1 Samuel 18: “David And Jonathan Become United As Friends”
By
Jim Bomkamp
1. INTRO:
1.1. In our last study, we looked at chapter 17 and the incredible
story of David and Goliath.
1.1.1. David had been called upon
to play the harp for Saul, however he had still remained shepherding his
father’s sheep when he wasn’t with Saul playing the harp.
1.1.2. Saul and the army of the
Philistines pulled up in battle against each other, each upon a mountain with a
valley in between. Then, for forty days
a giant named Goliath came out twice a day and taunted
1.1.3. Everyone in
1.1.4. David happened upon the
battle scene as he was bringing supplies for his brothers on the front
line. Then, when David saw and heard the
giant give his taunt of Israel, he was offended that anyone would dare to defy
the God of Israel, and he pondered going himself out to fight against the giant
as he inquired as to what reward was offered to the man who would kill the
giant.
1.1.5. David then convinced Saul to
give him a chance to defeat Goliath when he explained that even though he was a
young man that he had already had the Lord give him mighty victories in battle
when he as a shepherd had killed with his own hands a bear and a lion.
1.1.6. Finally, we saw that by the
hand of the Lord that David killed the giant with a sling and a small stone,
and then that the Philistines had fled in fear in every direction since their
hero was dead. The Israelites had then
pursued the fleeing Philistines and had a great victory in battle over them.
1.2.
In our study today, we are going to look at chapter
18 and the incredible bond of friendship that began between David and Jonathan,
the son of king Saul.
1.2.1. We’ll see that Jonathan’s
soul becomes knit to the soul of David and that Jonathan makes a lifelong
commitment to David to serve under him when the Lord makes David king over Israel.
1.2.2. We’ll look at some of the
things that caused this incredible bond between David and Jonathan to occur.
1.2.3. We’ll see that from the hand
of the Lord that David begins to gain favor with people throughout
1.2.4. We’ll contrast two different
lives in our story, the life of Saul and the life of David.
1.2.4.1. Saul, because he is not
following the Lord any more, becomes more and more self-centered and
egotistical, and this leads him to become jealous to the point of attempting to
murder David.
1.2.4.2. David, who is following the
Lord, seeks to diligently serve king Saul and perform every duty and all that
he does as unto the Lord, serving the Lord with all of his might.
1.2.5. The reason that Saul and
David were heading in two different directions has everything to do with their
“private life.”
1.2.5.1. Saul, in his “private life”
was constantly scheming and seeking to establish and preserve his own kingdom
(he was building his own kingdom at this point not the Lord’s kingdom).
1.2.5.1.1.
Because of his “private life” Saul succumbs to
outbursts of anger, jealousy, and ultimately murder.
1.2.5.2. David, in his “private life”
worshipped and sought after the Lord. He
was always spending time with the Lord and inquiring of the Lord concerning any
decision that he made.
1.2.5.2.1.
Because of his “private life,” David carried out all
of his duties with diligence and all of his might, and though he could have sought
to retaliate against Saul and somehow seek his own revenge for the way that
Saul sought to treat him, David refrained from this and constantly just kept
his eyes upon his Lord whom he served.
1.2.5.2.2.
What a man or woman does in his/her “private life”
spills over into every action and decision he/she makes in life.
1.2.5.2.2.1.
What is the quality of your “private life” before
the Lord?
1.2.5.2.3.
We see throughout the rest of this book of 1 Samuel
that because of the quality of David’s “private life” before the Lord that
though he could so easily have become bitter and revengeful against Saul
because of the way Saul treated him, that he does not give in to those
temptations but just goes quietly about his business of being faithful to the
Lord and to his earthly king.
1.2.5.2.4.
We see also that though David had been anointed as
king by Samuel, David determines to let the Lord bring that reality to
pass. He doesn’t now try to manipulate
the situation, plot some sort of an insurrection to make him king, etc.
1.2.5.2.4.1.
How we all can and should learn from David to wait
upon the Lord instead of scheming!
1.2.6. Oswald Chambers in “My
Utmost For His Highest” writes the following about the importance of what
constitutes what he calls our “master ambition” in our “private life” before
the Lord, “I have to learn to relate everything to the master ambition, and
to maintain it without any cessation. My worth to God in public is what I am in
private. Is my master ambition to please
Him and be acceptable to Him, or is it something less, no matter how noble?”
1.2.6.1. What is your “master
ambition” in life? Is it to please and
be acceptable to the Lord?
