1 Samuel 20 (Part 2) Bible Study (Jonathan Warns David) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

And before we read, let's pray one more time as we come before God in his word. Laura, we believe that you are real. You are true. You are alive. You are approachable.

As we sang, that veil has been torn into not only for us to enter into the Holy of Holies, but for your presence to now dwell in us. And so we thank you that we are now your abode. We are now your dwelling place. And Lord, as you are as you were concerned about the structure of the tabernacle with every inch of it, every cubit, every material, every layer, so you are concerned with every detail of our lives. You long for every part of who we are to reflect your glory, your moral majesty.

We pray that as we expound the word, as our dear brother and pastor had earlier shared in Romans, these things have been given to us for our encouragement. We come to the word to be encouraged and built up into Christ likeness. Sanctify us unto Christ. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Notice that our chapter studies in this book are so lengthy that we have two parts in one chapter, three parts in one chapter, and that is the case with this one. But that is the beauty of this Bible study. It's it's just for us to extract as much truth from every verse that we can. And even then, sometimes, if not every time I leave a bible study, I said there's so much more yet to be discovered. There's so much more yet to look yet for us to learn.

And that is certainly true in this chapter, but we will do our best by God's grace. You and I, up to this point, especially in this chapter, have learned so much through the friendship between Jonathan and David. It's amazing the attention that the Bible gives between these two men. And it's important for us to take our time to study their interaction, the covenant that they had made with one another, because you're about to find out that this is the last time we are going to see a lengthy interaction between David and Jonathan. There's going to be one more time, and then we're never going to hear of Jonathan again.

And one of the things that we learned about Jonathan was that he was indeed a man who stood for the truth. You've heard that in more than one occasion that Jonathan was somebody who who paid the price to to defend and to be on the side of righteousness. And that was the opportunity that presented itself to him with David and his father. He was willing to stand by David because he was willing to stand by the truth even though it caused great discomfort in his life, especially with the dynamics of his relationship with his own dad, with his own father. And Jonathan's decision to stand by David was not motivated by political ambition, was not motivated to satisfy some kind of selfish desire.

Again, it was propelled by a desire to stand for what God would stand for. And he wanted to stand with David because he wanted to stand with his Lord. And if we're not convinced of that truth, then verse 16 will will seal the matter for for certainty. In verse 16, we read after David and Jonathan are going back and forth of David trying to convince his best friend that his dad is actually trying to assassinate him. Your dad is actually trying to get at me.

He's trying to eradicate me from the face of the earth. And Jonathan's willing to believe it, but it's hard for him to believe it because he saw his father repent. He saw his dad make a vow that he would never do such a thing. And so they are ready to to make a plan to to expose Saul, and they just made a covenant again to reestablish their relationship and not just for their life, but for their descendants and the lives to come. Read here in verse 16, and Jonathan made a covenant with the House of David saying, made the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies.

And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved them as he loved his own soul. This was a man who stood for truth. How do we know that? Well, number one, he invokes the name of the Lord. He appeals to God.

This issue between David and Saul was not just a mere disagreement. It was not just neutral from from spirituality. No. It very much involved God. There was right.

There was wrong. There was obedience. There was disobedience. There was righteousness. There was wickedness.

And David did not side with anybody for any other reason other than God is the one who determines who is true. And God is the one, because he will judge between right and wrong, he will decide the faith between these two men, and Jonathan was fully aware of that. He was fully aware that God will intervene in this. And if God is gonna intervene in this, then I wanna be on his good side. I wanna be in his favor.

I wanna be blessed by God. I don't wanna stand against God. And so I'm gonna side with you because it is clear that you are on God's side. But notice he goes even further than that. He says, may the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies.

Why is that significant? Can can somebody tell me why that's significant? Yeah. Saul, his own dad, is in the category of being David's enemy. And so he he's so willing to stand for truth even if he is having to see his own father on the side of being disciplined and judged by God.

He is so unbiased in this moment that he realizes that even though his own father would stand against God, he is willing to be on God's side. And that is the same allegiance that Jesus calls his disciples to. It is the same standard that we would have to hate our fathers and hate our mothers and our brothers and our sisters, our wives, even our own children. And the Bible doesn't use that word hate the same way that you and I would understand it. Yes, in some context, but in that context, he's not saying you have to despise them or be hostile towards them.

You know this very well. What he's saying is that your allegiance to Christ should be so intense, so devoted that would make every other relationship of yours look like hate Jonathan here is a man of truth. And so he's willing to say, even if my dad is an enemy to God, he's worthy to be judged. He deserves to be judged. So don't tell me that Jonathan doesn't love truth.

