To my knowledge, no one has ever wanted to kill me.
Oh sure, I’ve had people angry with me. I’ve had people want to use me as a punching bag (a couple did back in the junior high years). I’ve had people speak to me in angry and hostile tones. Some have shaken in rage against me. Some have even had a penetrating look in their eyes that seemed to communicate, “if I could, I’d kill you.” But had a weapon been placed in their hands at that moment, I am quite certain it would not have been used against me.
The reality that no one has ever wanted to kill me makes it somewhat difficult to comprehend David’s emotion in 1 Samuel 23. Saul was angry at David. Angry enough to kill. Angry enough that he had already attempted to kill David, and angry enough that he had enlisted his army to track down David and kill him.
So when we read “Now David became aware that Saul had come out to seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh” (1 Sam. 23:15), I cannot — and most of us likely cannot — comprehend the kind of despair that crept into his heart at that moment.
It was into that situation that David received a gift from God — a friend to minister to him and encourage him. “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God” (23:16).
Now when we hear the word “encourage,” we think something like, “he put his arm around him and told him that things would be better.” Or maybe, “he told him a story that made his heart lighter.” Or maybe even, “he prayed with him.”
But the Hebrew text actually uses a compound phrase for this word “encourage.” Literally, it is, “he strengthened his hands.” In other words, at the news that Saul was coming, David became weak and Jonathan’s words of exhortation and reminder served to strengthen him to continue in the task. He had been weak and lacked courage. But because of the ministrations of his friend, he was stronger, and he was able to carry on his task. He was emboldened and equipped through Jonathan’s counsel.
What did Jonathan say? The writer tells us, “he encouraged him in God.” In fact, the writer tells us exactly what Jonathan said: “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also” (23:17). In other words, what emboldened David was the reminder that what God had said was true: Saul would not find David, and David would be king. All Saul’s attempts to circumvent the will of God were and would remain vain. The promises of God to David would not fail because God cannot fail nor be faithless to who He is (2 Tim. 2:13).
What gave David courage and hope when he was discouraged was a reminder about the true nature and character of God. When David was fearful, he failed to think on the true character of God. The circumstances loomed larger than God in David’s mind. And Jonathan’s words served to reorient David’s mind to the reality that God is larger than circumstances. God can be trusted when He has made a promise. God is working good in the midst of what appears to be futility and danger.
Here are two take-aways from this passage: if you are fearful and discouraged in your circumstances, find your strength and courage in God. Do not over-inflate the dangers that are growing in your mind. And do not minimize the power and authority of God. Your ability to stand in strength is not dependent on your ability to elude danger. Your ability to courageously stand in difficult circumstances is dependent on your trust in the Lord to sustain you. He is your strength. Trust Him, not yourself.
Secondly, be wisely observant of those around you: who is discouraged and despondent? Who is giving up on life and questioning his circumstances? Seek out that person, and with intention and purpose point him to the goodness and grace of God. The Lord is still working good in his trouble; the Lord has not forgotten His promises. The Lord will prevail. Strengthen your friend’s hands not with trite platitudes, but with rock-solid truth about the nature and character of God. The courage he needs — and we all need — for the day will be found in the person of God.
Words of Grace 