1.2.7. In the book, “Power Through
Prayer,” E. M. Bounds gives the following examples of men greatly used by God who
spent much time alone with the Lord each day, and I share these just so that
you and I might be encouraged to take some steps to broaden the quality and
amount of time that we spend alone with the Lord each day,
“The Marquis DeRenty, to whom Christ was most precious, ordered
his servant to call him from his devotions at the end of half an hour. The
servant at the time saw his face through an aperture. It was marked with such
holiness that he hated to arouse him. His lips were moving, but he was
perfectly silent. He waited until three half hours had passed; then he called
to him, when he arose from his knees, saying that the half hour was so short
when he was communing with Christ.
Brainerd said: “I love to be alone in my cottage, where I can
spend much time in prayer.”
William Bramwell is famous in Methodist annals for personal
holiness and for his wonderful success in preaching and for the marvelous
answers to his prayers. For hours at a time he would pray. He almost lived on
his knees. He went over his circuits like a flame of fire. The fire was kindled
by the time he spent in prayer. He often spent as much as four hours in a
single season of prayer in retirement.
Bishop Andrewes spent the greatest part of five hours every day in
prayer and devotion.
Sir Henry Havelock always spent the first two hours of each day
alone with God. If the encampment was struck at 6 A.M., he would rise at four.
Earl Cairns rose daily at six o’clock to secure an hour and a half
for the study of the Bible and for prayer, before conducting family worship at
a quarter to eight.
Dr. Judson’s success in prayer is attributable to the fact that he
gave much time to prayer. He says on this point: “Arrange thy affairs, if
possible, so that thou canst leisurely devote two or three hours every day not
merely to devotional exercises but to the very act of secret prayer and
communion with God. Endeavor seven times a day to withdraw from business and
company and lift up thy soul to God in private retirement. Begin the day by
rising after midnight and devoting some time amid the silence and darkness of
the night to this sacred work. Let the hour of opening dawn find thee at the
same work. Let the hours of nine, twelve, three, six, and nine at night witness
the same. Be resolute in his cause. Make all practicable sacrifices to maintain
it. Consider that thy time is short, and that business and company must not be
allowed to rob thee of thy God.” Impossible, say we, fanatical directions! Dr. Judson impressed an empire for Christ and
laid the foundations of God’s kingdom with imperishable granite in the heart of
Burmah. He was successful, one of the
few men who mightily impressed the world for Christ.”
2. VS 18:1 - “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.” - The soul of Jonathan becomes knit to the soul
of David
2.1.
Let’s consider the reasons why Jonathan’s soul
became knit to David’s soul:
2.1.1. Jonathan had seen how that
David was a valiant warrior, for David had courageously laid his life on the
line that the Name of the Lord not be blasphemed by Goliath, and, the Lord had
given David an incredible victory over the giant. Also, Jonathan had observed how that David
had just jumped right into the battle pursuing the fleeing Philistines.
2.1.2. Jonathan admired the faith
in the Lord and courage of David, and he knew that it exceeded his own, for
Jonathan had opportunity but had not been willing to go and to come against
Goliath in battle.
2.1.3. At the conclusion of chapter
17, we saw that after slaying Goliath and cutting off his head that David had
joined with Saul’s army and pursued the fleeing Philistines killing many of
them in battle. Then, when David had
returned, Abner the commander of Saul’s army, brought David, who was carrying
Goliath’s head, to king Saul. Saul had
then inquired of David of his father’s name so that he could reward David’s
father, allowing him now to live tax free in
2.1.4. David and Jonathan were of a
“kindred spirit.”
2.1.4.1. There is a saying that goes
like this, “Blood is thicker than water, but a kindred spirit is thicker
than blood.” Jonathan understands
that David is going to supplant him as the next king over Israel, however this
fact did not dissuade Jonathan from devotion to David because he loved David,
for he and David were of such a “kindred spirit.”
2.1.4.2. I have heard twisted people
claim that because of the love that David and Jonathan had for each other that
they had a homosexual relationship, however this is as wrong as it is
ridiculous. There is a bond of “friendship
love” that men can have with each other, and likewise women can have with each
other, that is incredibly strong, especially when the Lord is the center of
both peoples’ lives. When I first became
a believer and began to live in a house with a couple of other brothers in
Christ, I was shocked at the depth of the love, commitment, and fellowship that
we three had with each other in Christ.
This brotherly love literally rescued me from the fires of hell pulling me
out of a lifestyle of sin that could easily have engulfed me, as it did to so
many others in those days. Ecc. 4:12 was
a verse that we three in the house used to speak about for this verse reveals
the strength that a kindred brother or sister in the Lord can give a person, “12 And if one can overpower him
who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly
torn apart.”
2.1.5. God gave David favor with
Jonathan.
2.1.5.1. One of the great blessings
that we as Christians have is that God often arranges things and works in
peoples’ lives and hearts to give us favor with men. Many times the people that the Lord gives us
favor with don’t even have the same faith as we have, however God places it in
their hearts to have favor towards us.
