“So David and his men, about six hundred in number, left Keilah and kept moving from place to place. When Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah, he did not go there. 14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. 15 While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that[a] Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.” 1 Samuel 23. 13-18
This wasn’t the first time Jonathan pledged his loyalty and made a covenant with David. Jonathan knew that David was chosen as the next king. He seemed ok with this because he loved David like he loved himself. Their bond of friendship was great and trust in the Lord even greater.
David had with him six hundred men sneaking around the wilderness of Judah. It’s a big area but not large enough to hide that many people along with women and children and animals of all kinds. David had many fighting men but the company of people following along who had been displaced when Saul threatened David was even larger.
The text says that “day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into this hands.” This is remarkable. God is protecting David, sheltering him from danger, shielding him from the hands of his enemy. This is when Jonathan shows up in order to help David “find strength in God.”
Who does God bring into our lives to strengthen us in times of trouble? And how does God protect us so that no harm comes our way? In this age of a global pandemic, violence in our cities and political unrest, we need the Lord to shield us and shelter us. We need him to protect us from the evils of this world.
Jonathan was David’s encourager, friend and companion. He came to remind him of the Lord’s promises and to keep faith. It’s incredible to think that he would give up the throne for his friend David, reject his evil father, and put his faith in the Lord for his friend David.
Who is the Lord sending your way to encourage you by standing in the gap of faith? Trust God this day. Turn and acknowledge him as your Lord and allow him to walk with you every step that you take.
“O Lord God, you are good. I thank you for my many blessings. For my daughters birthday, for my son and his wife, for my own wife of twenty one years, for your patience in our sin and grace to elevate suffering. Come now, Holy Spirit, redeem this world. Draw it to yourself. Return soon Lord Jesus and be a shield to your people. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen