1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: And Jonathan cried after the lad make speed, haste, stay not. 2 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,880 Speaker 1: Then Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows and came to 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: his master first Samuel twenty thirty eight. Dear God, as 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: my life continues to grow and evolve, I thank you 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:23,439 Speaker 1: for blessing me with covenant relationships like David and Jonathan's. 6 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: When I am on the verge of stepping into my destiny, 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: bless me with friendships that have the inside scoop on 8 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: whomever is trying to cause me harm or hinder my purpose. 9 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: I pronounce love and favor as the main companions in 10 00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: my friendships. I declare that the inner circle of friends 11 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:49,640 Speaker 1: surrounding my life are purpose driven, then destiny minded. Thank you, 12 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 1: Lord that you are bringing the right people into my 13 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: life at the right time. From this day forward, I 14 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 1: will make the conscious decision to invest into my relationships 15 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,120 Speaker 1: and ensure that our bond of friendship will be strong 16 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: and purposeful. Even when it seems like I'm in a 17 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: season of hiding and preparing, I will remain confident that 18 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: distance and time won't break the God connections surrounding my life. 19 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: In Jesus name, Amen, thanks for making prayer or priority 20 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: in your life to hear the Bible come to life. 21 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:32,760 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for the Bible in a Year, brought to 22 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: you by Bible in a Year dot com. The Bond 23 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: of Friendship. In our last story, we learned how Saul 24 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: sought to take David's life. Jealousy and rage filled Saul, 25 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:58,280 Speaker 1: and he sent men to murder him, but Jonathan saved 26 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: David and David escaped to Samuel. In this story, we 27 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: learn how Jonathan and David's friendship grows stronger. Jonathan protects 28 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: and nurtures David from the heavy hand of Saul, as 29 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: inspired by the Book of First Samuel. Hello, I'm Pastor 30 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible in a 31 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 1: Year podcast. In our story yesterday, we saw how Saul's 32 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 1: jealousy spilled over in his desire to destroy David. Saul 33 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: could not take the praise and adulation and adoration that 34 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 1: was growing in the hearts of the people for David. 35 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: He knew he was losing his kingdom, so he tried 36 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: to kill David again and again. David fled into Samuel's territory, 37 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: and David was protected not only by God, but by 38 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: Saul's own household. His son, Jonathan, and David's wife Michael, 39 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: the daughter of Saul. And today we will see how 40 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: Saul continues to pursue David, and how Jonathan once again 41 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 1: protects the life of his your friend. Let's listen now 42 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: to today's reading. David and Jonathan sat sitting on a 43 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 1: stone facing the city below. Subtle tears welled up in 44 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: David's eyes as he watched the city from afar. What 45 00:03:15,800 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: have I done to deserve this from him? David said, 46 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: shaking his head. Jonathan sat there silently for a moment, 47 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: allowing David to feel the sting of betrayal. He put 48 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: his hand on David's shoulder and said, you shall not die, 49 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:36,320 Speaker 1: my friend. My father does nothing without telling me first. 50 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: I will know if he tries anything else. David was 51 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: not convinced. He was still soaking up the view of 52 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: the city. He loved the people as his own sheep. 53 00:03:47,840 --> 00:03:51,160 Speaker 1: The sun was beginning its descent and a mild orange 54 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 1: filled the skies. David, still looking forward, said, your father 55 00:03:56,640 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: knows we are closer than brothers. He would not tell 56 00:03:59,840 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: you of his plans to kill me again. I'll do 57 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: whatever you want, Jonathan said. Tomorrow is the new moon, 58 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: and your father is expecting me to feast with him 59 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 1: in the elders. I will hide instead, and you will 60 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: tell him I am in Bethlehem making a sacrifice with 61 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: my clan. If your father is fine, then we will 62 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: know he means me no harm. If your father is angry, 63 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: we will know his heart. David paused for a moment. 64 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: He felt his tears returning. He regained his composure and 65 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: stood up. You and I have made a promise to 66 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: be friends. However, if you find any guilt in me, 67 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: you should kill me yourself. Jonathan sprang to his feet 68 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: and said, nonsense. Come, let us go out into the field. 