1 Samuel 18
Notes
Transcript
As soon as 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. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
Last week in chapter 17, David kills Goliath. He cuts off Goliath’s head and brings it to Jerusalem. And Abner, Saul’s army commander, brings David to Saul, and they have a conversation. The details of this conversation are cut short, but what we know is that while David and Saul are talking, Jonathan is there.
And Jonathan finds in David what we find in the best of friends. More than mutual hobbies, mutual experiences, or mutual goals, they share a mutual faith in God.
It’s the faith to walk into battle, trusting that God will deliver the enemy into your hand. Jonathan just goes with his armor bearer, two of them against the entire Philistine garrison. David goes against Goliath without any armor or sword, but a sling and five stones.
So Jonathan discovers that David has the same faith. And he’s drawn to David and loves him as his own soul. His soul was knit to the soul of David. That’s the same expression used to describe Jacob’s soul being knit to his youngest son Benjamin.
Jonathan’s love for David points to the love that Christ has for us. David was a lowly shepherd, but Jonathan was Saul’s eldest son, the crown prince of the kingdom, first in line for throne. And what’s more, Jonathan isn’t the same age as David. He’s not even the same generation as David.
*SHOW SLIDE*
Acts 13:21 tells us that Saul reigned for 40 years.
2 Sam. 5:4 tells us that David became king when he was thirty years old. That’s when Saul’s reign came to an end. So he was born in the 10th year of Saul’s reign.
However, 1 Samuel 13:1 says that Jonathan fought in the battle that took place after Saul had reigned for 2 years.
According to Num. 1:3, you had to be at least 20 years old to join the military, so Jonathan was at least 20 years old in Saul’s third year. That means that Jonathan was at least 28 years old when David was born. That’s my age when my son was born.
And yet despite all this, Jonathan stooped down and loved David.
Let us think about this.
Do we sometimes choose not to sit with people because they’re not on the same wavelength as us? Or perhaps they’re too young, too old, too above or too below?
The Apostle Paul openly confronted Peter when he chose to sit only with the Jews. That’s in Galatians 2:11-13. And because of Peter’s actions, the rest of the church decided to follow. Let us make Zion Church a place where we sit with all kinds of people. Why? Because Jonathan came to David, and Jesus came to us. Amen?
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
Next, Jonathan makes a covenant with David. He takes off his robe, his armor, his weapons and his belt, and gives it all to David.
Clothing and attire back then was a symbol of rank and social station. Jonathan was symbolically giving David his position as the next-in-line for the throne.
Do any of us have friends like this? I believe we all have such a friend in Jesus. Amen?
Jesus came to us in humility, without counting equality with God as something to be grasped. Phil. 2 says He counted us as more significant than Himself. And so He was born in human flesh so that we would be born again of the Spirit.
The love between Jonathan and David isn’t an eros love found in the bedroom, as some might suggest. That is a false and worldly reading of scripture, because the world doesn’t know this kind of love. It’s a deep phileo love. True friendship.
It’s a friendship love runs deeper than any physical intimacy, because it’s a spiritual friendship and camaraderie between brothers of the faith, founded on the Word of God and the love of God. Even among married couples, it's the bond of friendship that fuels the relationship.
And the Apostle Paul tells us to love each other like this.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
Brotherly affection is philadelphia. Phileo love. It’s a love by which we rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
And it is through this spiritual love that the world will recognize that we are followers of Jesus.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,
“Saul has struck down his thousands,
and David his ten thousands.”
And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” And Saul eyed David from that day on.
Very angry (meod harah) = to become red hot and flare your nostrils in anger.
Displeased (raa) = to break, to shatter, to crack.
In modern psychological terms, Saul was triggered because people said better things about David than about him.
And because of this, Saul becomes wary of David.
NASB: “And Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.” Saul starts to see David as a threat to his position.
It was C.S.Lewis who said, “I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.” In this case, the real name of Saul’s anger was envy. He was envious of David’s success.
Envy is a hole in the bucket. It drains all the thanksgiving from our hearts. It doesn’t matter what blessings or grace we’ve received. It all spills once there’s envy.
For example, the nation of Israel has just won a huge victory against the Philistines, but the king is sulking in the corner. The highest ranking man in the country. He doesn’t have to worry about finances or property or security for the rest of his life, but his heart is cracked open and leaking grace because of envy toward David.
