DAVID AND JONATHAN

1 Samuel 18ff

Today the headlines would scream “YOUTH SLAYS GIANT!” And about 1000 B. C. Saul's general brought David back to the king's tent still holding Goliath's severed head. Saul was stunned. “Who ARE you really?” David told him, and he told David he was no longer a shepherd but a warrior.

Scripture says Prince Jonathan and David became fast friends over night. Not surprising really, because they were two of a kind. Remember a few chapters back the prince and his squire attacked a Philistine outpost by themselves and wiped out a whole squad that turned into a rout, as did David's victory. The two young men were drawn to each other and committed themselves to a deep friendship.

Saul apparently commissioned David into his army as a leader. We don't know how much time passed, but apparently it must have been a year or more. In the meantime, after shuffling a couple of girls around, Saul gave David his daughter Michael as a wife. Note that made him part of the royal family, which Saul would later regret. Jonathan didn't care. The two men were so close they knew when the time came, whichever wore the crown, the other would be his companion.

But Saul was bugged, badly disturbed in more ways than one. David was an incredible leader as well as a capable warrior. (I've wondered whether his brothers who mocked him now followed him?) He became the subject of pop music:

Saul has slain his thousands;

David has slain ten thousands!

Hearing the gals singing drove the king up the wall! He couldn't stand it! He even took Jonathan aside and said, “Look kid. This guy is out after your kingdom. We gotta protect the dynasty here.”

Side note: the dynasty issue explains a lot in world history and in Biblical history. David had several sons by different mothers. Often goaded by their mothers, the sons were jealous of each other and sought an advantage. Incidentally, that's one answer I give when smart-alecs ask why they were allowed multiple wives in the OT. I say, “Yes, and you see what it got them!” Recognize that king's marrying was a big deal. They marry princesses from another country to bind the two nations together. They sometimes have multiple wives to make sure an heir survives to be king. Remember most families lost children early in life. Henry VIII famously broke with the Catholic Church because the Pope would not let him divorce his wife who “could not” bear him a son. He broke with Catholics and set up his own church, now called Anglican or Episcopal. Anyway, all that comes into play later when one son rebels against him to become king, and David steals Bathsheba who became the mother of King Solomon. All kinds of stuff going on backstage here!

Another discursus: Saul was losing it. We might diagnose him today as bi-polar, or manic depressive. This disease is characterized by wild mood swings, sometimes including and eruption of anger out of control. I worked in a private mental hospital unit while in seminary, and one patient we had carried this diagnosis. We were told at report one night that he had become enraged and threw a telephone at his psychiatrist! So it is not surprising that Saul would have these depressed moods that showed him as dark and brooding. David's music seemed to help him at that point. But then he would be brooding about David's popularity and the danger of his stealing the kingdom from Jonathan. That's when he erupted and hurled a spear at his giant-killer. But David was quicker and escaped.

He and Jonathan met and agreed on a plan. The king had been so volatile, he might have calmed down and would listen to reason. But it was not to be. The prince tried to persuade his father that David was loyal to him, but a characteristic of bi-polars is they are often paranoid, suspect people plotting against them. And if you're the king, you probably do have those who plot to seize the kingdom. Saul thought his son was a fool, and that David would take Jonathan's rightful place on the throne. (The question ultimately became moot, since both were killed on the battlefield, leaving a clear path for David.)

Anyway, the two young men did their secret agent bit, and the prince signaled the shepherd that his father was still angry and bent on killing him. He sent his squire back into the city, so the two could meet. David now saw he had to flee, but not before renewing their covenant to be faithful to each other. David was now going to become a sort of Robin Hood and mercenary for several years.

The lesson focus is on their friendship. I used to have a self-help book by a psychologist in Arizona or someplace. His favorite form of “therapy” was friendship. He said everyone should have at least five friends, and we should include them in every day we could: coffee breaks, drop-ins, lunch, sports, phone, whatever. One friend should become our very best friend with whom we share anything and everything. The others should be folks we are comfortable with and enjoy being around. Oh – what kind of friend are you?

