Check out all the previous David readings here.

David Reading | Week 3 | Day 1

Prayer

As you come to spend time with Jesus, calm your mind and body until you feel fully present. Ask Him to teach you more about Himself today.

Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 19:1-11

Read these verses three times slowly.

Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”

Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?”

Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.”

So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.

Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.

But an evil spirit from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the lyre, Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.

Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.”

Reflection & Questions

Relationships. They are what our souls are made for. With God first and then others around us. Since relationships are so powerful to our souls, they can make or break us, causing the highest highs and the lowest lows. In this week’s readings we are going to see a lot of different relationships and the impact of those on David’s life.

Today, we are introduced to Johnathan, Saul’s son. He is the rightful heir to the throne, but as we see he becomes David’s closest friend, his ‘brother from another mother.’ Jonathan’s friendship with David is so unexpected. Jonathan should be jealous, wanting David dead like Saul, so that he can take the throne. But that is not Johnathan’s perspective at all. Unlike his father, Jonathan is an advocate for David, wanting to lift up his friend.

Read again how Johnathan stands up for David, and seeks to persuade his father: “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The Lord won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?” This is a beautiful example of standing up for a friend with confidence and humility.

It’s been said, “Tell me about your friends, and I’ll tell you about your future.” There’s a lot of truth to this. Who we surround ourselves with makes a big difference in the course of our life. Every believer needs a friend who loves God and loves them. Who will give wise counsel. Who will have their back. We will read more of David and Johnathan’s friendship this week, but for now, let’s reflect on the friendships we have and the impact they have on our lives.

1. Who are your ‘Johnathans’? If you don’t have a Johnthan, talk to God about that.
2. Who are you a ‘Johnathan’ too? How can you invest in that friendship more?

Prayer

Pray in response to today’s reading.

Worship Song

You might use this song today to worship Jesus today:

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Questions?