Last week we saw that Saul didn't
give up on trying to kill David. He really tried on several
occasions and it frustrated him that he couldn't succeed. He
realized that God was with David and this made him scared. But yet
he didn't give up.
David caught wind of the fact that
Saul wanted to try and kill him again. He mentioned this to his
friend, Jonathan. Jonathan couldn't believe it, because normally
his father would tell him everything. But as David insisted, they
devised a plan. The next day was the New Moon festival. Normally
David would eat with the king. Therefore they decided that on that
New Moon, David wouldn't eat with the king, but he would hide. If
the king asked about David, Jonathan would say that he had asked to
go home and sacrifice with his family. If the king is angry about
this, they would know that he was planning to kill him. If he is
not angry, all will be well. Either way Jonathan will let David
know.
As it happened Saul didn't enquire
about David the first evening as he thought that maybe he was
unclean. But he did in fact ask about him the next evening and when
Jonathan told him he had gone home, Saul was very angry:
"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? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you
shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and
bring him to me, for he shall surely die." 1 Samuel 20:30,
31
Jonathan then tried to defend
David, but the moment he did, Saul even hurled a spear at him too.
Then Jonathan left, hurt and angry. He then went to tell David to
flee as his father was determined to kill him.
For me it is heartwarming to see
how Jonathan did the right thing. He was supposed to be next in
line for the throne. His future was clear and cut out for him. And
yet, when he realized that God wanted to give the Kingdom to David
instead, he didn't retaliate, he didn't try to help his father kill
David, he didn't cry and ask God why. He didn't do any of these
things. He trusted God and did the right thing. He helped David to
escape even though he knew that this could cost him his throne.
I have so much respect for
Jonathan. Nowhere in the Bible do you read anything bad about him.
In fact when events of his life were recorded it showed courage and
an absolute faith in God. And yet, he wasn't destined to be king.
It wasn't God's plan for his life. He was there to help David
become king. And God was pleased with him and I can promise you
that his reward in Heaven is great.
Wow. What if your whole purpose in
life is to help someone else excel? Would you be okay with that?
What if you are the one who needs to help others rise higher? Would
you still do it?
Jonathan did and in my eyes he is a
hero, a true hero. He placed his ego on the side and did what God
wanted him to do. We should always seek the will of God first above
all. We shouldn't be jealous of others 'making it' in this world,
excelling in areas that we would have liked to excel in. We should
be happy for them; we should encourage them and help them to be the
best that they can be. I know it is much easier said than done. But
ask God to help you, ask Him to lead you and to change your heart
so that you only want what He wants. Set your ego aside, set your
ambitions and need to win aside and replace it with a heart of
love. Your reward in His Kingdom will be great. He will exalt you
there and place you higher than you can even imagine! You must just
be prepared to humble yourself here on earth.
When Jesus walked on earth they
wanted to exalt Him as King a couple of times and yet He didn't
want that. He didn't want that honor and prestige. He wanted to do
the will of His Father. He wanted to please Him above all else.
Only what He wanted mattered to Jesus. And today He wants the same
for us.
Father, give us Your heart. Help us
to want what You want Lord. Help us to desire what You desire. Give
us the courage to help others succeed; give us the wisdom to know
what to do. I know Your heart delights in our willingness to follow
You without any prejudice. You and only You and what You want.
Please help us with that. Amen