The man loves the truth. And as I read this, you and I learn something, something very important with this concept of revenge. Have you ever noticed how much attention is given to this concept of retribution or taking revenge? It's from cover to cover. The Holy Spirit has sprinkled it all over, whether by way of command or instruction or by way of example as presented before us tonight.

It is incredible how much of the Bible instructs the people of God of how to manage this temptation to take revenge. Have you ever wondered why? It's because God in his wisdom knows that the people of God will have to endure great personal offenses. It will be a frequent occurrence. You will know it, and it will intensify as you grow in faithfulness to Christ.

Temptation to take matters into your own hands in order to retaliate and satisfy that burning sensation that if you've done me

wrong, you're gonna get it right back. If not, you're gonna get it worse. And so, you know, you're gonna get it worse. And so, you know,

you're gonna get it right back. And so, you know, you're gonna get you're gonna get it right back. If not, you're gonna get it worse. And it's incredible because I was reading Romans this week, and the verse that you heard in the reading came to me, but I saw it in a way that I never realized before. I I I saw it, and it made me consider the absolute seriousness of of us obeying that instruction that seems so strange.

It seems so foreign, but it's so real. It's so real when you walk in godliness, you will be persecuted. And the verse is this in Romans twelve nineteen, vengeance is mine, says the Lord. I will repay. I will repay.

And the thing that stood out to me was that phrase, vengeance is mine. And I thought to myself, God is making an exclusive claim there. He is saying, this thing of vengeance, of revenge, that belongs exclusively to me. That doesn't belong to you. Now, if it belongs to God, if it's his rightful possession, if it's his equation?

If it belongs to God, and I try to take it from God and make it mine, what is that called in the Bible? Yeah, it's called stealing. That's theft. And here's what I understood from this. That taking revenge is not just wrong in itself because it's ungodly and uncalled for.

Taking revenge is vile because I'm stealing. I am robbing God of what solely belongs to him. I want you to never forget that the next time you were tempted to take revenge with your words, with your actions, even in your thoughts, even in your meditations, to realize this is thievery because God says vengeance is mine. It belongs solely to me. You have no right to entertain it.

You have no right to execute it. And if we do give into that temptation, not only are we doing wrong to somebody else, we are actually stealing from God himself. May the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies. And then Jonathan reassures him of the covenant, and he wants to be reassured of David's love. Then Jonathan comes up with a plan.

Jonathan is in agreement with David, and he wants to provide an answer to this mystery, at least a mystery to him about his his father's attitude toward David. Verse 18. Then Jonathan said to him, tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. On the third day, go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap. And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it as though I had shot at a mark.

And behold, I will send the boy saying, go find the arrows. If I say to the boy, look, the arrows are in this side of you, take them, then you are to come, for as the Lord lives, it is safe for you, and there is no danger. But if I say to the youth, look, the arrows are beyond you, then go, For the Lord has sent you away. And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold the Lord is between you and me forever. So so David had presented Jonathan a plan.

Listen, we gotta find out. You need to know this for yourself. You might not believe me, but I believe it's so real in your dad's heart that it will be revealed. So go and tell your dad that I couldn't make it to the feast, the new moon feast, and just watch his reaction. Watch, Jonathan.

I'm telling you, if you just look at how he's gonna respond to my absence, you'll have all the evidence that is required. John says, fine. Fine. Fine. Fine.

But we gotta be smarter about this. And so this is what we're gonna do. I'm gonna give you an answer to what I discovered, but it's gonna be in disguise. It's not gonna be obvious. And the reason why I believe he's saying this is because perhaps his father is even spying on Jonathan.

Perhaps he fears that even Saul has sent men to to see where Jonathan is, to know where the whereabouts of David is. And so he wants to protect that. He he doesn't wanna expose David so obviously. And so he comes up with this idea that I'm gonna shoot arrows, and and depending on where they land will determine what your destiny is. And it's so incredible.

In these verses, there's an interesting phrase that proves to me the depth of the knowledge that Jonathan has concerning his God and our God. And here's what he says. It's an interesting phrase. He says, if, in verse 21, I will send the boy saying, go find the arrows. If I say to the boy, look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them, then you are to come.

For as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. But if I say to the youth, look, the arrows are beyond you, then go look at this for the Lord has sent you away. The Lord has sent you away, David. You know what I take out of that? I'm sure you see it now.

Maybe you've seen it before. This is a man who believed that although Saul might be the reason for David's departure, God was really the the cause. Sovereign over your life, your God is. And as much as Salt is king, and he has authority, and he can push you around, and he can drive you into the wilderness, God is the one who's actually sending you. And believe it, tonight, you have to understand that this is the great confidence for the Christian who is walking rightly with God.

That even though you are facing the injustice of man, even though you you are in a place where all the odds are against you, God is the one coming back as a This is God. If you have to go, it's God. And I wonder if we have the same understanding of God, especially

when

we are experiencing what David might be experiencing. Do I really believe that God is the one who's taking it away from me? Do I really believe that it is God who's stopping me? Do I really believe it's God who's closing the door? Do I really believe that it is God who is determining every step that I take, whether I'm aware of his supernatural intervention or not?

If you don't believe that, you will know much more weight to those seasons that are burdensome. You will know much more heaviness that can be lightened by a simple understanding that it's the Lord who sends you. I believe if Christians understood that they would need a lot less counseling sessions. I believe that. There'd be a lot less tears being shed.

There'd be a lot less sleepless nights. There'll be a lot less questions and doubts. If I really believe that God is providential over my existence, then bring 10 souls in my life. God is gonna control each of them. And he's gonna use them for my sanctification and for his glory.

But look at David's example. He says on the third day in verse 19, go down quickly. What does that mean about David? What does he have to do? What does David have to do while Jonathan seeks an answer?

Wait. Something that we're not good at. Wait. David has to now put everything on pause, and there's nothing like waiting when when the decision that's going to be revealed is gonna determine the rest of your life. This isn't waiting whether he's gonna get accepted to seminary, though that might be stressful.

No. No. No. This is waiting for what is my future gonna look like in every sphere, in every aspect. Where am I gonna live?

What's gonna happen to to my family, my wife? How am I how am I going to am I ever going to worship at the temple again? Am I ever gonna be able to go back to Bethlehem? That's the kind of waiting. So three days, as much as we think it's from Friday to Sunday or Monday morning, three days for David surely would feel like three years.

Three years. It would feel like an eternity, especially when David didn't have the luxury to stay in the royal suite with his wife. Because you come here in verse 24 and you realize where he's waiting. So David hid himself in the field. That's where he's waiting for three days.

In some forest, in some desert land, a rock became his pillow for three nights, and he would wait wondering. I wonder if he prayed during that time. I'm sure he did. And I look at this and I can't help but smile. You know why I can smile?

Because I see that God is willing to make his most faithful and devoted servants wait. And not just wait for an answer, but be uncomfortable while you're waiting. This is why you and I are studying the Old Testament. We're not studying the Old Testament merely to find theology or to see the lineage of how the Messiah came through the nation of Israel or to to see prophecies of Christ. Although we study all things in light of looking for Christ.

But we just heard it earlier. I can come to the Old Testament simply to be encouraged. This is why we're getting familiar with God's ways because life is real. Life isn't just sermons. Life isn't just going to conferences.

Life is real. There's actual episodes that happen. There there's suffering. There's there's things that we need to do that are that are very earthly and real. And because of that, we need to come and see, oh, look.

God actually makes his servants wait. And and sometimes, if not all times, the waiting is not comfortable. If he's willing to do it for the man who would become the next king of Israel, who would be the example for all kings of what to emulate, and surely, he's gonna make me wait. Surely, I can't come and huff and puff if God doesn't answer my prayers the night I pray them. Surely, if I feel fidgety and surely, if I if I don't like the fact that I've been in this season for a while, whether it's singleness or jobless or whatever it is, surely it's not because God doesn't love me, He made David wait.

So God's silence and no matter is a sign of his displeasure with us. David would wait. And then we read in verse 24, he hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. The king sat on his seat as at other times on the seat by the wall.

I wonder why he sat by the wall. Probably to protect himself from David. He sat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Amner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty. And you can imagine the suspense of reading this.

Right? This is the moment that we've been waiting for. This is now going to reveal if Saul is gonna expose himself to Jonathan, if if Jonathan's gonna be confirmed, if he's gonna feel as though he's now totally convinced that what David was saying is true, this is it. But before we come to the revelation of Saul's heart, there's so many things leading up to it that has so much benefit to us. This is some type of feast that is obviously religious.

It's a new moon feast. And the reason why we know that it is religious in nature, because in verse 26, we read it, yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely, he is not clean. And so we know in the Old Testament, we know, especially in Leviticus, that if there was something that you've done, whether you touched that body or there was relations between you and your spouse, you would be considered unclean.

And oftentimes it would be just for a day. You'd be disqualified from participating in certain religious feasts and festivals and observances. And so in Saul's mind, he's thinking David must must have went to a funeral or something, and so that's why he's not here. So we know that this is a spiritually motivated feast. Right?

