BY GBILE AKANNI
(Living Seed Vol 13 No. 1 July 2006)
As we have come to look into this narrative on the life of David and several others, it is our desire and prayer that we may catch a glimpse of the wisdom that moved them to serve God acceptably in their own generation. May He grant us a free compass by the Spirit to find our way through the tangle of words therein, that we may first and foremost discover Jesus on its pages.
David has been described in scriptures as a man after God’s own heart. This has almost become the major credential with which he was known. Vaguely we speak about “a man after God’s own heart”, without exploring and understanding what that heart itself is. We need to seek the intricate issues that compose such a heart. We have no doubts at all in declaring that David did all he did for God in his own generation because he was a man after God’s own heart. Yet, the heart David bore within him was what made him ‘a man after God’s own heart’. In this study, what has caught my attention is the kind of heart David had. And since the heart of a man is normally hidden from the surface, we can only trace it through his repeated actions. A man’s heart condition is at times conveyed or revealed through what his mouth speaks (for out of the abundance of a man’s heart, his mouth speaks). At other times, it is what he does when no one watches him that will speak eloquently of his heart’s situation.
This study is a panoramic view of David’s actions in all the conflicting issues that came his way on his path to the throne. Though we could have drawn issues from all over the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel, I have constrained myself to 1st Samuel 31 and 2nd Samuel 1.
I have written this in a devotional form so that spontaneous Issues of prayer arising from my own heart (as I see the heart of of David being vividly displayed before my eyes) may also urge you unto a personal examination of your own heart. What matters here is not David, who has served the Lord in His own generation and is now asleep. He is both dead and buried. The matter here is your own heart. Is it the kind that would attract God to you? Is it the kind that could attract the fresh oil of anointing? Is your heart panting after God, so as to seek continual conformity to the image and likeness of Jesus?
“ And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, here am I, and he said unto me, who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite. He said unto me again, stand, I pray thee upon me and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me. So I stood upon him, and slew him because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord. Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them: and likewise all the men that were with him. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. And David said unto the young man that told him, whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite. And David said unto him, how wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’S anointed? And David called one of the young men, and said, go near, and fall upon him, And he smote him that he died”. (2Sam. 1:5-15)
David had just returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, where he had seen the power of God at work. He saw the grace of God to recover all that the enemy had stolen and carted away. He knew again and afresh that nothing is absolutely impossible for God. No one is actually beyond recovery if the Lord wishes to do so. The recovery of relationship with men is also not impossible if it be in the will of God. Backsliders can be recovered no matter how long the enemy has carted them away in his train. His tender heart had just rebuked the sons of Belial in his team on the matter of sharing the spoils. He would not permit greed and lovelessness in dealing with the fellow members of the team that were weak to pursue the enemy beyond the brook Besor. He saw it as his duty to share the booty of war with friends and even with distant people, who did not come to the rescue of his household from the hold of the Amalekites. He sent gifts abroad to all acquaintances far and near. To him, it was just to share with them the spoils of the enemies of the Lord. What a selfless heart David had now developed as he walked with the Lord over the years, though through the valley of the shadow of death as Saul pursued him into caves and mountains.
Two days back at base, with the hilarity of recovery among the men and women in the camp, a young man turned up with news he thought would add to the jubilation in David’s camp. He thought David would rejoice at the news of the fall of Saul and Jonathan. He came with bracelets and the crown that had been on the head of Saul, to win the favour of a man whose heart has been delivered even from legitimate spoils of war, talk less of stolen goods from the Lord’s anointed. He told the story with great relish of how he lent his uncircumcised hand to slaughter the king on the mount of Gilboa as if it would win him a place in David’s tender heart. The young man of the Amalekites made the mistake of his life and actually paid so dearly for it. David’s heart had no space for gossip. It had no space for men of dubious character. It had no affection for revenge. It would not rejoice at the fall of his opponent talk less of his bosom friend and confidant. Saul was never regarded in the heart of David as a foe. He saw him every day as “my master and the Lord’s anointed”. He saw him as his father. He knew him as the man who brought him to the limelight of all he was then. He also knew that the chase Saul was lured into was because he had missed his step with God and because of the praise singers who spoiled friendships and scatter fellowships. He knew it was lack of communication and communion that brought the misunderstanding to the heart of Saul concerning him. His heart smote him before for cutting a piece of Saul’s skirt not even his hair or toe. What a tender heart. Lord, make our hearts so sensitive to thy love and to the needs of men around us.
On the other hand, this young Amalekite was close enough to have shielded Saul from the attack of the Philistines. He could have served as his security, but he became his killer. He also knew the way to the camp of David. He was such a man of double loyalty that he thought having finished with Saul, he should secure himself in the camp of David as the man who brought the glad tidings and who wrested Saul of his crown and bracelets for David’s head and neck. David’s heart could not tolerate such a dupe. He would not keep company with such an unfaithful man. Where as Saul’s armour bearer was reluctant to touch the Lord’s anointed, even when Saul begged him to do so, he rather fell upon his own spear than to see his master die while he was alive, the Amalekite was eager to slaughter and to cart away the bracelets and the crown. Do you accept into your bosom men who flip from men to men with stories of the downfall of others? Do not let your heart maintain even if it be a little space for such men who slaughter the anointed with the sword of their mouth or with the dagger in their hands.
