Suspicion: Stripped, Sabotage. It just happened.
A simple song is heard by Saul honoring both servants, Saul and David. But the numbers do not match up---one warrior is depicted as more successful. "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?” I Samuel 18:8.
Not only does Saul become jealous, but he takes it a further step---he concocts that David wants his kingdom. Oh God, may we not look at what man accomplishes as the measure of our own success. What would it look like to love someone who looks better than you? What about the flip side of that---what would it look like to love someone who knows we have failed to love them well. 66LL calls it "looking bad in the Presence of Love."
Oh God, help me to keep my eyes fixed on your Kingdom, not on anything down here. May we love well like Jonathan did. What does Love truly look like? Help us to enter a beautiful surrender because we love You, o God, and want to deeply touch those in our path. Nothing out of shame, only out of surrender from glad hearts.
PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Be gracious to us, O God, for we are oppressed people just as David was in trying to escape from the Philistines. "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, Whose Word I praise! What can man doe to me?
BIOGRAPHICAL READING PLAN - Jonathan: I Samuel 18
OVERVIEW: I Samuel 18-20
Jonathan is a good example for us of true friendship. Loyalty, sacrifice, love all were qualities of this friendship.
ReplyDelete1. He certainly could have despised David for taking his "rightful" place on the throne succession.
2. He could have loved David but feared his father more.
3. He could have tried to win the coveted place on the throne by killing mighty David when he had the opportunity.
Jonathan did none of these things. He stood up to his father when his father called for David to be killed. He wasn't jealous of David but loved him.
1. He made a covenant with David.
2. He was loyal to him and to his covenant.
3. He spared David's life when he had opportunity.
4. He cried with David after their close call.
5. The two men clearly loved each other as brothers.
Lord, help our friendships come from a place of humility, of loyalty, of sacrificial love. Help us to encourage each other and not to be jealous over any rivalry, big or small. May we find and show love among our friends in this same sacred way--blessing each other with our presence. Thank you for this example of Jonathan and David. Thank you that with You, sacrificial love is possible. In Jesus's Name. Amen.
Thanks for the friendship reminder, Annette.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful friends the Pearls are!
An online outreach of prayer support, caring and sharing each other's burdens.
Blessings and hope offered each day.
What a gracious gift from God!
Today's post is so timely as I reflect back on four years ago today when I learned for the first time that I had cancer. I remember Annette mailing me an iPod filled with music. I didn't have one. God used that music to carry me through such a difficult time. But more than the externals, God used your friendships to offer me hope. Beautiful Hope. Not that everything would turn out great but a Living Hope that God would come through for me---and He has---and He is. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
ReplyDeleteSo grateful you listened to His call.
ReplyDelete