READING: 1 Samuel 21-24, Luke 20:9-26
We all need a friend like Jonathan. He was David’s friend, and he was careful to protect David when his own father, Saul, wanted to kill David. In fact, Saul looked for David every day, but the grace of God protected David from the king.
In today’s reading, Jonathan made his way to David and “encouraged him in his faith in God” (1 Sam. 23:16). He did so by reminding David that God would keep His word that David would one day be the king. And, if God were going to keep His word, Jonathan could be confident in saying to David, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true” (1 Sam. 23:17). God’s protective power and His commitment to His promises trumped any evil intent of Saul.
There are times in our lives when all of us need someone to say to us, “Just trust the Lord. He will keep His word.” Those times are often times of conflict and fear, and it’s easy to turn our attention from the promises of God to the difficulties of our circumstances. May God grant us that kind of friend, and may we be that kind of friend to others.
PRAYER: “God, grant me that kind of friend—and make me that kind of friend.”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Samuel 25-26, Luke 20:27-21:4