Staying Alive

“Then Saul’s son Jonathan came out to David at Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God.” (1 Samuel 23:16)

David was just trying to survive. Saul and his troops continued their relentless pursuit of David and his 600 men, and David moved from place to place in the wilderness, staying sometimes just one step ahead of Saul. Some days David arrived at a place called “discouragement.” He knew God had anointed him to become king in place of Saul. But that wasn’t happening. He had to have wondered why all this was happening to him, and in fact some of the psalms he wrote bear that out. What was the purpose of all of this? If God wanted him to be king, why didn’t He just make it happen? Such days David had.

On one of those days, when faith and hope were at low tide, Jonathan came to David in the desert. He secretly came to see him at Horesh, and there he encouraged David in his faith. He told David not to be afraid, that Saul would never lay a hand on him, that he would one day be king of Israel. Jonathan and David renewed their friendship covenant before the Lord on the spot.

What a friend Jonathan was! Friends encourage each other in their faith.

Lord, We thank You for friends You use to encourage us in our walk with You. Help us to be a friend like that to others today as well. Amen.