I Samuel 23:16
Can’t make this up. King Saul really likes David but tries to kill him. Saul’s son Jonathon and David are the very best of friends. Jonathon tries to protect David by warning him when dad is in a murderous mood and also by talking to dad about how good David has been to him. It works…. for a while. Then Saul’s rage and murderous intent reach a point where David has to flee the castle. He remains on the run until Saul dies in a battle with the Philistines.
David and Jonathon were two rugged individuals who developed a best friendship. In fact, you could translate the affectionate word for their friendship as 'Best Friends Forever'. (Not sex as some say; the Hebrew verb is different).
So, what is the problem with Saul? First, he offended God and God decided to put someone else on the throne. It is not clear why this was such a big sin on his part, but it may reflect Saul’s change of dedication to God. Anyway, God tells Saul that his rule will end and no other descendant of Saul’s will sit on the throne. That means someone else will be ‘anointed’ to be king.
To be anointed means that the chief prophet will pour some oil over a man’s head and that act declares God will make the man the future king. Saul knew someone had been anointed because his son Jonathon had not, and it was past time. What he did not know was that God had sent the head prophet, Samuel, on a secret mission to anoint teenage David years earlier.
I suspect Saul had an idea that David might be that anointed one. Yet there were three problems. David’s music either calmed Saul down or helped lift him from depression. He knew there was a close friendship between his son Jonathon and David. Finally, David was married to Saul’s daughter. These three things kept Saul from killing David early on, yet there were times his rage and jealousy compelled him to attempt to kill David himself.
Where is Jonathon in all of this? Since he was aware that Samuel had not anointed him, he knew that someone else would be king. He suspects David was anointed. I believe one of David’s family members blabbed about it. Unlike his father, Jonathon embraced the idea that someone else would be king. Read what he said to David.
I Samuel 23:16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
Jonathon dedicated himself to elevating David to the throne and serving him submissively. You don’t hear of situations like that every day. Especially, among royalty who might be executed if they lost power.
For you the lesson is this. Is there someone in your life who might outshine you if they received the right amount of encouragement? What do you need to do to submit your rights to theirs in order that they may do exceedingly good things in their lives? In other words, who are the Davids in your life? What do you need to do to make them giants for God?
Blessings
Tom
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