David And Jonathan

by JAMES BROWN, Christchurch | Category: General | Sept 1950

(1 SAMUEL 16.12-18).

"And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him : for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward." In the counsel and purpose of God, David was now king of Israel, instead of Saul, though the latter reigned for som years after this before his death on the mountains of Gilboa. A similar truth to this is seen in Psalm 2.6, where we find that the LORD had set His King upon the holy hill of Zion, though the actual public enthronement will only take place when the Son of Man comes to reign. God's choice of David to be king over Israel instead of Saul brought about a crisis in the history and life of the nation. "There was a division because of him." Though the anointing was done in secret among his brethren, it soon became known to the many in Israel that the young son of Jesse was the LoRD's chosen and anointed king to rule over His people Israel.

Men, then as now, had to count the cost and choose whom they would own and serve. No man can serve two masters, though some, yea many, have tried to do so, but it always ends in disappointment to him who tries it. There could be no middle course, no neutrality once it was known that God had spoken and chosen a king aft~er His own heart. The LORD'S claims upon men to whom He is pleased to reveal His truth, calls for prompt obedience thereto. It had tQ be Saul or David and the choice, once made, demanded that they align themselves with the one they had chosen, and be with him in the place where he was to be found. Saul still reigned as king over the nation, and his court and camp had many attractions to keep men with him. David, though the throne of Israel was his, and his by right, for God bad spoken, had nothing to offer to any who would side with him. Driven from the court and the camp by the envy and hatred of Saul; hunted as a partridge upon the mountains, his life was in constant danger from Saul, and his followers shared with him the danger and hardship. To be with David cost much, but the cost was not considered too much for loyal, loving hearts who did Ylot count their lives dear to them for the love they had for God's chosen king. They had to be where he was; and nothing else would satisfy them. Who would not love to see the name of Jonathan, the princely son of Saul, among those of the mighty men who went forth outside the camp to David? Alas, it is not there! Nor is his name found among those of whom God makes honourable mention in the Epistle to the Hebrews, Chapter 11. The silence of God is at times full of instruction, and here He speaks loudly to our hearts, as He does in the case of Joab, who was chief commander of David's armies.

One of the bravest of men, he never lost a battle for David, but in the fight with himself he suffered a crushing defeat and his name is not seen among David's mighty men of valour. Jealousy of others and pride of place was so strong in him that he allowed self to rule him. Love of place and prestige is a danger to be guarded against. "Let no man think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but let him think soberly" (Romans 12.8). To think soberly in the fear of God, and in the spirit of Him who is meek and lowly in heart, is the safeguard against this major evil which is so destructive in its effects. It will also tend to keep a man from falling into the lesser evil of thinking of himself less highly than he ought to think.

Jonathan's thoughts were all for David when the victor returned from the battle bringing with him the bruised head and sword of the enemy, the spoil and proof of his victory. "The soul of Jonathan was krit with the soul of David and he loved him as his own soul " (1 Samuel 18. 1). What a " good confession of faith" is here seen when, after he and David had made a covenant between them, the warrior son of Saul stripped himself of the princely robe which he, as the king's son, wore, and gave it to David! David, and he alone, was worthy of that robe, for Jonathan

no doubt saw in him the coming king, and any claim that he as the king's son may have had to the throne of Israel is renounced. Jonathan, is no longer his own. He belongs to him who bought him in his fight and victory over Goliath in the Vale of Elah. All that he was and had, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle, are given to David. To whom can he go, but to him who, by right of conquest as well as the spoken word of God, has proved his right to the throne of Israel.

Jonathan, thou didst run well and thy love to David was wonderful. What hindered thee from being constantly with the one whom thy soul loved? What a helper unto David's kingdom he no doubt could have been had he only severed himself from the hostile camp of Saul! No greater joy could David have known than to find Jonathan with him at his side, in those years of fighting and waiting for the crowning day to come. And we do well to remind ourselves and others that no greater joy can we give our blessed Lord in our day than to be found whole-heartedly with Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach (Hebrews 13.13). Jonathan had many noble traits, and we walk humbly and mourn as did David, over the mighty who fell upon " their high places" fighting the Philistines, enemies of Israel. In spiritual Babylon, with its man-made sects and systems, you find men who are valiant for such preeiou~ truths as the inspiration of the Scriptures, the Virgin birth of Christ and the Deity of the lowly Man of Sorrows. These truths are dear to every true child of God, and when the enemv raids them these men for whom we thank God never fail to stand in defence against him. Our grief is that, though they do so, the urgent, pleading call of God " to come out of her " is passed by as if God had not spoken (Revelation 18.4). Far away from the Place where Christ as Lord can be found, they fight and die upon "their high places." What workers unto the Kingdom of God many of these gifted men might prove to be if they would only come forth to Him and leave the hostile camp of Christendom behind them! We repeat what the Lord has told us, that no man can serve two masters. Jonathan's failure to leave the camp of Saul and be with David, fighting for and with him, ended in his death. He lost the place in the kingdom which he expected to have (1 Samuel 23.17). May we learn from the things written aforetime, to have at all times an undivided heart for our Lord. Those three mighty men who heard the spoken desire of David for a drink from the well at the gate of Bethlehem must have been very near to hear him (1 Chronicles 7.16-18). Let us keep close to Him, so that His voice, whether in love or rebuke will at all times be heard by us. The crowning day is coming. Let no man take thy crown (Revelation 3.11).

<Author:JAMES BROWN, Christchurch>

JAMES BROWN, Christchurch | Sept 1950
General