So what does that say about Saul? If this new moon thing is is an observance to somewhat recognize God and celebrate God, what does that reveal about Saul? Well, he's in attendance. He's sitting there. Not just that, he's actually participating.

He's eating. Guess what? It doesn't mean a thing about his spirituality. The guy's a hypocrite. The guy's a pure hypocrite.

You know what I read here? I read that you can have people attend a worship service, sing, pray, serve, and be just like Saul, filled with jealousy, envy, and murderous rage. Think about this. This man is sitting at the table. He's there.

Maybe he's even saying some things. We don't know. It's not recorded. He's certainly participating in the meal. And I read here that just because one's presence in a religious setting does not indicate that the presence of Christ is ruling in their hearts.

And Saul, again, is not just present, he's actually involved. Nevertheless, it adds no validity to his spiritual condition. This scenario is no different today. You know it very well, I'm sure. The longer you stay in church, the more you realize that there are a lot of people like Saul.

That they just they're there, and they're they're maybe even frequently present. They observe all things, but inside, they're dead. Inside, they're filled with vices. They're filled with creepy things. They're filled with cobwebs and lifelessness.

So what does it mean to be present in a religious gathering just like this tonight? Very little. Very little. In fact, I was thinking about Judas. I don't know why Judas has been on my mind for these past few weeks.

And the thing that keeps ringing in my mind, that keeps replaying was, like, this man served in the greatest ministry known to mankind. And this man could claim a close proximity to Christ unlike any other, and yet he was still damned to hell. He was still he's in hell. The guy is in hell, and he saw not just saw miracles, he performed miracles. We're gonna be shocked at the judgment seat of Christ.

I'm telling you, we are going to be shocked. He was there. He was there. And at the same religious gathering, he's about to try to assassinate his own son. It's incredible.

It's like mind boggling. But on the second day in verse 27, but on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan, his son, why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal either yesterday or today? Either yesterday or today. So one day passed by, and he could justify it.

One day passed by, and he he even went to the law to try to make sense of it. David isn't here. I mean, think about this. You actually are expecting the presence of David after you try to kill them more than once. Like, how delusional can you be?

But that's what pride does. It makes you the center of the universe. And so this man thinks, where's David? Now the second die, he's supposed to be on the clear. He's supposed to be cleansed.

He's supposed to be at this feast. He's supposed to be here at this table. David doesn't show up. There's no excuse in Saul's mind, and so now he interrogates Jonathan and he asked him, hey, where was yesterday and where is he today? Have you noticed the wording of his question though?

What stands out when he talks to Jonathan? What stands out about his question? Anybody see it? He doesn't say David. Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal?

This guy is just getting worse and worse and worse. You know what's happening? His jealousy has reached such a feverish pitch that he could not even mention David's name. This guy was so eaten up by envy that he could not even utter David's identity and instead refers him to the son of Jesse. Now we think that's far fetched, but that is one of the strongest marks of stage four envy and stage four unforgiveness.

Here's how it could be real in our lives today. You can be in a group, and somebody mentions a name of somebody that you either have bitterness towards, and just the mention of their name can erupt volcanic emotions. Volcanic emotions. Just a rush of anger, just a rush of bitterness. And so this man is he's headed towards trouble, And now it's manifesting.

It's it's so clear. It's so obvious. He can't even refer to him by his name. And it's not just because he's jealous, not just because he can't stand David. It's because he's, in a sense, belittling him.

He's almost saying, who is or where is this son of a nobody? He's not connected to the royal line. He doesn't even want to entertain that thought. Where is nobody? That's what he's trying to say.

And Jonathan, in this moment, probably, I wonder how he respond. I wonder what that look on his face was. Because at this point, it wasn't enough to know whether or not Saul was bent on killing David. So he takes advantage of this moment. He seizes the opportunity.

And he presents what him and David had planned. He presents the scenario. He releases the bait to see how is Saul going to respond. And this is a reminder that David convinced a godly man to not tell the truth. David, you didn't have to come up with a lie to expose Saul.

Saul had enough evil in his heart to expose himself. But he he does go with it, and he gets the desired goal. But just a simple reminder that just because something is achieved through the means of sin doesn't justify the sin. Jonathan verse 28 answered Saul, David earnestly asked, leave of me to go to Bethlehem. He said, let me go for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there.

So now if I found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers. For this reason, he has not come to the king's table. So the bait has been cast. It's there before Saul, and I am very, very, very confident that Jonathan was not expecting what was about to shoot out of his dad's mouth. Verse 30.

Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, you son of a perverse rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness. For as long as the son of Jesse, there it is again, can't say his name, lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die. And I can just imagine the forks dropping, the music cutting off, the food stop being chewed in people's mouths as Saul erupts at a religious gathering. What do you take out of these answers?

There's so much. There's so much in Saul's word that reveals

Yeah.

Very great observation. This this this emotional thing, this thing of jealousy, who knew how far it would go? It's not just now between him and David, it's affecting his son. He's now insulting his own wife publicly. He's he's dishonoring his own wife at a religious gathering with deplorable words.

Who would have thought that someone's personal hidden sin would have such extensive consequences? Yes. Great observation. Anything else?

He saw right through his son's lie. He saw right through so the lie didn't really help anyway. He saw right through

He saw right through so the lie didn't really help. Didn't even help anyway, because Saul read it for what it was. Yes, absolutely. Sure. Sure.

So now he he's really emphasizing the the threat that David carries as as obviously God's anointed one, and he is trying to hammer that in his son's head, which is amazing because it doesn't move Jonathan at all. Yes. Right. Absolutely. So he's really now becoming reckless, and he's becoming very dangerous in his behavior.

Yes. Yes.

That's why I referred to him as

the son of Jesse and referred to his son as the son of an adulterous woman

or a

periscuous woman. So now that's a great observation. Now he's now he's cutting off all ties because sin erodes. It it it eats up anything that's good in life. Anything that's holy and precious that that God would consider a gift, sin has has no limit in destroying these things.

And and when I read this about how he refers to Jonathan, he says, you son of a perverse and rebellion rebellious woman. The irony. If he's the son of anything, he's the son of a perverse and rebellious man.

Your wife. I read that

I thought, maybe this is an indication that things were not really good in Saul's marriage. Maybe this is an indication that things weren't even good between him and his own wife. So he had no problem just smearing her and just using her as a means to injure his own son and even harm her her name and her reputation in front of all these people. Think about this. This man is destroying absolutely everything in his life, and he's just digging himself deeper into this.

And I look at I look at Jonathan, and I hear this insult, and it's even more than just insulting his wife, insulting his mother. You know what he's trying to say here? What is he saying by saying, you son of a perverse and rebellious woman? What is he trying to essentially say? You're not my son.

You're not mine. You must be your mom must have got with another guy and had you because he's calling his mom a harlot. Perverse and rebellious woman. Who's your dad? Because my son wouldn't betray me like how you're betraying me.

Do you feel the weight of it now? You know, I've sat with people, not in this setting, but in different places, who have still felt the wounds, people who have been physically abused by their parents, and they've told me the physical physical abuse meant nothing in comparison to being told you're no longer my daughter. This is painful. Let's let's let's feel this. Let's not just read it as a comment.

Let's read let's feel it. You're not my son. Because my son wouldn't do what you're doing, Jonathan. You're gonna stand for this son of Jesse against your own dad? Your mom must have slept somebody and brought you into the world.

Are we ready to be disowned for our faith? Because this is this is the principle. Jonathan is gonna come to a crossroads. He's already set up he's already made up his mind, but he's gonna come to a crossroads where he's gonna really have to make a decision now because his relationship with his dad is hanging by a thread.

It's hanging by a thread.

All for what? For one simple reason. He's standing for the truth. And his dad is challenging him. And and notice he calls him rebellious.

What's so confusing about that? Who's really the rebellious one in comparison between Saul and Jonathan? I think we know the answer to that. But sin has a way of warping our judgment. Blinding us.

And and and Saul was so blinded to his own sin and his own character flaw and his own disobedience that he was he was with apparently a clear conscience able to label the one who's actually standing for truth as a rebel. You're the rebel. And so here's another principle. Are you willing? Are you ready to be labeled as evil for standing for the truth?

Because that's what he's enduring now. You can feel the heat of this moment now. Here's a man who's essentially saying, are you my son or not? Who's being called a rebel. And that was just it was more than just a comment.

He's saying, are you a rebel to this kingdom? Are you part of are you part of the plan to overthrow me?

Decision.

And he does make a decision in verse 32. Then Jonathan answered Saul, his father, why should he be put to death? What has he done? He made his choice right there. And up to this point, as difficult as it was to make a decision to stand by David, this was, this was the the the crossroads.

And God will find ways to test our faith when we have to stand for truth when it comes to the price tag. May God give us a boldness and a courage to stand for Christ when there's a price attached to it. And what's amazing here in verse 31, for as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. So he's he's trying to express some kind of concern about Jonathan's future and David being a threat to that. He's like, hey.

