1 Samuel 19:1-17 Change of Heart Brings Permanent Change of Behavior

1 Samuel 19:1-17 Change of Heart Brings Permanent Change of Behavior

1 Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his close friendship with David, 2 told him what his father was planning. “Tomorrow morning,” he warned him, “you must find a hiding place out in the fields. 3 I’ll ask my father to go out there with me, and I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll tell you everything I can find out.”

4 The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. “The king must not sin against his servant David,” Jonathan said. “He’s never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could. 5 Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the LORD brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!” 6 So Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed.”

7 Afterward Jonathan called David and told him what had happened. Then he brought David to Saul, and David served in the court as before. 8 War broke out again after that, and David led his troops against the Philistines. He attacked them with such fury that they all ran away.

9 But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the LORD suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, 10 Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night. 11 Then Saul sent troops to watch David’s house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning.“ 12 So she helped him climb out through a window, and he fled and escaped. 13 Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat’s hair at its head. 14 When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and couldn’t get out of bed. 15 But Saul sent the troops back to get David. He ordered, “Bring him to me in his bed so I can kill him!” 16 But when they came to carry David out, they discovered that it was only an idol in the bed with a cushion of goat’s hair at its head. 17 “Why have you betrayed me like this and let my enemy escape?” Saul demanded of Michal. “I had to,” Michal replied. “He threatened to kill me if I didn’t help him.”

Background

Saul, having exhausted his covert tactics to assassinate David, finally gives up his true colors and issues a direct order. However, Saul appears to have given in to Jonathan’s persuasion and relents, but not for long when his jealousy is again ignited by David’s persistent success at the battlefield. This time, David escapes aided by his wife only find Saul hot on his heels. This passage teaches us that people will change for the good only when they recognize their sin and repent on their own accord. True and enduring change comes when one undertakes to understand the roots of his darkness and regenerate his heart by the truth and the Spirit. Only with regeneration of the heart comes permanent change of behavior.

Observation

Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David

Having exhausted his tactics to destroy David, Saul now embarks on a direct method: He issues an order to his charges including Jonathan to assassinate David but without recognizing his son’s affection towards David is undiminished. Jonathan, being determined to resolve this crisis between his father and his best friend seeks to clarify this “misunderstanding”. He devices a plan to have David listen in within earshot in the field while he tries to convince his father to reverse his course of action.

As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed

The next morning, Jonathan brings Saul to the field and speaks to him at length reiterating David’s loyalty and contribution towards him. At this stage, Saul can be reasoned with, and Jonathan achieves the desired conciliation by putting Saul’s heart at rest. Saul puts himself on oath never to pursue David without reason and David returned to serve in Saul’s court as before.

If you don’t escape tonight, you will be dead by morning

David’s further successes in battling the Philistines ignite Saul’s jealousy. Once again, Saul tries to kill David but he survives another murderous assault. Michal having a familial understanding of her own father, urges David to escape. Her ruse gives David time to get away from the house and take refuge in the less accessible parts of the country.

Truth

The only way to impact the world meaningfully is to make a difference consistently over a period of time

If you want to make an impact at your work place; to be an asset to your company and industry; and to establish God’s kingdom where you are, you must endeavor to make a difference and to do it persistently. In other words, we must possess the spirit of excellence and perseverance. For many, their presence do not make a difference whether at the work place or their family. David’s exceptional rise and contribution to Israel is attributed to his attitude of excellence and perseverance.

Excellence is NOT about being better than others; it is the willingness to go out of your job scope to make things work. Perseverance is the readiness to go the long haul; it is about developing a mindset and discipline of being focused on the mission at hand. The world has no lack of gifted people, but many disappeared into oblivion because they supposed they could change the world by their ingenuity alone. While creativity and insights can only be gained by prayer, perseverance is really man’s department. Not all are equally creative and gifted, but everyone can persevere and excel if he puts his hope in God. I for one am an engineer by profession, inclined towards logic and naturally less adroit with words. I envy when I hear the words of one flowing effortlessly decorating his thoughts with nuances at a click of the pen. But I am still persevering unconcerned with my shortcomings believing that I could excel if I do not give up.

Commitment without the regeneration of the heart will not endure

People must never be pressured into a commitment, for they will eventually disavow to follow their own convictions. As water will eventually find its own level, unless one recognizes his darkness and repents, there is no real change. Hence, one should endeavor to understand the root of one’s darkness and to regenerate his heart by the truth of God’s word. Jesus says, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). That way, we set the right belief system that will lead to the right lifestyle. King Saul is a case in point; his obsession with power is the main driver behind his murderous inclinations. And there is also the deeper problem, which is the lack of the fear of God.

Jonathan endeavored to tackle his father’s problem by appealing to the logical side of things: Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all! Unaware of his father’s intractable hunger for power and capacity for evil, he barked up the wrong tree.

Many churches find it an uphill task in trying to convince people to give their tithes and offerings. They resort to using peer and corporate pressure and even the threat of losing one’s salvation if one does not live up to the commitment. The root is in the curse of poverty and hopelessness, that which can only be broken by the New Covenant of Christ’s blood. When the believer receives the Holy Spirit, he will begin to embrace his new identity as God’s son and receive his inheritance and riches by faith. Jesus teaches that a new lifestyle and the blessings of the Kingdom begin with the rebirth of one’s spirit.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

We must endeavor to do our very best in serving God and not man

David persevered in performing at his level best in battling against the Philistine enemy even though he knew that Saul would be sorely jealous of his success and popularity. For he could do no less than his very best to protect his country and is not about to do otherwise to preserve peace with his king and save his own life. Hence, we must always do what is right and beneficial for the company despite oppositions even from your superior. In doing so, you become God’s instrument in establishing His kingdom and values system in your company. As God protected David from the backlash of Saul’s army, God will likewise protect you and raise you up.

Application

Do you sometimes feel that your hard work is not appreciated and you want to give up doing your best? Paul teaches that God will reward us according to our work if man neglects to do so. Hence, believers must endeavor to make difference at our work place in a spirit of excellence and perseverance.

With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. Ephesian 6:7-8

Are you sometimes tempted to draw people to God with promises of blessings but without the necessity of repentance? People come to God when they see the need to change and to be reconciled to God. Our role is to reveal God’s love, power and truth through our words and our works.

Dear Lord, help me to persevere and to overcome my weaknesses so that I could come to a place of excellence. Use me to make a difference in my family, work place and church by speaking the truth and give people the space to make up their own decision. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.