1 Samuel 19:1 says, And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David. Saul began to attempt to recruit his servants and even his son, Jonathan, to kill David. His subtle plans had failed, so he became more open in acting on his hatred or jealousy of David. When subtle methods don't work in discrediting or destroying Christians, or at least their works for God today, we should not be surprised when those who hate or are jealous of us begin to use more open, aggressive means in attempting to do so. Verse two adds, But Jonathan Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: Instead of following his father’s orders, Jonathan who was a true friend to David, warned him of Saul's intent and told him to go and hide himself. If people are plotting against us as followers of Christ today, we need to pray that we have at least one friend like Jonathan who will stand beside us no matter what. Jonathan would have been the apparent successor to Saul as his son, but he did not allow jealousy about David's popularity to keep him from doing what was best for David. We may seem to be the heir apparent to a position in the church today, but we cannot allow selfish desires to keep us from looking out for the best interest of other Christians, even if they take the place we might assume should have been ours. Verse three continues, And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee. Not only did Jonathan warn David, he said he would take his place by his father’s side and warn David of Saul's intent toward David. Jonathan was really putting himself at risk, nor only in battle, but also by defying his father's order to kill David. We should be willing as Christians to put ourselves in danger for the benefit of our fellow Christians if necessary. Verse four states, And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to theeward very good: Jonathan also spoke to his father on David's behalf, telling him that David had done nothing but good toward Saul, which was true. We need to be that kind of friend to our fellow Christians today if they are in danger. Verse five adds, For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause? Jonathan reminded Saul that by God's grace David had delivered the people of Israel from Goliath, and that Saul had rejoiced because of it, and then asked him why he now wanted to shed the innocent blood of David. Jonathan was really putting himself in danger by doing this, since he was questioning a jealous king filled with hatred for David. It is one thing to silently support our fellow Christians, but we need the faith in God that causes us to openly support them no matter what it may cost us. Verse six concludes, And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain. Saul listened to Jonathan and swore that as surely as the LORD lived he would not destroy David. Of course, we will see later that Saul didn't live up to this promise, even though it was made to God. People of the world may make promises about not trying to destroy Christians or even God's word, but they seldom remain true to these promises. Verse seven says, And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. Jonathan called David out of hiding, and David was once again in Saul’s presence as he had been in the past. There was at least a temporary truce on Saul's part, since David didn't need to make one since he had never attempted to do anything to harm Saul. If there is a truce between the world and us today it needs to be on their part, since we as Christians should never want to do anything to harm them. We are called on to reach out to the lost people of the world with love and compassion, and not with hatred and evil intent. Verse eight adds, And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. The war with the Philistines continued,and David continued to fight against and kill them, so the Philistines were afraid of him. All we can do today as followers Christ is to be willing to engage in the battle against sin and evil in the world even if it puts us in danger. Verse nine declares, And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. Once again we are told that an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, but as I have stated before, I don't believe that God ever sends evil spirits on anyone. Saul may have attributed the evil spirit to God, but it was really a result of Saul's own lack of being willing to follow God's will that resulted in his attitude, which was once again a desire to kill David. Temporary truces with the people of the world today will never last. Saul sat with a javelin in his hand as David played the harp again. David was still willing to do all that he could to please Saul under God's guidance. We should be willing to do all that we can to help people today, even those who may be our enemies, as long as we don't go against God's word. Verse ten adds, And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. As David was playing the harp for Saul, Saul threw the javelin at David, again trying to kill him in spite of his word to Jonathan and God, but once again God protected Davtd and he slipped away. All we can do today in our battle against Satan and his forces is to put our life in God's hands. He will keep us secure in our everlasting relationship with Him no matter what happens in this world.
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