“Remember When” was a song that came out in the early 2000’s and was performed by Alan Jackson. The song goes through the life of a couple, from meeting when they’re young to growing old together. Instead of having a chorus to fall back on, the song moves forward through time, as the husband reminisces with his wife. Verses 2, 3, and 4 make up the heart of the song, and they don't shy away from the hurt that can occur through relationships as Jackson sings,
Verses 2:
Remember when
We vowed the vows and walked the walk
Gave our hearts, made the start, and it was hard
We lived and learned life threw curves
There was joy, there was hurt
Remember when
Verse 3:
Remember when
Old ones died and new were born
And life was changed, disassembled, rearranged
We came together, fell apart
And broke each other's hearts
Remember when
Verse 4:
Remember when
The sound of little feet was the music
We danced to week to week
Brought back the love, we found trust
Vowed we'd never give it up
Remember when
It’s this kind of intentional love that fights through hard times to come out on the other side stronger, which brings us back to our study in the books of Samuel, where we’ll be picking it back up in First Samuel 17, verse 57. And as we open up to First Samuel 17:57, let’s look back over the last three weeks.
Three weeks ago we entered the third section of First Samuel. The third and most anticipated character, David, was brought into the story of Israel’s history. There we saw God call the prophet Samuel out of his grief over Saul’s sin and the Lord sent him to anoint a new king. This king however didn’t look the part. David was the least of his family, both in age, physical strength, and importance. Yet, God taught a lesson to Samuel: God looks at the inner person and their desire to follow him, not on the outward appearance that people look at. We walked about that week with the understanding that God calls all his people to eagerly follow him.
Then two weeks ago, we saw how God took away his own Spirit from Saul and sent a harmful one. This was done for two reasons: First, God was administering judgment on Saul for his sin, and secondly, it brought David into the court of Saul. In this we saw God’s judgment upon sin, and his plans working themselves out. And yet, God still had mercy upon Saul, because of David. The music that came from David, eased Saul’s torment from the harmful spirit, and brought temporary peace. We walked away from that week, with the understanding that God’s people are called to carry his peace to the world around us, because we have his Spirit living in us.
Finally last week we looked one of the most shared Sunday School stories: David verse Goliath. We saw how, though Goliath was an imposing physical force, the unwavering trust in the Lord that David had within him led him to stand before the giant. On that day, David proclaimed that all would know that it was the Lord, not the strength of men, who would win the day. We walked away from last week with the understanding that God calls all his people to exercise a confident faith in what God has done, so that we may walk in what he is doing.
With the last three week’s fresh in our minds, we now turn to First Samuel 17:57.
v.17:57-18:5
17:57 And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
18:1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
Let’s stop right there and talk about somethings going on here. First, let’s look at the relationship between David and Jonathan that begins at this point. We’re told that “… the soul of Jonathan was kit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved [David] as his own soul. (v.18:1)”
In recent years, this has been made to say that David and Jonathan were in a homosexual relationship. As if two men could not love each other in any other way. But the text doesn’t even come close to even implying that. Instead, what the text is letting us know, is that their friendship was so tight that they become conspirators. In fact, that’s what the word “knit” means in this case. The Hebrew word qashar (kaw-shar’) means to join together in the work of a conspiracy, or to join in treason. This is letting us know that Jonathan cared for David to the point where we would commit treason with him against his own father. In other words, Jonathan would support David as king over his own dad. That is there relationship.
But why would Jonathan do that? Remember back in chapter 14, verse 29, Jonathan said this when he found out about his father’s vow to kill anyone who ate before the Philistines were defeated, “My father has troubled the land.” Jonathan recognized his father’s downward spiral, and recognizes that David would be a better king. We see this play out in chapter 20, where Jonathan will actually inform David of Saul’s intention to kill him. This is there relationship. Two men that care for each other, with one of them recognizing that God is with the other, and wants him to succeed as the new king.
Looking at Saul, though he will eventual actively try to kill David, as far as right now, Saul is simply willing to attach himself to David’s popularity, as we have seen him do with other’s back in chapter 14, verse 52. And David’s victories begin to pile up.
Let’s drop down to verse 6 and continue reading.
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.
10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand. 11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.
12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him but had departed from Saul. 13 So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. 14 And David had success in all his undertakings, for the Lord was with him. 15 And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.
v.6-16
It’s because people singing about David’s victories as being greater than Saul’s, that the king’s sinful heart turns to murder. In verses 6-9 and 14-16, we see the jealously of Saul against David. Even though David has not had as many victories as Saul, still the people love David and sung of his greatness as being more than the king’s. The reason for this is because we’re told that David goes out among the people. It seems that Saul has recused himself to life as a king. The people are no more than servants of his. We saw this with how he did not know anything about David, even thought David’s music is what brought him peace. The man Saul is now, is a far cry from the man who was still working the field the first time he went to war for Israel. David was a man of the people, Saul was not. That is why the people sing the praises of David as greater than those of their king.