69 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: So the two walked through the fields. Jonathan put his 70 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: arm around David and said, I shall send word of 71 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: Sal's temperament. Jonathan paused and became very serious. Listen, God 72 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: will show you favor wherever you go. He will exalt 73 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: you as king and destroy all those that make you 74 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: their enemy. Please show love to my house when God 75 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:23,039 Speaker 1: removes your enemies. David took Jonathan's words very seriously, and 76 00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 1: the two of them made a covenant with one another 77 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 1: there in the field. Jonathan promised to serve David and 78 00:05:29,880 --> 00:05:33,280 Speaker 1: protect him and David swore to show Jonathan in his 79 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:39,719 Speaker 1: entire household love and favor. Jonathan spoke again, saying, in 80 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 1: the next three days, I will go out into the 81 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 1: field for target practice where you are hiding. I will 82 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,120 Speaker 1: shoot three arrows towards you and send my servant to 83 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: go and retrieve them. If you hear me yell the 84 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,960 Speaker 1: arrows are on that side, it means the coast is 85 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: clear for you to return. If you hear me yell, 86 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: go further than that means Saul is still seeking your 87 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: life and you should flee. The two of them embraced 88 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 1: and parted ways. David loved Jonathan's soul as much as 89 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: his own, and there were no closer friends than all 90 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: of Israel. The Moon Festival had begun and David's place 91 00:06:18,279 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: at the king's table was empty. Saul paid little attention 92 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: to David's absence, thinking he may have just been ill. However, 93 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:31,239 Speaker 1: when the second day of the festival passed, Saul asked Jonathan, saying, 94 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: where is the son of Jesse. Jonathan cleared his throat 95 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: and replied. David asked me if he could go back 96 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 1: to Bethlehem to make a sacrifice with his clan his 97 00:06:42,160 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: brothers demanded it. Saul drove his knife into the table. 98 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 1: You stupid son of a whore, he yelled. Do you 99 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,479 Speaker 1: think I'm a fool? I know you want him to 100 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:57,080 Speaker 1: be king in your place. You shame yourself and your mother. 101 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,719 Speaker 1: As long as David lives, you will never verb king. 102 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: Saul shoved his chair back and pointed to his servants, 103 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 1: go find David so I can slaughter him myself. Jonathan 104 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,040 Speaker 1: stood up and yelled back at his father, why should 105 00:07:13,080 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 1: he be put to death? As Jonathan was speaking, Saul 106 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: took his spear and hurled it at Jonathan. He missed 107 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:23,560 Speaker 1: and the spear was driven into the wall behind him. 108 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: The room was silent. Saul was huffing in anger. Jonathan 109 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: met his father's gaze with complete rage in his eyes. 110 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,520 Speaker 1: Jonathan did not fear Saul, for he knew that the 111 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: lord was with David. Jonathan said nothing and left the 112 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:44,280 Speaker 1: room in a silent fury. The next morning, Jonathan went 113 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: out into the field with his servant for target practice. 114 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: He shout three arrows into the distance where he knew 115 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,920 Speaker 1: David was hiding. He turned to his servant and said, 116 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: start running, you will find the arrows. As I shoot them, 117 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: So the boy raningly in David's direction. The boy was 118 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: close to where the arrows were, but Jonathan yelled, keep running. 119 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:10,160 Speaker 1: The arrow is still ahead of you. Hurry, hurry, do 120 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: not wait even a moment. So the boy ran faster, 121 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,960 Speaker 1: but the command to run was really for David. He 122 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: bowed in Jonathan's direction and fled into the wilderness to 123 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: escape the judgment of Saul. Although David wasn't hiding it, 124 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: God's desire to use him was not finished. Neither would 125 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 1: there be separation between his heart and Jonathan's. Today's scripture 126 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 1: begins with David and Jonathan having a conversation. The mood 127 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 1: is heavy because Saul is trying to kill David and 128 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:47,480 Speaker 1: remove the threat to his own kingdom. But Jonathan, though 129 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:50,600 Speaker 1: he is Saul's son, is loyal to David. He knows 130 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: that God has anointed this man to be the king. 131 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 1: Proverbs tells us that there is a friend that sticks 132 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 1: closer than a brother, and certainly this is the relationship 133 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: ship between these two men, David and Jonathan. They are 134 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:08,679 Speaker 1: like brothers. It is a beautiful example of the closeness 135 00:09:08,760 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: and the commitment that is stronger than even the bonds 136 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: of family. Jonathan wants to reassure David and says his 137 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 1: father would not do anything to David without telling Jonathan first. 