First Things First

Was today the first time I inquired of God for him? Of course not! Please don’t let the king make an accusation against your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant didn’t have any idea about all of this.” But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech – you and your father’s whole family!” Then the king ordered the guards standing by him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because they sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they didn’t tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to execute the priests of the Lord. 1 Samuel 22:15-17 HCSB

Have you ever had to take a stand against something that violates God’s laws and principles? We now live in a world where radical people force others to denounce their faith in God and pledge allegiance to their god. Many of these faithful Christians have refused to renounce their faith in Jesus Christ and as a result have been persecuted. Some have even been killed because of their unwillingness to violate God’s laws and principles.

The king’s servants would not follow the order of the king to kill the priests of the Lord. They knew that Saul was acting out of fear and jealousy and that Ahimelech and his family did not have any intention of betraying Saul. The servants feared the wrath of God more than they feared the wrath of the king. They took a stand and did what was right.

Challenge: As believers we may be called upon to take a stand against something that violates God’s laws and principles. We must be willing to say “no” to the temptation to do something that is wrong. Ask God to help you and give you the strength you need to take a stand against the evils in our world.

Then Saul said, “Listen, son of Ahitub!” “I’m at your service, my lord,” he said. Saul asked him, “Why did you and Jesse’s son conspire against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him, so he could rise up against me and wait in ambush, as is the case today.” 1 Samuel 22:12-13 HCSB

Have you ever been sent to the principal’s office? It is not fun. I was in the 8th grade and talking in class when I was supposed to be listening to the teacher. She sent me to the principal’s office. It was back in the days when a principal could actually discipline a child for wrong-doing. The principal gave me a spanking with a paddle. One strike and out the door I went. It hurt my pride more than physically hurting. I hated getting in trouble and knew that I would be in more trouble when I got home. We would probably have less problems in our schools today if students respected those in authority and if parents would support disciplinary measures when needed.

The priest Ahimelech was in trouble with Saul because he had helped David by giving him some food and a sword. Ahimelech and his whole family were summoned by King Saul. Ahimelech had done nothing wrong; he helped David but was certainly not trying to betray Saul. Saul accused him of siding with David in conspiring against him. Ahimelech did not deny helping David but defended David as being a loyal servant of Saul.

Challenge: Ahimelech faced opposition simply for doing what was right – helping David. As a believer there will be times when you will face opposition and be challenged because you do what is right. Sometimes adversity is a result of our own sin, but not in all instances. Trust God in the face of opposition and criticism.

That’s why all of you have conspired against me! Nobody tells me when my own son makes a covenant with Jesses’s son. None of you cares about me or tells me that my son has stirred up my own servant to wait in ambush for me, as is the case today.” 1 Samuel 22:8 HCSB

I have frequently observed others having a “Pity Party”. They feel sorry for themselves and think everyone is out to get them. Some are convinced that others are plotting harm. Others become so depressed they wish they could end it all.

Saul was having a “Pity Party” and feeling as though everyone, including his servants, was conspiring against him. He felt that no one cared about him. Saul even thought his own son, Jonathan, was plotting against him. This was untrue as Jonathan would die fighting alongside his father.

Challenge: Are you having a “Pity Party” and thinking “poor little me, nobody cares about me”? If you are feeling sorry for yourself, remember that God loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer and die on the cross for your sins so you might have forgiveness and gain eternal life. Just think – God, the Omnipotent ruler of the universe, wants to have a personal relationship with you. Stop feeling sorry for yourself and know that God is with you through the valleys of life and on the mountain tops.

Saul said to his servants, “Listen, men of Benjamin: Is Jesse’s son going to give all of you fields and vineyards? Do you think he’ll make all of you commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds? 1 Samuel 22:7 HCSB

In America we are in the midst of the presidential campaign. Each candidate is promising what he or she will do when they are elected president. They not only make wild promises, they tell people why the other candidate is not a good choice and how he or she will only make things worse.

Saul was basically doing the same thing with his servants by asking them a rhetorical question about David. He was suggesting that David would not give them fields and vineyards and would not put them in charge of others. His basic plea was the same as it is today – “Pick me as your king and I will take care of you. If David is king he will not care about you.”

Challenge: No matter who is president or who is king, Jesus is the King above all other kings and presidents. We should seek to please Him. Even the leaders of the world are allowed their power and authority by the Sovereign God who is in control of everything. Pray for God’s will to be done in the elections. Go and exercise your freedom to vote. Pray for the leaders of our country to follow God’s principles.

Saul heard that David and his men had been discovered. At that time Saul was in Gibeah, sitting under the tamarisk tree at the high place. His spear was in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him. 1 Samuel 22:6 HCSB

Have you ever wished you could be like someone else who might be physically attractive, smart, or in a position of power? Or maybe you do not like someone because he got the job or position you desired. Jealousy of others will drive us to unusual thoughts and actions.

Saul was jealous of David. In Saul’s mind David was better looking, a better soldier, a better leader, and was more popular and well-liked by the people than himself. His jealousy caused him to seek out David to kill him. Saul was consumed with his own selfish desires and his desire to kill David because he thought David was trying to kill him in order to become king. David was on the run trying to hide from Saul. So paranoid was Saul that he had his spear in his hand and was prepared for battle even though his servants were all standing around him.

Challenge: Of whom are you jealous? Be the person God has created you to be and do not allow your jealousy to cause you to have evil thoughts that might bring you to take actions that you would later regret. Remember to pray for and love your enemies just as Jesus commanded.

