April 2 Daily Devotional

1 Samuel 18

When David returned from the defeat of the Philistine, king Saul would not let him go back to Bethlehem to take care of his father’s sheep. He needed brave young men in his army, so he kept David and gave him command of one thousand soldiers. He should have the privilege of living with the king in his palace at Gibeah. One of the sons of king Saul, his name was Jonathan, felt himself drawn to the ruddy shepherd. “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” The king’s son took off his princely robe and gave it to David, he also handed to him his sword and his bow. The two “made a covenant,” that their friendship should endure.

But David soon found out that he had an enemy. When David had overcome Goliath, and his fame had spread throughout the country, the women of Israel came out of the cities to greet their nation’s hero. With music and rejoicing they welcomed David. They sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”

This made Saul very angry, and a jealous feeling crept into his heart. Perhaps he thought of Samuel’s words, that God would take the kingdom from him and give it to one who was more worthy of it. The evil spirit again came over him. He raved in his palace and was very restless. David was called in to play on his harp, as he had done before, to quiet the king. But now the beautiful music was in vain: Saul would not listen. In his madness he seized his javelin and threw it at David. But David avoided it.

Saul tried to get rid of David. He said, “Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon. him.” He promised David his daughter for his wife, if he would fight bravely and defeat the Philistines. He hoped that David would be killed by them. David went out and fought the Philistines, but returned unharmed and with greater honors than Saul had expected. After a while Saul spoke to Jonathan and to all his servants that they should slay David. Jonathan tried to correct his father and reminded him of David’s brave deeds and that he had no reason to kill him. Saul replied, “As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain.” But very soon this promise was forgotten, and his anger against David was aroused anew. At one time, when David’s place at the table had been empty for several meals, and Jonathan tried to excuse his absence, Saul threw his spear at him. It grieved Jonathan very much and now he knew that there was no more hope for his father. The next morning Jonathan and David met in a lonely field. The two friends—it was necessary for them to part. They kissed each other and wept, united by the tie of fellowship that binds for time and eternity.