David's life is beginning to turn around, and it is not for the better. The people of Israel may still see David as a hero, but his life has become one of constantly looking over his shoulder. He never knows where Saul may be lying in wait to kill him, he only knows that he is being pursued. David also knows that anyone who risks his life to help him runs the risk of being killed as well. That happens to the Priest of Nob who were guilty of nothing more than giving David some bread and the sword that belonged to Goliath before David killed him.
David's only friend was the son of his enemy, Saul's son Jonathan. Jonathan saw David through eyes of love and adoration rather than through eyes of jealousy. Jonathan knew that David was chosen by God and that one day David and his descendants would be the ones to rule Israel instead of anyone from his family. All Jonathan asked of David was: "But show me unfailing kindness like that of the LORD as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the LORD has cut off every one of David's enemies from the face of the earth." - 1 Sam. 20:14-15 NIV
Jonathan saw what his father could not see, that God was on David's side and that God would see his purpose through. After David had escaped to Horesh in the Desert of Ziph to hide from Saul, Jonathan sought him out once more, as he had been doing from the early days of their friendship, 'and helped him find strength in God. "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." - 1 Sam. 23:17
Even at the risk of danger to his own life, Jonathan was a faithful friend. David could count on that and on God being by his side. What more could he ask for?
No comments:
Post a Comment