Category: Scripture

Jonathan 4.6.24

Grab your Bibles and let’s go deeper into 1 Samuel and the life of Jonathan. 

We start out this week with the garrison of the Philistines encamped at Mikmash while the army of Israel, under Saul, are hiding in caves. The garrison of the Philistines is protected on three sides by sharp (literally, toothy) rock. Saul has 600 men with him. We see again how the lack of Saul’s faith in God leads him to ungodly behavior. This is in great contrast to his son, Jonathan. Praise God for His work in Jonathan that he did not follow in Saul’s footsteps. Even if we are godly, there are things that we do not want our children to follow us in doing. Jonathan was godly. He did everything for God’s glory and trusted in His name. Saul did everything to protect his own power and authority. 

Jonathan proceeds to sneak away from camp with his armor bearer (squire) with him, not telling anyone else. Jonathan knows his father would prevent him from doing this. 

1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” 

First, by calling them “uncircumcised”, Jonathan is saying these are not people that are part of the Covenant. They are not God’s Covenant people. 

See the final sentence from the verse “nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” This is Jonathan’s faith coming out. This is like David’s statement against Goliath, “I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.” The continued trust in YHWH is shown in verse 10, “But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.”

As we continue, we see that the Philistines mock Jonathan and his armor bearer (1 Samuel 14:11-12). They allow them to come up, then Jonathan and his armor bearer set to work. They kill 20 men, one right after another, in their first surge. Half a furrow is half a row that oxen could plow in a field. The idea is that it is a very short distance. Jonathan and his squire route that garrison. We read that the rest of the Philistines started shaking like leaves and ran. The Philistines’ fleeing is noticed by Israel and they do a headcount and realize Jonathan is missing; they then proceed to chase the Philistines. This is an amazing story; the obedience of one man saves many. 

Jonathan was obedient to God and conquered the Philistines’ garrison. This points us to Jesus who was also obedient. Romans tells us through one man’s disobedience sin entered the world, and through one man’s [Jesus’] obedience the many will be made righteous. Jonathan’s faith foreshadows Jesus’ perfect faith. We are to trust in Christ as the payment for our sin.

Humble Yourself for the Good of Others and the Glory of God

Second, Jonathan’s submission to the plan of God is dethroning. This is one of the great narratives (historic story) in Scripture. Jonathan and David were best friends—their hearts (souls–innermost being) were knit together in love. Understand, that this is a brotherly love at its best. This is not a sinful, homosexual, nor an off-color relationship. It is a description of two men who have something very deep in common and have bonded in a very God-honoring way.

1 Samuel 18:1-4 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

Jonathan was the son of Saul, the king of Israel. He was next in line to be the king of Israel. What makes this exchange so amazing is the fact that we essentially see Jonathan giving up his birthright to David. They covenanted together. Covenants are made based on trustworthy relationships, and they are made before God. A covenant should not ever be broken for any reason. For example, the covenant of marriage is only completed by death. 

Jonathan shows sacrificial love and great humble submission as he takes off his earthly vestments, his robe (signifying importance) and takes off his armor. This is saying, “you are more important than I am; I will lay down my life for your protection.” His sword is a representation of his duty to administer justice, and the bow is a representation of provision of food. Jonathan gives up the throne, willingly! Jonathan gives David the means to defend, rule, and provide. These are not some extra items—this is HIS armor, HIS sword and HIS bow. Now, realize, that the text doesn’t tell us that Jonathan knows David is anointed by Samuel to be the next king. Jonathan bows and submits himself to the plan of God which, literally, is giving up his throne. How many of us would be humble enough to see this through and not fight and argue if God called us to this? What a testimony in that Jonathan did not prize these things or this lifetime position above God’s plan. 

1 Samuel 18:3-4 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

It is a symbolic gesture saying, “I give up my glory to you. I make myself nothing that you might become something. I become poor that you might become rich. I become a nobody that you might become a somebody.”

