- Prophets Priests Kings II
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Devotion by Paul David Tripp
Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, did 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, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him. – 1 Samuel 20:30-34
There is no more poignant moment in Scripture than when these two men say their final goodbye, and they weep. David bows three times before his friend honoring his love, and he weeps as he runs out into the wilderness, and Jonathan returns to his father. Jonathan is a true friend to David. Do you esteem, value, make use of the grace of Christ that He brings to you through His people?
For all of the prominence of Saul, and Jonathan, and David in this passage, the central character of this passage is not one of those men. The central character of this passage is God. This passage points to the zeal that God has for His plan, the zeal He has for His kingdom, the zeal He has for redemption. It is God who has turned His back on evil Saul and is punishing him by His rejection. It is God who is protecting David at every point, restraining Saul so that he cannot harm this king, from whom would come the King of kings. It is God who raised up Jonathan to be an instrument of aid, and comfort, and grace to this man. This is God zealous for His kingdom, zealous for His glory, zealous for redemption. And as you think about that, you think, every character in this passage is a finger pointing to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Saul was a finger pointing to Jesus. Saul, who held onto power, held onto position, would not let go of what God had already taken away, stands in stark contrast to Jesus Christ, the King of kings, who did not consider equality with God something to be held onto, but made Himself nothing, and became a servant, and was obedient to death, even death on a cross. Jesus was willing, as it were, to leave the palace of glory, to suffer the ravages of a fallen world, to deal with injustice, to suffer and die for our forgiveness, for our redemption, for our life with Him forever.
David is a finger that points to Jesus, because like David, when Jesus was threatened, I Peter says, “He uttered no threats, but he committed himself to his heavenly father that judges all things justly.” Jesus rested in the will of His father, He rested in the righteousness of His father, He rested in the power of His father, and so He was able to go to the cross and to do His Father’s will.
And surely Jonathan is a finger that points us to Jesus because Jesus is the better friend. Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Jesus is the only friend you will ever have who will never leave you or forsake you even though you deserve both.
So, where does I Samuel leave us? It leaves us one place. Brothers and sisters, there is no security, there is no surety, there is no hope, there is no life, there is no future, but what is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our forgiveness. He is our righteousness. He is our hope. By awesome grace, He is our friend.