It’s because of Saul’s jealousy and murderous intentions that God brings back that harmful spirit of judgment in verses 10-13. But this time, not even David’s playing can bring peace. This is because Saul has spiraled so far down into his sin, that nothing is going to bring him out of it. We again see God’s judgment and mercy, but this time, Saul shows that he would rather be under God’s judgment, wallowing in his own sin, than to repent and embrace God’s mercy. This comes out in Saul trying to kill David, not once, but twice by throwing spears at him.
But notice two things here: First, even though David’s out there winning battles and becoming a popular figure, he still takes time and serves the king with his music. David is not so proud as to discount his place of service to the king. Secondly, it took Saul to remove David from his presence for David to leave. Not even the attempted murder of David by Saul was enough to scare David off. This shows us how committed to the king David was, even though Saul couldn’t see it.
v.17-30
After Saul sends David away from his presence, we see that he tires to give David his oldest daughter, but David would not accept it, because he did not feel he was worthy of being Saul’s son-in-law. So Saul tries again, this time with a different daughter. Let’s pick it up in verse 20.
20 Now Saul's daughter Michal loved David. And they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. 21 Saul thought, “Let me give her to him, that she may be a snare for him and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Therefore Saul said to David a second time, “You shall now be my son-in-law.” 22 And Saul commanded his servants, “Speak to David in private and say, ‘Behold, the king has delight in you, and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law.’” 23 And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, “Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?” 24 And the servants of Saul told him, “Thus and so did David speak.” 25 Then Saul said, “Thus shall you say to David, ‘The king desires no bride-price except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged of the king's enemies.’” Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. 26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, 27 David arose and went, along with his men, and killed two hundred of the Philistines. And David brought their foreskins, which were given in full number to the king, that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. 28 But when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, 29 Saul was even more afraid of David. So Saul was David's enemy continually.
30 Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to battle, and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly esteemed.
In verses 20-30, we see that Saul wants to manipulate his daughter Michal’s love for David as a way to ensnare him. Literally the word for snare means to create a noose to capture animals. However the idea carries with it a hook that is placed into the nose of an animal to make it do what you want it to do. Michal is a hook to make David do the things Saul wants him to do.
So the daughter is the bait, and the trap is to bring back one hundred Philistine foreskins as a price to pay for the girl’s hand in marriage. The purpose is to send David back out to battle so that he would die. Except, he not only accomplishes the task, but he doubles the request. Instead of fixing the problem, Saul has made it that much worse, because, even though he sees that God is with David, he doesn’t realize that David is God’s plan. Saul isn’t fighting against a shepherd boy from the hill county, he’s fighting against the God of Heaven. Who, unlike the Philistines when they saw Goliath’s defeat, has not yet realized that it is the Lord who is working.
The chapter ends with David’s continued rise in military victory and popularity, and Saul’s focus shifting from working against enemies outside of Israel, to what he perceives as enemies from within. And it’s that focus that Saul will have until his death.
So, what can we walk away from this whole situation? David again shows us what it means to be faithful. Except this time it is faithful to those around him. Jesus would later say in the Gospel of Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
David exemplifies this with Saul. Saul is literally throwing spears at him, and yet David stays faithful to his purpose in trying to ease his king’s pain. David loves God and loves the people around him. He loves even though his life is in danger. Though we must rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us into and out of every situation, we who are disciples of Jesus must love unlike the world. We must love those who are like us and those who are not like us. Those who smell good and those who don’t. Those who are model citizens and those who are criminals. The love of God does not stop at those who do good for us, but extends to those that would kill us as well.
God calls us to love, with no limit to it. As soon as we put a limit on our love, we have started down the path that Saul took. Not to say this is easy, the type of love that goes beyond what others do for us or against us, is one that can only be cultivated and produced through the work of the Holy Spirit. It is why every day our prayers should begin with a cry of seeking to be empowered by the Holy Spirit to accomplish what he wants. It’s why during the day, as we come into and out of situations, we must call on the Spirit to work through us. And it is why, at the end of the day, we need to confess where we have failed, and seek a greater reliance for the next day.
Love for the unlovable does not come easy in a world of sin, but it is in this type of world we find ourselves, and so we must rely on the God who is greater than it.
My challenge for you this week, is that you seek the Lord to help you love that one person you know its hard to love. Even as I’m saying this, their name probably popped in your head. So here’s confirmation, yes, you must love even that person.
Let us be a people empowered to love, even those who would throw spears. Amen.
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