Greetings everyone and thanks for joining me for this edition of our Sunday School preview. This Sunday’s lesson is entitled “Love and Devotion to Others” and is found in 1 Samuel 19:1-7.
Sometimes in our lives we develop a friendship with someone that can be characterized as one “closer than a brother” or any other member in our family. That was the case when Jonathan and David developed such a friendship.
These types of friendships don’t often last because they encounter circumstances such as time, distance, marriage, separation, new relationships, outside interference, misunderstandings, sickness and death that get in the way. David and Jonathan encountered some of these things, yet their friendship remained strong until they were permanently separated by death.
Jonathan and David became friends as a result of Saul, king of Israel, inviting David to remain with him and in his service after he killed the giant Goliath. Jonathan was Saul’s son who immediately befriended David and the two developed a deep and abiding friendship. They made a covenant between them and as a pledge of that covenant, Jonathan gave David some very personal and meaningful items.
As David began to prosper as a warrior, the people of the kingdom took notice and began to praise him for his many accomplishments on the battlefield. While this was good for Saul and the kingdom, Saul became very afraid, jealous and envious of David and the fame and notoriety David was receiving.
As a result, Saul decided he wanted to have David killed on the battlefield. But all of his plots failed including one that resulted with his daughter being married to David. When Saul saw that his attempts to have David killed on the battlefield failed, he decided to use a more direct approach.
He ordered his family and officers to kill David. When Jonathan learned what his father had commanded that David be killed, Jonathan warned David of his father’s plan. He told David to hide until he had an opportunity to convince his father to change his mind. This is where the love and devotion to others is clearly elevated and seen.
During that encounter Saul swore an oath that he would not harm David. Jonathan was successful in turning his father from his plan to kill David. David was able to continue to serve Saul as before because Jonathan had intervened on his behalf. The sad part however is that Saul’s fear, jealousy and envy overcame his vow to Jonathan concerning David and he again sought to kill him. But all that is for another lesson.
Meanwhile, David and Jonathan remain the closest of friends despite Saul and everything else that came between them. This is why their friendship serves as a good example of “love and devotion to others”.
Well, I hope you will be able to attend SS this coming Sunday, invite someone to come and share your thoughts with the class. Sunday School at Flag Branch will begin at 9:00 am and you are invited to join us at www.fbmbc.org and clicking our online services link. I am available to answer your questions just before I give the lesson highlights. If you have any comments or questions before then, be sure to place them in the comment section of this preview and I will get back to you. So, as always remember to fear God and keep His commandments.
Pastor Jordan
