Rev. Don Campbell
1 Samuel 18-20; Psalm 11, 59
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, April 13, 2019
“WHEN THINGS GET TOUGH, REMEMBER WHO IS ON OUR SIDE”
Saul was his own worst enemy. His paranoid jealousy of David whom he tried to kill several times comes to a head in his hurling his spear at his own son, Jonathan, after vilely casting reproach upon the legitimacy of his birth. I have chosen the New Living Translation because I believe it comes closest to convey the outburst as Jonathan would have understood it: “Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. ‘You stupid son of a whore!’ he swore at him. ‘Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother? As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!’ ‘But why should he be put to death?’ Jonathan asked his father. ‘What has he done?’ Then Saul hurled his spear at Jonathan, intending to kill him. So at last Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David. Jonathan left the table in fierce anger and refused to eat on that second day of the festival, for he was crushed by his father’s shameful behavior toward David” (1 Samuel 20:30-34).
Burton Coffman is even more bold in his comments: “This vile slur cast upon Jonathan was the ancient equivalent of the vulgar present-day insult, ‘You son-of-a-bitch.’ These words possibly meant that Jonathan was born of a prostitute. From the most ancient times, it has been customary to revile a person by slandering or belittling his ancestors. It became perfectly clear to all present, when Saul thus addressed Jonathan, that Saul would not only kill David if possible, but anyone else who stood between him and the achievement of his fiendish purpose.” [James Burton Coffman was a prolific author, preacher, teacher and leader among churches of Christ in the 20th century.]
This gives us a picture of Saul, but to see the emotional state of David in these trying times, we look at Psalms 11 and 59: David acknowledges the evil intentions of Saul and his supporters, he affirms that God is on his throne and that he shall behold his face (Psalm 11:4,7). In the 59th Psalm, he compares those who pursue him to howling dogs prowling the city in search of prey. Again, however, he confesses that God is his strength and will empower him to triumph: “O my Strength, I will watch for you, for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me; God will let me look in triumph on my enemies” (vv.9-10). He then concludes with: “O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love” (v.17).
We don’t know who wrote Psalm 118:6, which says, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” But it does not matter who wrote it. What matters is that we are urged to believe it and own it. The writer of Hebrews references Deuteronomy 31:8, which was a promise spoken to Israel, but totally applicable to us: “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
David was experiencing tough times, but through it all, David knew that God was on his throne, but he is not distant God, always present in the lives of those who love and trust him, for a mighty fortress is our God.
CONNECTIONS
1. It is easy to confidently boast that God is on our side when the sun shines brightly in our lives, but not always so easy when the storms of life batter us. What is Paul’s word of encouragement during the dark days of life? (Romans 8:37-39)
2. Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” is a paraphrase of Psalm 46. What is the message?
