasure!?

- Jonathan put himself on the line and stood for the righteous. Will we be like Jonathan? If so, we had better learn to speak up!

III. Weep When The Righteous Hurt (20:41,42)

• I Samuel 20:41,42 : “As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so. Then Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’ So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.” : At this point in the story, Jonathan realizes that there is nothing else that he can do. He can’t change his Father’s mind or David’s circumstance.

- Here is the royal prince, and this wonderful friend. He is helpless, which must have been an ackward position to be in for him.

- David comes out of hiding and fell down in complete sorrow!

- David, the man annointed by God to be the King of Israel will spend a significant time over the next several years of his life as a fugitive, running from Saul.

- What can Jonathan do? He weeps with David. He feels what David feels. He suffers with his brother. But notice, David wept more so. We may never feel the exact same loss as another.

- I pray that I will never see one of my children die, but if I ever see a brother in that position, I pray that I will be there with an arm around him.

- The truth is that Jonathan’s presence likely did little to comfort David’s heart. But Jonathan’s arm and expressions of love, were the very extensions of God’s heart toward David.

- We do the same when we weep when the righteous hurt.

• II Corinthians 2:1 : “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.”

Conclusion

- Ultimately, Jonathan shows us a great picture of Christ in these three chapters.

- He welcomes and gives Himself as the resource for anyone who would make God’s battles their own.

- He withstands the attacks of the enemy on our behalf, being our High Priest, who forever lives to intercede for us.

- He knows the pain intimately that we feel, being a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

- Are we willing to stand in the same place as Jonathan, willing to welcome in brothers who may be more talented than us?

- Are we willing to go to bat and ward off the character assassinations that are so prevalent in Christianity?

- Are you willing to come alongside a brother and enter into his pain? If so, you will act like Jonathan and live out the heart of Jesus.