Jonathan then said to David, “Go in the assurance the two of us pledged in the name of the Lord when we said: The Lord will be a witness between you and me and between my offspring and your offspring forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan went into the city. 1 Samuel 20:42 HCSB

Some people have friends that date back to childhood. Because my father was a minister, we moved often and I did not have the opportunity to develop close friendships with other children. Some of my closest friends are those with whom I went to seminary, with whom I worked or with whom I taught leadership training conferences. One of my best friends is Mark Miller, state Sunday School Director for the Tennessee Baptist Convention. We developed a close relationship while I served at Lifeway Christian Resources and at two other churches in Tennessee. We have done several Sunday School leadership conferences together and we enjoy playing golf together. I keep in touch with Mark and I am sure our friendship will last for many years to come.

Jonathan and David promised to be friends forever, and their friendship would even carry over to their children. David kept his promise. After Jonathan’s death, David found Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, and brought him to live in his court, where he enjoyed the privileges of being part of the kings’ family (2 Samuel 9:1-10).

Challenge: Love, trust, and loyalty are key ingredients for any friendship. Jonathan and David did not let adversity and challenges pull them apart. Thank God for your best friend or friends. They are gifts from God. What can you do to support and strengthen your friendships?

When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone Ezel, fell with his face to the ground, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more. 1 Samuel 20:41 HCSB

I just read an article about how Hilton hotels had a picture of two men in bed together in a travel and leisure magazine. When asked why they utilized this picture rather than two men having lunch or playing tennis together, they said they had a very diverse base of clients and they wanted to relate to everyone. They were proud of portraying homosexuality. It seems that more and more people are becoming comfortable with homosexuality, and it is more acceptable today than ever before.

Some people use this verse to support homosexuality saying that Jonathan and David had a homosexual relationship. This is not true; kissing was a common expression of greeting or parting between close friends in that culture and would not have indicated a homosexual relationship.

Gotquestions.org says: The Bible consistently tells us that homosexual activity is a sin (Genesis 19:1-13; Leviticus 18:22;20:13; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9). Romans 1:26-27 teaches specifically that homosexuality is a result of denying and disobeying God.

God does not create a person with homosexual desires. The Bible tells us that people become homosexuals because of sin (Romans 1:24-27) and ultimately because of their own choice. A person may develop a greater susceptibility to homosexuality, but it does not excuse the decision to sin by giving in to sinful desires. If a person develops a greater susceptibility to anger/rage, does that make it right for him to give into such desires? Of course not! The same is true with homosexuality.

Challenge: Nearly every family has been touched by homosexuality in some way. Pray for those who have chosen homosexual lifestyles and pray for family members who have been impacted by homosexuality. Homosexuality is not a greater sin than any other sin. We are called to love the sinner, not the sin. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

He came to the location of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, but Jonathan called to him and said, “The arrow is beyond you, isn’t it?” Then Jonathan called to him “Hurry up and don’t stop!” Jonathan’s young man picked up the arrow and returned to his master. He did not know anything, only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. 1 Samuel 20:37-39 HCSB

A friend of mine was under attack by another person who was trying to imply that my friend was a liar and a cheat. I could have asked my friend to come to my office at the church, but I did not want to risk others potentially hearing our conversation so I called my friend and asked if I could meet him at his house. I was able to share with him what was being said and suggest how he could best respond to the person making the attacks on his integrity and character. I wanted to protect my friend and his reputation.

Jonathan had discovered that his father was intent on killing David and wanted to protect him from his father. Jonathan and David devised a plan to use arrows to signal to David if he was in danger and needed to flee or if he was safe and could return to the city. Jonathan must have been torn between his loyalty to his father and his loyalty to his friend. Jonathan and David’s friendship stood the test. Jonathan decided to protect David and his friendship.

Challenge: We may not have a king who is trying to kill our friends, but there are times when we need to take a stand to protect them. Friends can protect each other from gossip and lies, from temptation and sin, and from unwise decisions. What have you done to protect a friend or what has a friend done to protect you? Thank God for your faithful and trustworthy friends.

Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt. David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the soldiers, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well. 1 Samuel 18:4-5 HCSB

In today’s world we incorporate Facebook as a part of our social media whereby we invite many people to be called our “friends”. But are they truly friends or merely acquaintances ? It seems that the more “friends” someone has on Facebook the better. We can accept friends and even “unfriend” someone. In so doing, have we possibly cheapened the value of a real friend?

Jonathan and David had reason to be enemies or at least rivals. Jonathan was the heir to the throne, but David was God’s chosen one to be the next king. Instead of a rivalry between Jonathan and David, there was the closest of friendships. Jonathan demonstrated his commitment to David by giving him his royal robe and other items that David would need in battle. This illustrated that Jonathan understood and accepted that David was to be the next king and was committed to serving him even if it meant going against his father, Saul.

Challenge: A true friend is one who is trustworthy, honest, dependable, kind, and usually shares a common interest. We have to carve out time in our busy schedules to spend time with friends. Good friends are gifts from God and worth the effort and investment of our time.

Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as he loved himself. 1 Samuel 18:3 HCSB

Many times in the Bible we find that the Israelite people made a covenant with God. A covenant can be defined as a promise or a commitment to do something. When I married my wife I made a vow or a covenant to love her, to protect her, and to be faithful to her in sickness and health, in poverty and in wealth. In marriage one should seek what is best for the other person rather than what is best for himself. It seems that in today’s world there is very little commitment in marriage, much less in a friendship.

Jonathan and David were close friends and committed to each other. This Scripture records that Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself. Their friendship was based on a commitment to God and to each other. This is an example of what Jesus commanded when He said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) Christ also said, “No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) Only Christ is capable of perfect love and friendship. He laid His life down for all of us so we could have forgiveness of sin and gain eternal life.

Challenge: Just like marriage, a friendship takes commitment, time, and effort. What are you doing to develop a deeper friendship with your closest friend? Invest in your friendship by showing kindness, being available, forgiving, and listening. Thank God for your friends and commit to pray for them regularly.