Devotions
Rev Gav
You
1 Samuel 18.6–9, 19.1–7
As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.And the women sang to one another as they made merry,
‘Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his tens of thousands.’
Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. He said, ‘They have ascribed to David tens of thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands; what more can he have but the kingdom?’ So Saul eyed David from that day on.
Saul spoke to his son Jonathan and to all his servants about killing David. But Saul’s son Jonathan took great delight in David. Jonathan told David, ‘My father Saul is trying to kill you; therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself. I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you; if I learn anything I will tell you.’ Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, ‘The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you; for he took his life in his hand when he attacked the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against an innocent person by killing David without cause?’ Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, ‘As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.’ So Jonathan called David and related all these things to him. Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
Reflect
How fickle powerful leaders can be! Saul, who had just delighted in David’s victory became jealous of David and plotted to kill him, yet David had an advocate in Saul’s son Jonathan.
The ‘living God’ — who is interested in our lives — works in and through others. What David was unable to achieve, Jonathan was uniquely placed to achieve. This is a reminder that we need each other and that God has given us all unique gifts and talents, relationships, skills, and predispositions.
In Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth, he reminded his readers that we are all part of Christ’s body and all equally precious, valued, and important; that we need to work together to fulfil God’s ongoing mission in the world.
I wonder if this co-dependency helps us stay humble!? There are no autocrats in God’s kingdom or in Christ’s church. If the story of David tells us anything it tells us that the strong need those who are wrongly perceived as ‘weak’. You can be a shepherd boy or simply a friend and advocate. Age, ability, status, gender, sexuality, and race are no hindrance to being part of God’s family, and to being of immense value to others and to the wider community.
Today, you might not feel like your life adds up to much; however, do not put yourself down. No-one has your role, your set of skills, your personality, or your relationships. You are uniquely placed to do good works that no-one else on the planet can do. Only you.
Therefore, go and be fabulous to everyone.
and then