Don't you see what this what this kid is gonna do? Your posterity is at risk. Your position is at risk. Your future is at risk. Your dynasty is at risk.

You're gonna just give it all up for the son of Jesse? And so you can see how this is trickery. This is manipulation. Saul is trying to persuade Jonathan by highlighting his own benefit, future and his own well-being. Here's the thing.

You can't tempt a man like Jonathan with fame, with security, with prominence, even with a palace when you've already been sold out to God's purposes. Jonathan, he doesn't even entertain the thought because Jonathan, as we've learned from chapter 18, when he disrobed himself and placed his weapon and his all these things into the hands of of David, he already made a statement and that statement was this, I'm surrendered to the program that God has ordained for my life. And if in God's providence and in his planning, I'm not supposed to be king, but you're supposed to be king, then I would joy submit to that. It's very difficult to tempt a man or a woman who is completely sold out to the purposes of God, even if it is at his own expense. Even if the whole world can be offered to him as Satan tempted Jesus, when your heart is convinced to please your master whatever it demands of you, Satan has very little to work with.

And that's what he's showing here. Quick question. Do you believe that Saul was actually concerned about Jonathan's future? Is this a dad who wants to make sure that his his son has a ministry and his son has has something to look forward to? Is that is that what's happening here?

Is Saul being a good dad here and he's just being cautious? No. Why? We have so much already up to this point in our study in first Samuel to give us reason to believe that Saul has proven over and over that he's very very little concerned about others and very much concerned about himself. Proof.

Remember when we saw David excuse me, Jonathan overtake that garrison of the Philistines in first Samuel 13? Who took the credit for that? Saul. Saul. His son accomplished a great thing, and he wanted to take credit for himself.

Now never mind other chapters. How do we know in this very same chapter, the same context that Saul could care less about his son's future, and it was all about his name and his reputation and the monument that he set up. Look at verse 33. But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. Interesting.

So you're concerned about your son being the king, and in the next move, you're ready to pin him against his chair with a spear. Good job, Saul. Very simple illustration of a principle that you and I have heard all our lives that your words and my words do not mean much if our actions contradict. Right? Saul claims one thing, he behaves in another.

Saul professes one thing, and his behavior proves another. The language of love in the Christian faith is spoken by acts of service and sacrifice. Even our love to God, no matter how much we profess it. If one says, I love God but hate his brother. John says, He's a liar.

I want you to be king. And in the next breath, he takes a spear, and he uses that breath to try to kill his son. Your words mean so much, Saul. I read that, and I was convicted. When I say to somebody, I love you, do I really mean I love you?

Like, what do I mean by that? I love you, brother. What do I mean by that? When I say when I say I'm here for you, what do I mean? When I say, this one's gonna hurt.

When I say, I'm gonna pray for you. Like these things just slip out of our mouths, you know. I'll pray for you. A simple but necessary point about our actions being the determining factor of the worth and the validity of our claims. The determining factor of the worth and the validity of our claims.

I want you to be king. I'm protecting your dynasty. And so this spear is hurled at him, and we read, so Jonathan in that same verse knew that his father was determined to put David to death. This guy is willing to kill his own son. Why would I have it any trouble to believe that he's willing to kill a farmer, boy?

David was right. David was right. Now, this is incredible. In verse 34, you read about Jonathan again. You read about Jonathan again, and you see something.

Listen. When I say Jonathan, I I hope I hope you and I have studied this man enough to realize that he is a great great portrait of selflessness, of death to self. Right? If God made you king though, politically, I'm supposed to be king, it's yours. If I have to stand for truth, even though I have to face the fury of my father, then I will stand for truth.

Like, this guy this guy is dead to himself. And now we go even deeper into his heart, the Holy Spirit allows us to go even further into this man's soul to see that he's really, really dead to himself. And in a beautiful way, we see it in verse 34. And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger. Yeah.

No kidding. You just called my mom a prostitute. You just said I'm not your son. You just threw a spear at me. Is that why he was angry?

No. Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month for he was grieved for David. For he was grieved for David because his father has disgraced him. Can you be consumed with such a love for another person that even though you yourself are enduring pain and hurt that's being hurled at you, you are so unconcerned about you because there's somebody else who is undergoing shame and disgrace and injustice. It's possible.

It's possible to be so dead to self that when it comes to insults towards you, like a corpse, you're unshaken. But when it comes to somebody else, you're broken. And this is not just an illustration of what our love should look like for one another as members of the body of Christ. I believe this is an illustration of what Christ demands from us concerning our love for him. What do I mean by that?