2.1.5.2. There are many Biblical
examples of God causing His people to gain favor in the eyes of men and then
His using this for His purposes, for instance:
2.1.5.2.1.
Moses had favor with Pharaoh in
2.1.5.2.2.
Joseph had favor with men wherever God placed him,
whether in Potapher’s house or with Pharaoh himself, and thus as second in
command over Egypt he was able to save Israel from the famine that had spread
throughout the land.
2.1.5.2.3.
Ruth had favor with Boaz and thus was redeemed by
him, and in her story the scripture creates for us a beautiful picture of the
redemption that we have through Jesus Christ, our kinsman redeemer.
2.1.5.2.4.
Esther had favor with the Persian king Ahasuerus and
thus was able to save the nation of
2.1.5.2.5.
David had favor with Saul (this only lasted a while)
then with Jonathan, and the Lord would use this bond with Jonathan for the
sparing of David’s life when Saul later sought to kill David. David also gained favor with all the people
in
2.1.5.2.6.
Daniel had favor in the Babylonian court and then
later in the Medo-Persian administration after Babylon fell, and thus Daniel
became positioned so that he could be used by the Lord to interpret the king’s
dreams.
3. VS 18:2-4 - “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.” - Jonathan loved David as he loved himself, and
he made a covenant with David and gave him his robe, armor, sword, bow, and
belt
3.1.
David no longer would be a shepherd boy tending his
father’s sheep for he had been accepted into fulltime service under Saul.
3.2.
David as the one who had been anointed as the next
king would again be able to serve in the king’s palace and presence, as he had
done when he had played the harp for Saul, and being there would help him to be
better prepared when it would be his turn to begin to reign as king over
Israel.
3.3.
The covenant that Jonathan made with David was made
with the knowledge that the Lord had chosen David to be the next king in
3.3.1. 1 Samuel 20:16-17, “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.”
3.3.2. 1 Samuel 23:16-18, “16 And
Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in
God. 17 Thus he said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of
Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over
3.4. Jonathan’s giving to David
his own royal robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt was an act of submission to
David in light of David’s future role as king over Israel, but it also
demonstrates the selflessness of Jonathan in thinking of his friend’s needs
over his own, for David the shepherd boy had none of the attire or fighting
equipment befitting his new role as a warrior and a leader in Israel.
4. VS 18:5-9 - “5 So
David went out wherever Saul sent him, and prospered; and Saul set him
over the men of war. And it was pleasing in the sight of all the people and
also in the sight of Saul’s servants. 6 It happened as they were
coming, when David returned from killing the Philistine, that the women came
out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with
tambourines, with joy and with musical instruments. 7 The women sang
as they played, and said, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten
thousands.” 8 Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased
him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they
have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 Saul
looked at David with suspicion from that day on.” - David gained favor with the people, however this
ended up making Saul jealous and suspicious of him
4.1.
We see here that David was faithful to king Saul,
going on every mission that his king sent him.
4.2.
More than just being faithful to go out wherever the
king sent him, David ‘prospered’ in all that he did. David ‘prospered’ because he was diligent,
dedicated, loyal, and faithful to his king, and moreover because the Lord’s
hand was on his life.
4.2.1. We Christians ought to always work hard and be diligent in our secular work and also in the service that we perform for the Lord, for this is what the scriptures tell us to do:
4.2.1.1. We ought to be hard working
and diligent in all of our work, as Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us, “10 Whatever
your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no
activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.”
4.2.1.2. We ought to consider that
our real employer in all that we do is the Lord, and we ought to perform the
work we do then in order to please the Lord, as Col. 3:23 says, “23 Whatever you do, do your
work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men.”
4.2.1.3. I remember a Christian
friend one time telling me that in the Christian rock band ministry that he led
that he felt the conviction that his band ought to be the best rock band
around, for what he was doing he was doing as unto the Lord. All of us ought to have this mentality about
our service to the Lord.
4.2.2. My earthly dad instilled
into my mind at a young age that a job is not worth doing if it is not worth
doing right! How much more so this ought
to be true if what we are doing is for the Lord!
4.3.
David gains so much favor in the people’s eyes here
that as he is returning from killing Goliath and then having a great victory
over the fleeing Philistines that the women from all of the cities of Israel were
coming out and singing and dancing and playing musical instruments as they
chanted, ““Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.””
4.4.
David’s getting more recognition than Saul by these women
caused Saul to become very jealous and suspicious of David, and very soon we
will see that Saul’s jealousy turns to murderous thoughts.
4.5.
It is telling here that Saul says of David, “What
more can he have but the kingdom?” Even
Saul sensed somehow that the Lord was granting David great favor among the
people in preparation for that day when they would accept David as their next
king.
