Apr 12, 2020 (evening). I Samuel 19:1-7

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I Samuel 19:1-7 [New King James Version (NKJV)]

¹ Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted greatly in David. ² So Jonathan told David, saying, “My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide. ³ And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe, I will tell you.” ⁴ Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you. ⁵ For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?” ⁶ So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed.” ⁷ Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. So Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past.

• The frustration of Saul
  • The Philistines had not killed David and Micah loved him
  • Saul decides to have David killed directly
    • Saul = given over to an tormenting spirit
    • Saul informs his son, Jonathan, and his servants that David must be killed (Jonathan and Saul’s servants love David)
    • Saul has a way out of this mess = REPENT!
  • Jonathan reveals Saul’s plan to David
    • Jonathan is caught between loyalty to his father and loyalty to David
      • Exodus 20:12 honor your father and mother
      • Acts 5:29 must obey God over earthly authorities
      • Jonathan had to decide if loyalty to God meant supporting his father or his friend, David (submission to God = the issue!)
  • Jonathan is in a difficult place
    • He was torn between supporting his father and king and doing what was right before God by protecting David
    • Jonathan had not chosen to be in this position
    • Often God places us in difficult positions to test us, use us, and to serve as an example to others
  • Jonathan neither shirked his responsibility nor betrayed his father
    • By serving God, Jonathan truly served his father (best interests)
    • We always do best by others when we put God first (even when the ones we are helping oppose God and us)
  • Jonathan hid David and spoke to Saul
    • Jonathan points out that David saved Israel via slaying Goliath
    • God was obviously with David
    • Saul had rejoiced in David’s victory
• Saul relents but still remains unchanged
  • Jonathan’s reasoning makes sense to Saul, so Saul is soothed
  • David is once again restored to good standing before Saul
    • Jonathan had injected common sense reasoning into father
    • Saul accepts the logic, but his nature had not changed
    • The same arrogance Samuel dealt with was still in Saul
  • Unless underlying causes are addressed, they will not go away
    • Sinful thoughts and behavior don’t leave on their own
    • A change of mind due to reason or change of situation is of the flesh, temporary, and undependable
    • James 1:5-8 vacillating between right and wrong is double-mindedness and instability (changeable and dangerous)
    • A desire to change does not produce a permanent change
• Permanent change comes from a regenerated nature
  • Character and attitude are not rational processes
    • What Saul decided based upon Jonathan’s reason Δ with mood
    • David was not safe, but trusted Saul’s word and honored him
  • Reason alone can’t control passion, pride, and pettiness
  • Irrational and foolish acts are impulsive with no benefit or logic
  • To assuage an angry man is only to delay his next outburst
    • Saul had not changed and did not want to change
    • Pride removes God from your life (exalt self or God)
• David, Saul’s loyal servant
  • The situation settles down briefly
    • Ironically, Saul opposes the one who benefits him most
    • Men oppose Christ, who benefits them the most (eternal)
  • David remained loyal to Saul as his king and God’s anointed to the end
    • Believers face irrational hatred, falsehood, and persecution
    • Believers must remain loyal to Christ and true to others