1st Samuel 18
This chapter starts with an incredible act of friendship. Jonathan loved David as if he was himself. This says a lot, since all of us look out for our own interests most of the time. But here, Jonathan was doing more than that...he was defying his father, the king of Israel. The only reason Jonathan, who was the rightful heir of Saul, to love and support David, was an act of God. Jonathan loved God more than his own blood.
(v.7) My kids crack up when we sing the song the people sang...we can imagine the look on Saul's face when they sang it!
(v.8) Saul shows his true colors here...he envies David, and is paranoid of him. Of course, he had no evidence to fear David. After all, David was a loyal servant to Saul, and he performed every task with great valor and might.
(v.12) This verse tells us all we need to know...Saul feared David because he knew the Lord was with David, and not with him. This is a good lesson for our kids...as long as we are the Lord's, and we pray and seek His guidance, we are to be feared. With God on our side, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31)
As we will see with Saul and Jonathan, they couldn't be more different in their character and actions. Saul fears and hates David, where Jonathan loves and protects David. In Jon Courson's commentary, he asks the question about whether we would sacrifice our own advancement in life in order to help another advance...that is a good question. Jonathan gave up the kingship in order to support God's anointed...at the risk of his own life. How many of us could say we have done the same thing?
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