4.5.1. Remember, Saul had no idea
that Samuel had already anointed David to be the next king over
5. VS 18:10-11 - “10 Now it
came about on the next day that an evil spirit from God came mightily upon
Saul, and he raved in the midst of the house, while David was playing the
harp with his hand, as usual; and a spear was in Saul’s hand. 11
Saul hurled the spear for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But
David escaped from his presence twice.” - Saul first attempts to kill David with his
spear
5.1.
Notice here that this evil spirit that torments Saul
was sent ‘from God.’ In the scriptures
we see from time to time that the Lord actually uses evil for His own purposes
in handing out His judgment upon men.
5.2.
Beware, for the sin of jealousy is a very wicked sin
for it is the breeding ground for murderous thoughts.
6. VS 18:12-16 - “12 Now
Saul was afraid of David, for the Lord
was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 Therefore Saul removed
him from his presence and appointed him as his commander of a thousand; and he
went out and came in before the people. 14 David was prospering in
all his ways for the Lord was with
him. 15 When Saul saw that he was prospering greatly, he dreaded
him. 16 But all
6.1.
We’ll begin to see now that Saul hoped that by
assigning David more and more combat duties and leadership offices that David
would be killed in battle and therefore would be no more a threat to Saul’s
kingship.
7. VS 18:17-27 - “17 Then
Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as
a wife, only be a valiant man for me and fight the Lord’s battles.” For Saul thought, “My hand shall not be
against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.” 18 But
David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family
in
7.1.
Saul had promised that for the man who would slay
the Philistine giant that he would give his daughter to him in marriage,
however Saul did not keep his word on that and immediately give his daughter to
David in marriage.
7.1.1. In fact, we are not told
that any of the things were done for David that king Saul promised he would do
for the man who would kill the Philistine giant, Goliath.
7.2.
Saul initially tells David that he can marry his
oldest daughter, however it is evidently the case that when David is told that
in order to marry her that he had to win so many battles over the Philistines,
David declines the offer stating humbly, ““Who am I, and what is my
life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s
son-in-law?””
7.3. When it became time to give this oldest daughter to David, Saul reneges on his word to David and gives this daughter to Adriel the Meholathite for a wife.
7.4. However, Saul had another daughter, Michal. Saul finds out that this daughter was in love with David. So, Saul again has David informed that he is to become the kings son-in-law and this time to marry his daughter, Michal.
7.5. Saul’s motive for giving David his daughter Michal to be his wife is so that she would become a snare to him and the hand of the Philistines would be against him, for he decides this time that in order to be given his daughter in marriage that David had to bring to him the foreskins of 100 Philistines. Saul is thinking that surely David would be killed trying to kill 100 Philistines in order to bring their foreskins to him.
7.6. At this offer from Saul to
marry his daughter Michal, David is again humbled but this time determines to
take Saul up on his offer when he realizes that no dowry is involved only the
capturing of the foreskins of 100 Philistines.
However, rather than David being killed in battle trying to get 100
Philistine foreskins, before the end of the day David and his men kill 200
Philistines and David brings their foreskins to Saul. Therefore, Saul gives his daughter Michal to
David, and she becomes his wife.
8. VS 18:29-29 - “28 When
Saul saw and knew that the Lord
was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him, 29 then
Saul was even more afraid of David. Thus Saul was David’s enemy continually.” - Saul becomes even more afraid of David as he
continued to see the Lord’s hand in David’s life as well as the love of his
daughter Michal for David
8.1.
It is interesting that it never mentions anywhere
that David loved Michal. We will see
later in 1 Samuel that this marriage to the king’s daughter soon turns foul.
8.2.
Saul now continually views David as his enemy.
9. VS 18:30 - “30 Then
the commanders of the Philistines went out to battle, and it happened as
often as they went out, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the
servants of Saul. So his name was highly esteemed.” - David continues to excel even above all of
the other servants of Saul
9.1.
David was a man who always behaved himself wisely we
see here. The Lord was with David and
gave wisdom to David as He prospered him in all that he did.
9.2.
David just became more and more ‘highly esteemed’
all across
10.
CONCLUSIONS:
10.1.
As we consider this story and the two contrasting
lives of Saul and David, and that what made the difference between their two
lives was their “private life,” I would ask you to consider again what your
“private life” before the Lord is like?
10.1.1.
What is the quality of your quiet times with the
Lord each day?
10.1.2.
Is your meditation continually upon the Lord and
pleasing Him, being the person that He wants you to be, and being used by Him
as His servant? Is this your “master
ambition” in life?
10.2.
As we consider how that David was continually being
diligent, hard working, and faithful to the Lord in all of his duties, doing all
of his work as unto the Lord, is this true of your life also? Do you see yourself as working for the Lord
and pleasing Him in all of your work?
10.3.
Let’s make it our prayer also today that as happened
with David that the Lord would grant us favor in the sight of men so that as a
result He can use us according to His purposes.