That we should be so alive in Christ that when it comes to his name being blasphemed and his name being smeared in the dirt and his name being contradicted by the character of Christians and maybe even our own lives, that it would it would break us. And it would even cause what the psalmist said, a righteous indignation because they have broken your law. But as much as we might be alive to Christ, that we would we would be so sensitive to these things. So sensitive that even when you go to that game and people are using God's name in vain, you would cringe. When you thought you're watching something innocent and somebody takes the name of Jesus Christ as a cuss word, as an expression of frustration, it would burn in your bosom.

So alive in Christ in such a way, but so dead to self that if people spat in your face, it's like you spat on a dead man. Jonathan. What a man. Makes you wonder why he didn't become king. I mean, we somebody made this beautiful illustration with Jonathan and David.

Jonathan was just as much as a man of God than David was. So so why did God choose David? Because that's his sovereignty. David, even up to me, I would not be concerned about me. Paul had a disciple like that.

Paul had a man named Timothy, and I love this verse. It has stuck with me ever since I read it, and I can't shake it off because it just made an impression on my soul. You don't have to turn that, but just listen to these words. He writes to the Philippians, and he says in Philippians two twenty, for I have no one like him, Timothy, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. Why?

Verse 21. For they all seek their own interest, not those of Jesus Christ. They Timothy is unique. Why is Timothy unique? Not because he's a great order, not because not because he's a theologian, because the man's interest moment, he thought about one person, David.

He thought about one person, his friend. Oh, that Christ would fill us with such a love for one another and for him. So what happens? Verse 35. In the morning, Jonathan went out to the field to the appointment with David and with him a little boy.

Now this is what I'm gonna do, the remainder of the study. This portion of the text is so beautifully written. It's so detailed. It's so colorful that as I read it, I don't have a doubt that you're gonna begin to envision it in your mind. You're gonna actually see it play out.

So let me just read it. I'm not gonna interrupt. And just just let your mind, let a holy imagination now come to life, and then we'll talk about a few points. Appointment with David, and with him a little boy. And he said to this to his boy, run and find the arrows that I shoot.

As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him, and he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city, and the curtain closes. Precious. Beautiful. So many things. So many things to learn, but just a few to consider tonight.

First, did you notice that there is an interesting segment dedicated to Jonathan and this little boy? Question. Why this whole thing played out. He brought this little boy, and this little boy went, and he followed the arrow when he came. He says, no, no, no.

Come on. Let's go. Let's get moving. And he comes and says, you know, in the wisdom of Christ. We don't think that even obeying the Lord will bring about the best outcome, and yet still he is worthy of our obedience.

And and yet still he is worthy of our obedience. It says here that this boy obeyed his master. And it's really the simplicity of the Christian life. Have God's word, have God's instructions in all seasons. If you ever are doubting the will of God for your life, realize that no matter what the particulars you were asking for, the will of God has been revealed to you.

It's here. And here's the simplicity of this illustration. It's really the simplicity of the Christian life. Trust and obey for there's no other way but to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. Just like this childlike faith.

Right? He didn't ask questions. You think this little boy went to Jonathan? Why are you shooting arrows and me picking it up? Target practice?

You would need to shoot more arrows. I don't understand. And and then now you brought me all the way up to this field, and now you want me to pick up one arrow, and then you want me to go all the way back to the city. That's not that's not childlike faith. I don't understand, Lord, how this command is gonna help me in this situation.

In fact, I think it's gonna get me in more trouble. But I'm gonna trust you. If you want me to be an honest believer, then I'll be an honest believer, and I'll be truthful in this situation. Do you see? Simple so let's look at it the other side.

You and I as friends, you and I as gospel folk, to one another, we are called to to be correctors, to be rebukers, to be instructors, right, in love and in patience and with with great caution. And we are to be to this outside world truth tellers. We are not supposed to withhold the truth. We don't just emphasize on the good. We we don't even have good news if we don't first have bad news.

But on the flip side, How much do we value those in our lives that are willing to call us out if we need to be called out? Wound us more than the kiss of an enemy? Great humility and integrity. When he sees Jonathan deliver this message, he respects him. He bows to him.

He honors him. And we must be the same to those who speak into our lives truth. And I don't think that everybody has the right to speak into our lives, by the way. I don't. Because not everybody has the best intention in mind for you.

There are some people who wanna criticize you to to cripple you. I'm not saying be naive and let anybody just say what they want in your life. No. By the discernment of the spirit, be be very prayerful of inviting people into your life that will, in love, and you know in love, will will say what they need to say even if it hurts to build you up. David honored.

He honored Jonathan. And after this, they embrace, and in good fashion, Middle Eastern style, they kiss each other, and they weep. They weep. David weeps more. Obviously.

