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1 Samuel 19 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Saul has tried everything by this point. He will not be satisfied until David is dead. Saul plotted. God protected. David escaped. Through all of this, Saul never changed. He believed he was fighting David, not God. This is evident when his son Jonathan comes to him and plainly explains the error of his ways. There was no conviction or second thought. Saul made it his goal to end David’s life.
Jonathan’s Predicament
Jonathan had a tough choice to make. Biblically, you could make a case on both sides. The law said he must honor his father and obey him at all times. This meant he should help Saul kill David. However, he loved David and knew he was an innocent man. It is beneficial for us to feel the tension of such a choice because we will face similar circumstances in life. There will be times when we feel we have to hurt or betray someone we love in order to follow God’s will.
How did Jonathan know?
- Saul commanded him to do something that went against God’s character. Jonathan chose to obey God over man. It probably would have been easier for him to obey Saul. He would have the king on his side and earn his father’s approval. But in the end, he knew it violated God’s standard. It may seem like Jonathan chose a lesser sin (not honoring his father) over a greater sin (murder), but the key here is that Saul was not following God, which leads me to my second point.
- Jonathan evaluated the fruit. Just look at the destruction of Saul’s life. His willingness to sin is now a full-grown beast. He is recruiting others to help him get what he wants. His decisions are causing division within his family. And let’s not forget, God has handed him over to this evil. David, on the other hand, demonstrated incredible integrity and grace throughout this process. The hatred of Saul’s heart becomes crystal clear against the backdrop of David’s integrity, and Jonathan knows it.
David’s Courage
David didn’t fight back. He didn’t defend himself. He didn’t even run away until he was forced to. Looking back in hindsight, it could be said that God allowed David to experience this incredible storm so that he would become the king he needed to be. What Saul planned for evil, God used for good. As soldiers of Christ, the strengthening and arming of our spiritual armor is absolutely dependant upon God allowing trials to come our way. For David, he would not only develop as a leader, but he would prove to all those around him that he was willing to abandon his desires and accept whatever the Lord had for him.
God promises us we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.