1 Samuel 17 (David meets Goliath)
1 Samuel 17:45-47 ESV
1 Samuel 18:1-4 ESV
1 Samuel 20:13-17 ESV
1 Samuel 23:17 (Jonathan knew David would be next king of Israel)
2 Samuel 1:26 ESV
A Story of Love Series
In 1 Samuel 17, David the Shepherd boy, the son of Jesse had gone to the battlefield to deliver food to his two oldest brothers and while he was there the giant Goliath of Gath was there challenging any man in King Saul’s camp to fight him. Goliath even said that if anyone could kill him, the Philistines would serve Israel.
David, the boy told his brothers this man Goliath should not try to stand up to the armies of the living God. Word got back to Saul and the king sent for him. Saul told David he was no match for Goliath. In response, David told the king he had killed a lion and he had killed a bear and the Living God would deliver him from the hand of Goliath the Philistine.
So, Saul gave him a suit of armor. David put it on, but it was so big he couldn’t walk in it, so he took it off.
Then David took his staff and his slingshot and he carefully selected five smooth stones and he went out to face Goliath.
Well…you can imagine the giant’s reaction. The Philistine cursed David, the shepherd boy.
Then David said to Goliath, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hand” (1 Samuel 17:45-47).
THEN David selected a stone and shot it right into Goliath’s forehead and he fell to the ground with a thud. And David did everything he promised he would do because he did it in the name of the God of Israel.
When Saul saw what David did, he wanted to know to who this David really was…so the king sent for David the shepherd boy and he found out he was the son of Jesse of Bethlehem.
1 Samuel 18:1-4 tells us, “As soon as he (David) 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.”
When David was obedient to God and was willing to fight for God, one of the greatest friendships and love story in scripture started that very day.
Jonathan, son of King Saul was so taken by David, the shepherd boy that he loved him instantly. King Saul was so impressed with David that he took him to the palace to live. He didn’t even let David return home.
That very day, Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him. Then Jonathan bestowed a great honor on David by giving him his own robe, his armor, his sword, his bow, and his belt. Those items that he gave to David were his most prized possessions!
The bond that started that day between Jonathan and David progressed and was strengthened when David moved into the palace.
Soon however, a serious problem arose. Saul realized everyone looked up to David and he became jealous of him. Saul even tried to kill David.
In 1 Samuel 20:13-17 we learn that Jonathan loved David so much he was willing to go to great lengths to protect him. Jonathan told David, “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. If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; and do not cut off 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.” And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies.” And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.”
Jonathan was so intent on protecting David from his own father that he made a solemn covenant with the house of David to protect his beloved friend!
In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan promised he would protect David from his father, King Saul. Even though Jonathan was next in line to the throne as Saul’s son, he agreed near the end that David would be King of Israel and he would be next to him. He promised once again that Saul would not find him (1 Samuel 23:17). David was betrayed, but never by Jonathan.
We read in 2 Samuel 1:26 when David heard of Jonathan’s death he said, “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.”
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Love a Friend
Tell a dear friend today that you love them.
In God, Deborah
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