Do you see what he is doing? The less kingly he acts, the more like a king he becomes. 

So, how do we move from me-centered to other-centered, from vain, selfish, and prideful to serving, loving, and humble?

There is one who can clearly show us, inspire us, and make it possible for us to be humble. Jesus!

Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

To kill the poison of pride, we have to embrace a life in humility; this is only attainable if we are healed and redefined by Jesus!

Listen closely, because this is the good news for us today! We talked earlier about the popular Secular, self-esteem that we run after in sin. There is a Gospel self-esteem. We only have this esteem in Christ!

Jesus gave up His esteem in order to give you and me a lasting esteem. It’s what we have spent our entire lives running from—the sense of not being noticed, the possibility of not getting picked, the horrible feeling of not being loved. Jesus, instead of running from these things, ran straight toward them!

The only way to look away from self, so that you can truly look towards others, is to first look to Jesus! The good news is God humbled Himself to put on flesh and walk among us, to be ridiculed by us, to be picked on. Because of His humility, He didn’t stand up and level them with His truth. His mission was to free them with His sacrifice. 

Jesus humbled Himself to death so we could finally be humbled in the gift of life! 

How can you and I be liberated from the dominating power of the world’s empty definitions of greatness? Jesus.

How can you and I experience the lasting joy of being fully known and still fully loved? Jesus.

How can you and I experience the satisfaction of Christ’s definition of who we are and no longer long the world’s definitions that never leave us satisfied? Jesus!

Jesus is the true Jonathan who took off His robe that was rightfully His as put it on us, so that we might have lasting life; so that we might have lasting joy. 

Everything that you and I stand to gain is because of what Jesus gave up. 

In response to this, Saul gets mad at Jonathan and tells him, he is giving up the kingdom. Jonathan doesn’t let things, positions, or power get in the way of his relationship with his God. If you reread the passages and look for the ways Jonathan trusted and humbly submitting himself to God, you will be blessed. Even in the attack on the garrison, Jonathan had no guarantee he would live, but he willingly pressed on to fulfill God’s plan to extend the kingdom according to the promises of Old Testament Israel. 

If we were next-in-line to be king, would we willing give up that plan for God’s plan, stepping aside to let someone else be king and have authority, wealth, and power? To spend our lives in obscurity is often more challenging than to go out in a blaze for God’s glory. Would we forsake our lives to extend the kingdom of God? Are we willing to serve Him in any capacity: scrubbing toilets, picking up trash, giving up the American dream, packing up and going to a foreign country, giving up hobbies to spend time discipling our kids? Are we willing to dethrone ourselves and our plans for the plan of God? 

Jonathan’s and David’s relationship is an example of what a godly friendship looks like. Each person trusts the other. Each knows the other has his best interest in mind, humbly submitting to one another, trusting each other for advice, supporting each other to do the plan of God even to the point of denying oneself benefits and pleasures. How many of us have someone we trust like this—that we would willing submit to, listen to, forsake pleasures for their greatness, like-minded in our faith, pushing one another in a closer walk with God?

Legacy Influences Others After You’re Gone

In the text this week, we read that Jonathan was killed in battle along with his three brothers. This is important for us to understand. God took Jonathans life, opening the way for David to fulfill his role. In 2 Samuel 9:1-9, we see the legacy of Jonathan. David brings the only living heir, who was crippled, to live in the house of the king and provide for him. Jonathan’s legacy was powerful. He was a mighty warrior; he was son to the king; he was a trustworthy friend. The most powerful part of Jonathan’s legacy is the fact that he was a man that followed after God. Jonathan submitted, willingly, to the plan of God—trusting in God’s sovereign plan and not in the results he desired, not in what he could gain, nor in fame. In life, and in death, Jonathan was obedient to God. 