Jonathan's gonna get get to go back to the city. Jonathan's gonna go see his other friends. Jonathan's gonna go to his warm bed. Jonathan's gonna be able to be part of the army still. David?

He's not gonna be able to see his wife. He actually has to go fetch his family to leave Bethlehem because he's scared for their safety. He's gonna have to walk in the desert night thinking, I thought I was supposed to be the king. How is this how is this work? So he weeps more.

Can I be honest with you? When I read that, I got angry. Because I I see this. I see Jonathan and David embracing each other weeping, weeping, weeping, and all I could think and saying, this is Saul's fault. And I believe we need to be more angry about sin.

I don't think Christians are angry enough, not about people, talking about sin, the destructive nature about sin. I believe if we were if we had that anger more real in our lives, we wouldn't tolerate it so easily in our lives. Jesus Christ was anointed with the oil of gladness not just because he loved righteousness, but because he hated wickedness. We just think Jesus was just he just loves, and when anything wrong happened, he just don't do that, no. He hated wickedness.

He hated wickedness so much that he shed his blood because of it. Sin shatters. It breaks. It destroys. And we see a picture of it here, destroying a friendship, destroying family, destroying something that could have been so beautiful.

Be careful not to be angry at people because people are not our enemies. Sin and Satan are enemies. Jonathan, after weeping, heaving maybe, puts David aside, holds him by the shoulders, and he says these three wonderful words that should not be surprising coming from a man of God. After David is weeping and maybe Jonathan collected himself earlier and David's still weeping, he says in verse 42, go in peace. Go in peace, David.

I know this hurts. I know this is painful. I know you didn't expect this. But Remember what I said earlier? The Lord is sending you away.

And he says, go in peace because he reminds him of the covenant that they made in the name of the Lord. He reminds him that his future is secure. He reminds him, in essence, indirectly, that jealous of it, as in Saul's case. We end on a sad note, but we end also on a hopeful note. Go in peace.

David could go into that bleak, lifeless wilderness in Israel knowing that the Lord had sent them there. And you and I can have great confidence tonight that wherever we are in this moment, if you are walking with God, no matter what man has done to cause it, no matter what kind of family dysfunction you're trying to deal with, no matter what it is in your life, God is sovereign. And what he's gonna put David through is absolutely necessary before he becomes king. You think God is, you think God is just reacting to Saul? You think God's going, you know what?

I really was I was really having David to stay in the palace this whole time, so let's just figure out another plan. No. God ordained it. God ordained it. And this would do nothing but good to David, as we're about to find out in the weeks ahead.

Cherish this Bible study because in this season, in this month of the year, we're gonna be focusing on the incarnation of Christ. So keep this fresh in your hearts before we return to this Bible study. Let's pray and ask God to do that. Lori, thank you glorious story filled with sanctifying truths. Lord, as we've concluded our study of Jonathan in great detail, we thank you for this real person who who illustrates so much of the potential of the man set apart for God.

And Lord, if Jonathan is an example of anything surely tonight, Lord, he's an example of the devotion and the sacrifice that is required of us in light of the son of David, Christ Jesus himself. We ask, oh, God, that those who would blaspheme his name would hurt us more than if they have blasphemed our name. If they have tarnished our name, it would not mean anything in comparison to your glorious glorious name. We ask, oh, God, that we would have that fiery devotion that even if, and God forbid, we have to stand against the most lovely people in our lives, the closest people to our lives, We will choose peace with Christ over peace with man. Lord, we pray that as we've learned so much about friendship that it wouldn't just stir our minds or our hearts.

It wouldn't be just good fresh insights. Lord, make it real in our lives to love each other with such a selfless concern that people's pain would be our pain, and people's distress would be our distress, That people's hunger would be our hunger. Their need would be our need. Inspire that in our hearts by the Spirit of God. We can't do it.

Lord, we confess we will fail at this. Leave us to ourselves, Lord, and we will be consumed with ourselves. But do a work in us. For those in this place, Lord Jesus, who are enduring suffering, the injustice of man, pain in family, even the hurtful words of those that are supposed to spring forth life. We just pray that this would serve as a motivation to remain holy.

Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. We leave it to you. We will not rob you. We will not steal from you. And tonight, not only is vengeance yours, all the glory is yours.

And we wanna give you glory tonight because your word is life, and you have supplied life into our souls tonight in a fresh way. We give you maximum praise. We give you all the honor and all the glory in this house of your word, the bread of life. Be blessed by our worship as we respond to these truths and we say, I surrender and I give myself to your purposes no matter what is demanded of me to make it so. In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.