Let us think about this. What causes envy to germinate in our hearts?
There are two causes of envy.
First, envy grows when we don’t believe that God is in control.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah
This passage is saying that God chooses the cards we’re dealt with. I’m not trying to be insensitive to the sufferings and hardships we’re going through. But let us take comfort in the Word of God, which tells us that the motivation and driving force behind God’s providence is His love for us.
Charles Spurgeon, writing on this passage, said this:
“Some plants die if they have too much sunshine. It may be that you are planted where you get but little, you are put there by the loving Husbandman, because only in that situation will you bring forth fruit unto perfection. Had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there. You are placed by God in the most suitable circumstances.”
Men, do we get envious over women’s handbags? It doesn’t matter how beautiful or expensive it is, it’s not going to arouse our envy. Because we know that it’s not made for us. And the same goes for our unique circumstances as individuals. God has given us the very best things we need.
Second, envy comes when we don’t believe we are one body in Christ. The reality was that David’s victory on the battlefield was the victory of the entire nation of Israel, and especially its king. But Saul’s envy made it so he couldn’t even rejoice at the victory of his own army.
that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
There’s a saying. Envy is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.
So when we find feelings of envy arising within us and among us, let us not hold onto that feeling, but come before God and pray for more faith.
Faith to believe that God is in control, and faith to believe that we are truly one body in Christ. And I pray that we will guard our hearts against envy by the shield of faith. Amen?
The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.
The word for harmful spirit is ra ruah. Ra means evil and wicked, but it also describes a disaster or calamity. So it could be an evil spirit sent by God, it could be a troubled mental condition, but it could also be a spirit meant to bring calamity to Saul as a form of judgement.
And because of this harmful spirit, Saul raves in his house. The word for rave is navi, which means to prophesy. But in this case, it means to be overcome by spiritual forces. He’s overcome by this harmful spirit.
Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
We can compare between father and son in this passage. Saul feels threatened by David’s success, and so he feels insecure, afraid, and angry. On the other hand, Jonathan longs for David’s success.
Then Saul said to David, “Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” And David said to Saul, “Who am I, and who are my relatives, my father’s clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?” But at the time when Merab, Saul’s daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
Saul here uses his daughter Merab as an excuse to put David on the front lines, hoping that David would die in battle. But at the last minute, Saul can’t do it, and marries her to someone else.
But then Saul notices that his younger daughter, Michal, had fallen in love with David. And he tries to use it as an opportunity to get rid of him. But the plan backfires, and David becomes even more famous in the kingdom.
Now Saul’s daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king’s son-in-law.’ ” And Saul’s servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king’s enemies.’ ” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king’s son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David’s enemy continually.
Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.
So although Saul meant it for evil, David received a good result. He became even more highly esteemed among the people, he won himself a wife, and he got a seat in the royal household.
Saul sent David over to the enemy in order to circumcise the Philistines. And he hoped David would die by their hand.
God the Father sent Jesus into the world, and He died so that our hearts would be circumcised.
Circumcision was the mark of the covenant, which corresponds to baptism today (Colossians 2:11-12).
And as a result, we now have a place in the royal household of God.
Let us think about one final thing as a conclusion.
In this chapter, David makes a new friend. He goes out to battle multiple times. He wins the affection of the people. He experiences betrayal from someone who should be indebted to him. And he gets married. So many things happen here, and many of these things, we also go through in life. But where is God in this chapter? God doesn’t seem to be very active. And in the same way, many times it seems that God isn’t very active in our daily lives.
But the emphasis throughout this chapter is this: That the Lord was with David.
It’s repeated three times (v12, v14, v28).
Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul.
And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him.
But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him,
So no matter what we’re going through each day, let us believe that God is with us. Even though we can’t see Him or touch Him, He’s still there, silently supporting you. And every breath we take is only by His permission. Please believe this.
And finally, let us believe that Jesus, our true Jonathan, is always there for us. He loves us with unconditional agape love, but He also loves us with the phileo love. The love between friends.
So let us find comfort and strength in His presence as we fight the spiritual war, trusting that we will be victorious like David in every battle against the enemy.
