READ: 1 SAMUEL 23:1-18 TEXT: v16 [STRENGTHENED HIS HAND/GOD]
And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
Like all of the OT (and indeed the whole Bible) this verse was written for our admonition and instruction
Just as Jonathan strengthened David’s hand/God so too it is God’s will that we strengthen one another
Not fitting: the saint should look/world for a strengthening hand
(This is not to say that he will not find one there: Romans 8:28)
But the world is not the natural friend of the Christian
Equally so, it is not fitting the child/God should find discouragement within the household of faith
Yet this is often so
We may judge that when Paul recalled the time when support from within
the church failed to move the needle on the gauge, that he had been
much discouraged
Indeed he prayed that such discouragement would be reckoned to the account of those who practically deserted him:
At my first answer no man stood with
me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their
charge. (2 Timothy 4:16)
What is natural and to be expected is that Christians would do what
Jonathan is accredited with doing here: Strengthening etc.,
What a great work is done when you have helped a fellow Christian along the way to glory
Even the giving of a cup/cold water in the name/prophet will you a prophet’s reward
These things are all noted in God’s notebook and no deed is ever overlooked nor fails to be appreciated
In as much as ye have done this unto the least of these my brethren, then ye have done it unto me
We want to see how Jonathan strengthened David’s hand in God
1) JONATHAN CAME TO DAVID IN HIS GREAT HOUR/NEED:
A/ David was on the run from King Saul (Jonathan’s father)
[i] Saul sought him every day (v14) i.e. to kill him
[ii] Saul had already tried to kill David (x2) with a javelin
[iii] The men with David were great afraid (v3)
[iv] The men/Keilah were he had been residing had been ready to surrender him up to Saul (v12)
He was a man on the run – from pillar to post, always trying to
keep a step ahead/Saul and knowing that one mistake was fatal
It was David’s hour of need with a capital “N”
B/ It is unlikely that we have ever been in such a place like this
I do not personally know a single Christian (and I know many) who has
ever had to rough it like this to within an inch of his life
I have stood with those who came under fire for their faith
They were lampooned in the press and ridiculed in the street
Public opinion stood against them big time and life was unpleasant
But never anything like this
C/ But nevertheless, we need to go to Christians in their need
Bearing one another burdens fulfils the law/Christ (Galatians 6:2)
Of course, we can strengthen the Christians hand/God anytime
We can encourage each other to go from strength to strength
David needed God perhaps more when he was upon the throne than in these long years where it seemed to allude him
Many of his greatest problems came after his elevation/Kingship
So this text is always in season and never out of season
But it is evident that to bring encouragement when the going is extremely tough for a Believer is the best time of all
This is something that would not be forgotten by David
2) JONATHAN STRENGTHENED DAVID’S HAND IN GOD AT GREAT PERSONAL RISK TO HIMSELF:
A/
As long as Jonathan stayed out of David’s way, then he was relatively
safe, although Saul showed dangerous tendencies of paranoia…and so,
nobody around him was really safe
But Jonathan did take extra risks in seeking out David
Saul would later aim a javelin at Jonathan also
It took a lot of courage for Jonathan to slip out unnoticed into the dangers of the wood and meet with David
David
was being viewed as a rebel – to be seen with him would therefore
constitute treason and further aggravated seeing that he lived within
the royal court and indeed royal family itself
B/ Are we ready to take personal risks for God?
Civil and religious liberty (for which we must always pray) gives us a comfort zone that we might be loathe to leave
However, it can still cost to be a follower of Christ
The world exacts a high price from those who would be faithful
All kinds of considerations press upon us
The price is high, severe the test – For those who would enjoy God’s best
It is becoming harder to identify with the evangelical cause
It might soon have legal ramifications when your Bible instructed conscience prevents you from doing what the law commands
Consider the courageous reply of the Apostles when they were commanded to forgo their gospel preaching:
We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29)
For us to weigh in and offer support to anyone taking a stand like that may be outwardly disadvantageous to us
C/ Such circumstances doubles the worth/encouragement given
What thoughts coursed through David’s mind in the woods
He thought of his friend Jonathan whom he loved as his own soul
He could see the affect and strain all this was upon him
Would blood prove to be thicker than water?
Perhaps…but it is not thicker than grace
Both these young men show all the marks of saving grace
Are we not commanded to forsake even father/mother if necessary to follow Christ?
[i] David was a representative of Christ in this affair
[ii] Better still: David was a type/Christ in this affair
When a man persecutes Christians, then he persecutes Christ Himself: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? (Acts 9:4)
By the same token: In encouraging another saint, then we are doing
Christ a service, for such help is “as unto the Lord”
How could we withhold any such encouragement no matter what?
[i] Think of Him as He goes through His Gethsemane suffering:
He comes/finds us asleep – we have made ourselves a soft pillow:
We hear Him say: What! Could ye not watch with me one hour?
