Life Of David: Part 2 Series

"" 1 Samuel 20:12-17

Summer David August 11, 2019 Pastor Buchner

The scene before our eyes is so bizarre. David is the one who should be powerless. He was literally being hunted by the most powerful man in the nation. King Saul wanted him dead. David even asks, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?” He’s so exasperated he has no idea what is going on. And can you blame him?

He had done nothing but serve King Saul. When Saul was dealing with the effects of demon possession, it was David who was called upon to help. So David took his lyre and played it in his presence. In this way, he would soothe the troubled man. Yet, what did Saul do? He grabbed his spears and hurled him at David.

When David was promised Saul’s eldest for killing Goliath, David in humility could not accept. Then, later, when Saul once again offered a daughter, he asked David to kill 100 Philistines to earn her hand. Yet, David returned to Saul with 200 dead.

Or, when Saul needed conquests to be won against his enemies, upon whom did he call? Yes, David. David was a faithful servant who did all that his king asked of him.

But here he finds himself on the brink of having to make a run for his life. He has no leg to stand on. With whom, though, is he talking? The king’s own son, Jonathan. Just think of the power that Jonathan could hold over David’s head at this moment. Jonathan should be the next king of Israel. That’s typically how the succession of kings work. Jonathan has his should-be enemy, a man who claims he will have his father’s throne next, standing right in front of him. That, and the solution to his problem is simple. His father has even demanded it of him. Kill David. Saul’s biggest problem would come to end. Jonathan would get his power and have so many wonderful things come true for him.

Yet, is that the scene that unfolds before us? Hardly. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Jonathan, instead, flips the situation on its head. He places David into the position of power and acts as his subject, beseeching him for mercy. Asking that David would show both him and his family the Lord’s kindness.

How? It’s not because Jonathan doesn’t understand the situation. He was a wise and gifted man. The reason is because Jonathan saw the whole situation better than most would. While on the outside we might view David as powerless and weak, Jonathan saw much more. Jonathan instead saw the Lord’s anointed. And even though he stood there as the current king’s son, who was he to stand in the way of the Lord? If the Lord wished for David to be king, Jonathan would simply have to step aside. And that is what he did.

Yet, even by doing this, he didn’t show weakness. Nor did he leave himself or his family indisposed. Rather, he went to the Lord for power. You may ask, then, so why is he making these requests of David? Remember, though, who David represents. As the Lord’s anointed, David would represent the Lord in some matters on earth. Jonathan understood this in his request. By asking David for kindness, he was asking it of the Lord.

Honestly, if I stood in Jonathan’s shoes here, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to do what he did. I mean, I trust the Lord, but could I really have trusted him that much? To literally lay everything on the table and be OK with God just running with it? That’s life, though. That is the reality we live in. We need God for everything that we do, our life, our health, our daily bread, our eternal salvation. But we want to have some kind of say, or be able to help out to keep some semblance of control, even if it would just be the teensiest iota.

If you are troubled with the prospect of this, turn back to Jonathan. Think of the troubles and the burdens he saved himself from simply by listening to the Lord. By not murdering his friend, think of the years of guilt and agony he was spared from. How many sleepless nights he wouldn’t have to endure. Think about the wasted time he was saved from, for he would’ve been looking aimlessly for peace in all the wrong places.

Also, even if he would’ve murdered David and had a clear conscience, do you honestly think that the Lord wouldn’t have had something to say about it? If Jonathan would’ve defied David, he would’ve defied God. And that is not a battle he would’ve wanted to find himself in. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to have to do war with the one can whip up hurricane