Day 103 – 1 Samuel 18-20, Psalms 11, 59

Talking Points

• As David’s popularity grows, Saul becomes angry and suspicious of him. He places David in perilous situations hoping for his ruin. As Saul sees that God is with David, he hates him even more. Here is a question to consider: Are we able to see God bless and use someone and rejoice with them?
• The Bible warns us many times of the sins of pride and jealousy. We see Saul consumed with both. How many of our sins are the result of pride and jealousy left unchecked in our lives?
• It is an interesting way to study the Psalms, attaching them to the situation in which they were composed and sung. The added perspective gives weight to the words and meaning that would be lost out of context. Again, Bible study is driven by context, context, context!
  
  Think of David and the stress and dismay he feels as Saul persecutes him. Think of the fear and betrayal that must have filled him. Then, see his response as he sings —

“But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;

Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,

For You have been my stronghold

And a refuge in the day of my distress.

O my strength, I will sing praises to You;

For God is my stronghold, the God who shows me lovingkindness.”

Thoughts

Throughout this account, we see an amazing relationship — that of Jonathan and David. The Bible says their souls were “knit” together. The word translates “bound or joined together with the resulting product being stronger or better than the individual pieces.” Quite literally they were better together than they were apart. The Bible also records that Jonathan loved David as himself. This word for love means “adoration or affection.” Simply, he truly loved him.

Jonathan and David were great friends. They enjoyed each other’s company, bringing encouragement, laughter, and support to each other. They were loyal, dependable, and trustworthy, even at the cost of self. Yet, it was more than that. Much more. These two lives, a prince and a shepherd, shared more than their days, more than agreeable personalities. They shared a heart. As we read their account, we see at their core they both profoundly loved God. We find they both yearned to honor Him. And the best part — they were better at it together than apart. What a blessing. What a joy. Two people sharing a heart that yearns to honor God.

Years later, David’s son would write, “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother…” (Proverbs 18:24). I wonder if he was recalling his dad’s tales of the friend who shared his heart. I wonder if he was ever blessed enough to have such a friend.

Today, praise the Lord for the rare people we find that, when together, we are better in His service than we ever were apart.