1 Samuel 18:2-92And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. 5And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 6And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music. 7And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands. 8And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom? 9And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. (1 Samuel 18:2‑9).
Jonathan and David made a covenant after this great victory, and David went to live in Saul’s palace. Jonathan then stripped himself of all he had, giving his own robe, his garments, his sword, his bow, and his girdle—all to David. This is touching devotion indeed, and ought to be a lesson to us. Have we presented all to the Lord Jesus, our mighty Victor? Has He won our hearts so that we desire to be with Him above all else? Jonathan gave all he had to David, but still there is one thing which we notice he did not give, and that one thing was the most important of all. He gave everything he had, but he never gave himself to David. Everything was fine as long as David was in the place of honor in Saul’s court, but it was quite another thing to follow David when he was rejected and hunted by Saul. This test was soon to come, as it comes in the life of every young believer. When we are first saved we delight to give everything we have to the Lord, and we long to see Him in the place of honor, but when we learn that He is not wanted, are we willing to leave position and friends to be where He is in the outside, rejected place? This is the test that was soon to confront Jonathan, as it does you, dear young believer. May we be willing to give ourselves, as well as what we have, to the Lord. It was not that Jonathan did not love David, but he did not want to follow him to the cave of Adullam. He tried to serve two masters. He tried to be loyal to his father King Saul, and to David also—an utter impossibility!
David went in and out wherever Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely, so that he won the confidence and favor of all in the court. When he returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out singing and dancing and playing musical instruments, saying, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” Saul had been very glad of the victory over the Philistines, but when he heard this he was very angry. To ascribe ten thousands to David and only thousands to him, made him very jealous, and he eyed David from that day forward. The world is very glad of the blessings Christianity brings, but they do not want those who speak of and exalt Christ. They want the right to do as they like—to talk as they like, to act as they like, to dress as they like, without any mention of the rights of Christ. He is left out, in spite of the mighty victory He has won, and yet all blessing comes from Him.
Even we who are Christians have to watch against pride and jealousy. One may find plenty of help from others until his ability begins to eclipse the one who helps him, and then, alas, jealousy is so likely to come in. Naturally our poor hearts like first place, and are prone to be jealous of those who have more friends, more ability, or more influence than we have. It may be called “inferiority complex,” but it is worse than that—it is pride and jealousy which we ought to judge. Oh, let us watch against it! These horrible “weeds” which thrive so well in our natural hearts have caused more broken homes, broken assemblies, and broken hearts, than perhaps anything else. Let us watch against their very first beginnings, and judge them, root and branch, in the Lord’s presence. God hates pride and jealousy, and He cannot bless us if we allow these things in our hearts.
ML 10/17/1954