138 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,679 Speaker 1: But David has already had his life threatened by Saul 139 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: on multiple occasions. He is understandably anxious, and he's certain 140 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 1: that Saul, knowing the closeness between these two, would hide 141 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: his plans from Jonathan. Jonathan promises to do whatever he 142 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:37,280 Speaker 1: needs to do in order to help David, so David 143 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,960 Speaker 1: devises a plan. Jonathan will tell his father that David 144 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,000 Speaker 1: has decided to go to Bethlehem to offer sacrifices with 145 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: his people there. If Saul seems okay with that, David 146 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 1: can rest easy. But if he flies off into one 147 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,280 Speaker 1: of his now characteristic tirades, Jonathan will know that he 148 00:09:54,320 --> 00:09:57,800 Speaker 1: means harm to David. So Jonathan tells David that he 149 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,719 Speaker 1: will do as he asks, and he te David how 150 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: he will use a code to get him the word 151 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 1: of his safety. He would shoot eras for practice, and 152 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: if he tells his servant, who goes to retrieve the eras, 153 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: that they are farther out, David will know to run. 154 00:10:12,720 --> 00:10:15,360 Speaker 1: These two men swore an oath to each other and 155 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 1: David promised to show kindness to Jonathan's offspring, no matter 156 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 1: what would happen to Jonathan. In First Samuel twenty verses 157 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 1: thirteen to fifteen, this is what Jonathan says in God's word. 158 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:29,840 Speaker 1: May the Lord be with you as he has been 159 00:10:29,880 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 1: with my father. If I am still alive, show me 160 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: the steadfast love of the Lord that I may not die, 161 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: And do not cut off your steadfast love in my 162 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,199 Speaker 1: house forever. When the Lord cuts off every one of 163 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: the enemies of David from the face of the earth, 164 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,320 Speaker 1: Jonathan knew that God had chosen David to be the king. 165 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:53,080 Speaker 1: Jonathan would not stand in God's way. He would support 166 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:57,079 Speaker 1: God's men. He only wanted to ensure that his offspring, 167 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 1: his children, and their children would not suffer for the 168 00:10:59,640 --> 00:11:03,679 Speaker 1: sins of their father or their grandfather. And so at 169 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: the New Moon festival, Jonathan tells his father that David 170 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: wanted to go to Bethlehem to offer sacrifices, and Saul's 171 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: response couldn't be more clear. He is incensed and turns 172 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: his anger to his own son, cursing him for his 173 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:21,559 Speaker 1: loyalty to David. Saul, in a fit of rage, accuses 174 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: Jonathan of not caring that someone else would be the 175 00:11:24,360 --> 00:11:28,920 Speaker 1: king and not Jonathan, and he's right. Jonathan would have 176 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 1: been the rightful heir. But Jonathan is not interested in power. 177 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 1: He only wanted to obey God, and clearly God's plan. 178 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: God's purpose was for David to rule. So Jonathan sends 179 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 1: his message to David, who bows in his friend's direction. 180 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 1: He is deeply indebted to his friend as he flees 181 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: into the wilderness. David's path to the throne would twist 182 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: and turn even more before he would finally become king, 183 00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 1: and tomorrow will hear how he continues to run for 184 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 1: his life. Dear God, we thank you for faithful friends, 185 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,920 Speaker 1: for the people in our lives that love us, care 186 00:12:06,960 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: for us, and always seek our best. Thank you in 187 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 1: this passage of scripture that we can learn about the 188 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 1: loyalty of Jonathan and David and practice that same kind 189 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:21,000 Speaker 1: of faithfulness with our family and our friends. Help us 190 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 1: to be friends that others can trust with their very 191 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: lives in Jesus name, Amen, Thank you for listening to 192 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 1: today's Bible in a Year podcast. I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. 193 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: Download the Prey dot Com app and make prayer and 194 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: Bible study a priority in your life. If you enjoyed 195 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: this podcast, share it with someone you love or know. 196 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: And by sharing this podcast, we can get the word 197 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 1: of God to the world. And if you want more 198 00:12:47,679 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: resources on how to tap into God's power for Christian living, 199 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. God bless you. 200 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:05,319 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Medician, an innovative healthcare solution 201 00:13:05,400 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality