Sunday, December 22, 2013

David and Jonathan Renew their Covenant (1 Samuel 20:11-17)

6/25/2010 9:03:38 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Covenanting

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Samuel 20:11-17

            Message of the verses:  “11  Jonathan said to David, "Come, and let us go out into the field." So both of them went out to the field. 12  Then Jonathan said to David, "The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if there is good feeling toward David, shall I not then send to you and make it known to you? 13  "If it please my father to do you harm, may the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also, if I do not make it known to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And may the LORD be with you as He has been with my father. 14  "If I am still alive, will you not show me the lovingkindness of the LORD, that I may not die? 15  "You shall not cut off your lovingkindness from my house forever, not even when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." 16  So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD require it at the hands of David’s enemies." 17  Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life.”
            There was a couple of things that were cleared up, some questions that I had that were answered here in the commentary give by Warren Wiersbe.  David and Jonathan had made a deal that when David would become king of Israel that Jonathan would be second in command, but Jonathan was killed in the battle with the Philistines that his father also died in and so this never came about.  David’s wife Michal made a scene when he brought the Ark of God up to Jerusalem and she never had any children because David never slept with her again and she died childless.  Dr. Wiersbe writes that this could have been great confusion for the house of David if Michal would have had David’s child because she was from the house of Saul who was from Benjamin.  Having Jonathan rule with David could have also caused confusion for David as God was preparing a line through David to bring into the world His Son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.
            As for this covenant from the verses today it was a renewing of the covenant that was made earlier between Jonathan and David back in chapter eighteen, verses one through four.  David is completely silent while Jonathan is talking.  Jonathan also adds the part about the situation at hand as to whether or not Saul is still trying to kill David and swears to let David know the answer.  Sometimes in these OT covenants there were sacrifices made between the two people, but because of the love for the Lord and for each other this was not needed.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I still struggle with certain sins in my life I once thought to make a vow to the Lord that I would never fall into these sins again, but was talked out of it by a very wise Pastor because someone else had made a foolish vow and it nearly drove him to the brink.  I love the Lord with a deep love that He has put in my heart, for before I was born again I could never love the Lord for I was His enemy, but now because of the love I have for Him it causes me great pain whenever I sin, and I believe that in a way that is a good thing.

My Steps of Faith for Today:
1.       Continue to trust the One who is more powerful than my temptations to keep me from sinning.


6/25/2010 9:31:36 AM 

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