What kind of legacy are you leaving? Are you a parent like Saul? Are you an obedient servant like Jonathan? Are you seeking the kingdom of God first? Are you trusting, by faith, in the promises of God? Are you following in the little things, the minor stuff? These are the building blocks of great faith. Are you willing to dethrone yourself? 

What little patterns of faith are you establishing in your own life. Faith is shown by obedience. We see how Jonathan was obedient. How are you being obedient? God tells us, “If you love me you will keep my commandants.” Are you doing this—loving the Lord your God above everything, loving your neighbor as yourself, loving your wife, training up your children in the word, reading and studying the word? These are the little things. Spend some time this week evaluating the little things in your life and asking yourself if you are being faithful to God in them? 

By His grace and for His glory

Joshua “Shepherd” Kirstine

Soldiers For Jesus MC

Chaplain Council

SFJbible.com

1 Samuel 31:1-13

The Death of Saul

31:1 Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. 2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. 5 And when his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell upon his sword and died with him. 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. 7 And when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those beyond the Jordan saw that the men of Israel had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. And the Philistines came and lived in them.

8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan. 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

(ESV)

1 Samuel 20:1-42

Jonathan Warns David

20:1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” 2 And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” 3 But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” 4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” 5 David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. 6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.’ 7 If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him. 8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the LORD with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?” 9 And Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?” 10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?” 11 And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.” So they both went out into the field.

12 And Jonathan said to David, “The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness!¹ When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13 But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. 14 If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die; 15 and do not cut off² your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May³ the LORD take vengeance on David’s enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap.⁴ 20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And behold, 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. 22 But if I say to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the LORD has sent you away. 23 And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever.”

24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite,⁵ and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty.

26 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.” 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?” 28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 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 have 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.”

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? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

35 In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy. 36 And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” 38 And Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!” So Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39 But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.” 41 And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap⁶ and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.⁷

Footnotes

[1] 20:12 Hebrew lacks be witness

[2] 20:15 Or but if I die, do not cut off

[3] 20:16 Septuagint earth, 16let not the name of Jonathan be cut off from the house of David. And may

[4] 20:19 Septuagint; Hebrew the stone Ezel

[5] 20:25 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew stood up

[6] 20:41 Septuagint; Hebrew from beside the south

[7] 20:42 This sentence is 21:1 in Hebrew

(ESV)

1 Samuel 18:1-16

David and Jonathan’s Friendship

18:1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

Saul’s Jealousy of David

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.¹ 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated,

  “Saul has struck down his thousands,
    and David his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

12 Saul was afraid of David because the LORD was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the LORD was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

Footnotes

[1] 18:6 Or triangles, or three-stringed instruments

(ESV)

1 Samuel 14:24-46

Saul’s Rash Vow

24 And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies.” So none of the people had tasted food. 25 Now when all the people¹ came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground. 26 And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath, so he put out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes became bright. 28 Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be the man who eats food this day.’” And the people were faint. 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land. See how my eyes have become bright because I tasted a little of this honey. 30 How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the spoil of their enemies that they found. For now the defeat among the Philistines has not been great.”

31 They struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint. 32 The people pounced on the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground. And the people ate them with the blood. 33 Then they told Saul, “Behold, the people are sinning against the LORD by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a great stone to me here.”² 34 And Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people and say to them, ‘Let every man bring his ox or his sheep and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood.’” So every one of the people brought his ox with him that night and they slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first altar that he built to the LORD.

36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave a man of them.” And they said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 And Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day. 38 And Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and know and see how this sin has arisen today. 39 For as the LORD lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But there was not a man among all the people who answered him. 40 Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Therefore Saul said, “O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.”³ And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped. 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” And Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die.” 44 And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.” 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. 46 Then Saul went up from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

Footnotes

[1] 14:25 Hebrew land

[2] 14:33 Septuagint; Hebrew this day

[3] 14:41 Vulgate and Septuagint; Hebrew Therefore Saul said to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Give Thummim.”

(ESV)