Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Year 4, Day 309: 1 Samuel 23

Theological Commentary: Click Here


Discipleship Focus: In

  • In: This is the word we use to express our relationships with our spiritual family.  These are often the people who hold us spiritually accountable.  They are the ones to whom we typically go for discussion and discernment.  These are the ones with whom we learn to share leadership.  They are the ones with whom we become family on mission.

In this chapter we see several interactions about which we can view the lens of In.  First of all, let’s take a look at David and the town that he rescues.  David hears that they are being attacked by the Philistines and wants to go to their rescue.  His people question, so he goes to God and confirms the action.  Yet, after the town is spared – Saul comes against him to trap him. 

Clearly Saul is not In for David.  But neither is the town that he just rescued!  You would think that they would be loyal to David, after all he just rescued them from the hand of the Philistines.  But the town plans to turn David over to Saul.  They are not In for David.  Just because we do something for the benefit of another person, do not think that they are In for us.

On the other hand, we get to view Jonathon and David.  Even after Saul pursues David, Jonathon comes to David.  Rather than side with his father, Jonathon continues to side with David.  In fact, here in this chapter we see Jonathon confess that the kingdom is David’s and he will be at David’s side.  Jonathon is voluntarily giving up on his claim for the kingdom in order to be In for David.

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