DAVID AND JONATHAN

1 Samuel 18ff

Today the headlines would scream “YOUTH SLAYS GIANT!” And about 1000 B. C. Saul's general brought David back to the king's tent still holding Goliath's severed head. Saul was stunned. “Who ARE you really?” David told him, and he told David he was no longer a shepherd but a warrior.

Scripture says Prince Jonathan and David became fast friends over night. Not surprising really, because they were two of a kind. Remember a few chapters back the prince and his squire attacked a Philistine outpost by themselves and wiped out a whole squad that turned into a rout, as did David's victory. The two young men were drawn to each other and committed themselves to a deep friendship.

Saul apparently commissioned David into his army as a leader. We don't know how much time passed, but apparently it must have been a year or more. In the meantime, after shuffling a couple of girls around, Saul gave David his daughter Michael as a wife. Note that made him part of the royal family, which Saul would later regret. Jonathan didn't care. The two men were so close they knew when the time came, whichever wore the crown, the other would be his companion.

But Saul was bugged, badly disturbed in more ways than one. David was an incredible leader as well as a capable warrior. (I've wondered whether his brothers who mocked him now followed him?) He became the subject of pop music:

Saul has slain his thousands;

David has slain ten thousands!

Hearing the gals singing drove the king up the wall! He couldn't stand it! He even took Jonathan aside and said, “Look kid. This guy is out after your kingdom. We gotta protect the dynasty here.”

Side note: the dynasty issue explains a lot in world history and in Biblical history. David had several sons by different mothers. Often goaded by their mothers, the sons were jealous of each other and sought an advantage. Incidentally, that's one answer I give when smart-alecs ask why they were allowed multiple wives in the OT. I say, “Yes, and you see what it got them!” Recognize that king's marrying was a big deal. They marry princesses from another country to bind the two nations together. They sometimes have multiple wives to make sure an heir survives to be king. Remember most families lost children early in life. Henry VIII famously broke with the Catholic Church because the Pope would not let him divorce his wife who “could not” bear him a son. He broke with Catholics and set up his own church, now called Anglican or Episcopal. Anyway, all that comes into play later when one son rebels against him to become king, and David steals Bathsheba who became the mother of King Solomon. All kinds of stuff going on backstage here!

Another discursus: Saul was losing it. We might diagnose him today as bi-polar, or manic depressive. This disease is characterized by wild mood swings, sometimes including and eruption of anger out of control. I worked in a private mental hospital unit while in seminary, and one patient we had carried this diagnosis. We were told at report one night that he had become enraged and threw a telephone at his psychiatrist! So it is not surprising that Saul would have these depressed moods that showed him as dark and brooding. David's music seemed to help him at that point. But then he would be brooding about David's popularity and the danger of his stealing the kingdom from Jonathan. That's when he erupted and hurled a spear at his giant-killer. But David was quicker and escaped.

He and Jonathan met and agreed on a plan. The king had been so volatile, he might have calmed down and would listen to reason. But it was not to be. The prince tried to persuade his father that David was loyal to him, but a characteristic of bi-polars is they are often paranoid, suspect people plotting against them. And if you're the king, you probably do have those who plot to seize the kingdom. Saul thought his son was a fool, and that David would take Jonathan's rightful place on the throne. (The question ultimately became moot, since both were killed on the battlefield, leaving a clear path for David.)

Anyway, the two young men did their secret agent bit, and the prince signaled the shepherd that his father was still angry and bent on killing him. He sent his squire back into the city, so the two could meet. David now saw he had to flee, but not before renewing their covenant to be faithful to each other. David was now going to become a sort of Robin Hood and mercenary for several years.

The lesson focus is on their friendship. I used to have a self-help book by a psychologist in Arizona or someplace. His favorite form of “therapy” was friendship. He said everyone should have at least five friends, and we should include them in every day we could: coffee breaks, drop-ins, lunch, sports, phone, whatever. One friend should become our very best friend with whom we share anything and everything. The others should be folks we are comfortable with and enjoy being around. Oh – what kind of friend are you?