Jonathan's love for David (1 Samuel 18:1-4)

6/14/2010 10:03:16 AM

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Love

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Samuel 18:1-4

            Message of the verses:  1 ¶  Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. 2  Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. 3  Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4  Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.”

            Today’s SD is the beginning of a new chapter in Warren Wiersbe’s book, “Be Successful,” which is his commentary on 1Samuel.  He entitles this chapter “A Jealous King,” and it covers chapters eighteen and nineteen of 1Samuel. The first main section is called “Saul wants David killed,” and it covers the first twelve verses of chapter eighteen.

             There is probably a time span of around ten years from the time that David kills Goliath and the time that Saul dies and David is made king over the Southern part of Israel, and during this time Saul tries on many occasions to have David killed.  All of these plans are thwarted by God, however this was a very difficult time for the young David, but it was a time when the Lord was doing a work in his heart to that he could reign as king over His nation Israel. 

            It was also during this time that David and Jonathan become wonderful friends and love each other in the Lord.  In today’s Scripture section Jonathan gives to David his robe and his armor, and Dr. Wiersbe points out that this meant that Jonathan knew that the Lord had chosen him as the next king over Israel and was okay with that even though humanly speaking that should have been he who became the next king.  Jonathan knew the downfalls of his father Saul, and because Jonathan was a very strong believer he realized that the Lord’s plans were what were best for him and for Israel.  This friendship between Jonathan and David are one of the most famous in all of Scriptures. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have been going through some pretty hard trials since making a bad decision on our retirement investment, and have always believed that the Lord was going to use this to make me more like His Son.  I know that these next chapters of 1Samuel that God will lead David into many hard times, times when David will pen many of the Psalms that are included in the Scriptures, Psalms that will be of great help to others who are going through rough waters in their life.  There is a purpose for trials and one of those purposes is to trust the Lord more and more knowing that He is in control of your life and as Romans 8:28 says will wonderfully work all things together for my good and for His glory just as He did in those ten long years of David’s life.

My Steps of Faith for Today:

1.       Continue to trust the Lord to work the details out in my life and to have the same kind of attitude that David had as he went through his trials.

6/14/2010 10:37:34 AM