God sends an angel to strengthen Him because it seems that He fails to find a comforter on earth even among His own
[ii] Think of Him in His dying agonies/Cross to redeem us
There were no risks taken upon the Cross – a risk suggests that
perhaps the danger might not fall at all and an escape found
Men might risk death when they think that they could escape it
If the odds are too high, they will think again and back off
Not so the Lord Jesus – I lay down my life for the sheep
D/ Let us therefore come to the aid of a fellow Christian in whatever his circumstances as a token/our great debt to Christ
Do it as unto the Lord and the thought “What is this costing me?” will disappear like snow of a ditch
3) HE FURTHER STRENGTHENED DAVID’S HAND/GOD BY GIVING HIM SIMPLE THOUGH STEADYING ADVICE:
A/ His opening words: Fear Not!
OK…these words are easily said and therefore easily dismissed
Do you not think Jonathan knows that?
OTOH: Do you think Jonathan risked much to deliver platitudes?
This isn’t a little pep talk from an over optimistic Hooray Henry
These words are as sober, wise, and helpful words as they come
How do I know that?
Ans: Because he strengthened David’s hand in God
It could not be in God if it did not share God’s attributes
B/ Think of the many times the words “Fear not” or similar words “Be not afraid” appear/Bible, often from Christ’s own lips
Jonathan here is speaking by inspiration/God and that means that it is as if it were from Christ’s lips Himself
“David” (Jonathan seems to be saying here) “I have a word for you from the Lord – ‘fear not’”
Perhaps David was shaking with fear in that forest
Every ruffle of the trees – every break of a twig sending dread thoughts and great shivers of naked fear down his spine
Well, if so – here is a word fitly spoken – a word in season to one who is weary – oh how good is it!
C/ Sometimes we think that we have to say a lot to be useful
Not the case – these two little words can calm a great storm
4) HE INTERPRETED THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD;
A/ Is the glass here half full or half empty?
Doubtless, David felt it was half empty with a hole/bottom
But Jonathan had another more positive handle on it
B/ He follows up his “fear not” words with firm reasons why
As said – this “fear not” was not an empty platitude
If no reason to say so, then they are worse than meaningless
They become a mockery - a piece of ill advice
Sometimes we have every reason to fear…but not David
B/ Jonathan gives his first reason why David should not fear
Saul would not find David (v17)
It was not for the want/trying on Saul’s part: v14
Was it but good fortune that David had not been caught?
Was Saul just a bungler or his army/generals inept?
Although we are not told who ran the army at this time among the generals, I remind you: seasoned men like Joab were there
When they went looking for Absalom much later on, they made no mistakes about it
David’s albeit uncomfortable liberty is accredited to one source:
God delivered David not into Saul’s hand
Just as Job earlier had a God-planted/God-maintained hedge around him and later on Zechariah would talk about a wall of fire
surrounding him – so here: David is beyond Saul’s reach
He just cannot find him and pin him down
C/ Jonathan wisely reads and utilises this providential dealing
Might be many adversaries, but it is a great/effectual door
God is in sovereign control and therefore David should not fear
It is a good thing to be able to read providence clearly
Do you remember when Samson’s parents (before his birth) were visited by the Angel/God?
Filled with fear and supposed that they would die
Yet, a wise reading of providence allayed their fears:
But his wife said unto him, If the
LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt
offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed
us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things
as these. (Judges 13:23)
Perhaps it is unfair to say that David could not read these providential happenings and so it took Jonathan/interpret them
Perhaps Jonathan was only confirming what David already knew
Our text says that he strengthened David’s hand in God
It matters little to us when we start to draw the lessons
It does not lessen Jonathan’s usefulness at this time
These are sound words which are built on sound principles
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23)
We are to commit our way unto the Lord, trust in him and he shall bring it to pass (Psalm 37:4)
There are no “ifs” in the providence/God
The great verse on Providence for the child/God is Romans 8:28
All things work together for good…
This doesn’t make us invincible and able to do whatever we want
But it does enable our Christian brethren to say to us: “Fear not”
It does strengthen our hand in God
5) JONATHAN FURTHER CLAIMED THE PROMISES/GOD:
A/ As much as we talked up the providence/God, yet we also know: providence in itself cannot be interpreted without/word
It is the word/God that interprets providence for us
Therefore Jonathan not only says, Do
not fear, supplements that with “Saul shall not find you” (as he had
signally failed to do) but adds further: “Thou shalt be king over
Israel”
B/ How could Jonathan say all this?
Because God had sent Samuel (prophet) to anoint David as King
And
the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I
have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil,
and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided
me a king among his sons… And he sent, and brought [David] in. Now he
was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look
to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. (1 Samuel
16:1/12)
How could Saul kill David if God had anointed David and he had not yet sat upon the throne (and would not for a number/years?)
Even the fact that Saul knew this (and was trying desperately to prevent it) was an indicator of its truth (v17)
It was the worst kept secret in Israel (24:20)
Furthermore, Jonathan himself was very happy with/outcome
He was next in line for the throne if there was to be a dynasty
Humanly speaking, you might expect him to betray David
But this humble man/God was happy to play second fiddle (v17)
He strengthened David with powerful application/God’s promises
Christian: Unto us are given many great/precious promises/God
6) HE ASSURED HIM OF HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT:
A/ They made a covenant together before the Lord (v18) and then went their separate ways as providence commanded
Jonathan never did see David upon the throne, but who can doubt the major part he played through this incident?
B/ Let us encourage/exhort one another brethren and help a fellow Christian in his pilgrimage/glory
THE END