He Mourned For Saul
As we continue to look into this story of David, let your heart be drawn to a place of fresh purging. The testimony of David was that he behaved himself wisely in all of Israel. Even here again I can see his wisdom. It was a wise heart he carried within his bosom. He was not doing what he did to create an impression. It was the spontaneous response of his heart to the downfall of his master and of his friend, Jonathan. His first reaction must have been a shock to the Amalekite who brought the news. It would also bring confusion to the Philistines, who thought he had become an avowed enemy of Saul.
“Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him. And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword”. (2Sa 1:11-12).
Look at David’s action here. He did not just shed some crocodile tears. He rent his clothes and all the men that were with him did likewise. He must have burst into tears in such a way that all the men felt the loss. He mourned, and wept, and fasted until evening time. This was again as it happened when they lost their wives and children and properties. There was wailing again. It was actually a loss to David. He took the death of Saul and of Jonathan as a personal loss. It was so intense that no one ate or drank anything till evening. In this, Nabal’s reproach of David was again proved to be wrong. He mis-judged the heart of David. All activities stopped. All jubilation from the recovery of the raiders ceased, because to David, the mighty are fallen in Israel.
He mourned and wept and fasted for Saul. This is noteworthy. He did not say “God has vindicated me at last, praise His holy name”. He did not rejoice when he saw the Lord dealing with his enemy. Actually, David never saw Saul as his enemy. He saw him continually as his master, his father and the Lord’s anointed. The way you see men is very important. You must watch your heart, lest you allow any wrong thought about men that will become a weight of heaviness within you. It will hinder you from freely performing the obligation of a brother and a fellow soldier to them. You must not look at those who even criticised you sorely as your enemy. Only the devil is your adversary. It is only him you must hate with perfect hatred. Iniquity is your enemy; it is this you must hate as Jesus did. The flesh is the enemy within your soul; you must hate even the garment spotted by the flesh. No man on earth must be regarded as your enemy. All men are men and they can be manipulated by the unseen forces of the enemy. You should not leave the leprosy and begin to treat ringworm. Satan is the enemy.
David saw Saul until he died as the Mighty warrior. He saw him as the Lord’s anointed. He was never moved to raise a heel against the spiritual authority that Saul bore in his life time. This was the heart that David had. David mourned for Jonathan and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. What a heart! What a patriotic heart he had. He did not think less of all the soldiers that were loyal to Saul than the people of the Lord. He did not see them as men who were being used to chase him around. While he had fought battles and did not lose any of his soldiers, he did not brag about that as to prove that the others died because they followed a wrong leader. It was the pain of his heart to see the Lord’s people fall by the sword of the uncircumcised Philistines. He saw the shame as that of all Israel. He saw the humiliation as the defeat of all. He hated the jubilation that was now going on in Gath and Askelon. His righteous soul was broken to see the men of his own stock become a laughing stock for the Philistines to display before their gods.
Is your heart like this? Would you not have secretly rejoiced? Would you not have sat to receive the report of the mistakes or the fall of such a brother, who by the devil chased you out of the place of your divine posting? Have you actually rebuked sharply those who came to celebrate the fall of other brothers? They ran to you as if to confirm your message and your stand on holiness. They came to identify with you as if they truly loved the word of God you preach. And you unwittingly admitted them and gave them a space in the work you are doing. The Lord must deliver you from all these. Pray for His forgiveness and cleansing. Ask Him to purge your heart. Like the psalmist, plead with Him to create in you a new heart; a heart of compassion; a heart that cannot see the fall of a fellow soldier and rejoice; a heart that is holding the truth, yet in love for the brethren; a heart that is tender and understanding for the weak brother. It is a heart that will not quench the smoking flax, and which will not turn out of the way the lame feet.
“A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth (Isa 42:3).
He Kept No Record of Wrongs
David did not recount all the evil that Saul did to him. He did not recall his prophecy at the last time he restrained his men from slaughtering him. He rather composed a song for Saul and for Jonathan. Rather than admit the man of Amalek, who was not afraid to touch the Lord’s anointed, he ordered him to be killed. Whereas Saul had in his rank of officers, Doeg the Edomite, who was not afraid to slaughter all the priests that wore the Ephod, David would not keep any man who did not respect the anointing. This was characteristic of David all of his life. God has delivered him from a vengeful spirit. Not to take vengeance is one thing, but not to even desire it its another. Let the Lord purge you of every vengeful spirit. Let Him bring you to the place where the Lord Jesus stood and pleaded that God would forgive men for they knew not what they were doing. Stephen came also to that place in his life, where he could plead “Father, do not count this against them’’. They were free from the spirit that desires vengeance. This was the heart that David had.
Consider David’s lamentation in 2 Sam.1:17-27.
There is so much challenge we can draw from David’s song of lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son. First, it was not a mere rhetoric of a hypocrite. It was not a camouflage of a politician who seeks to win the votes of men. It came from the purity of his heart. His words were carefully selected and lovingly composed. It was his heart flowing forth in his usual Psalms. It shows to me an unencumbered heart. It shows a sensitive heart that can be touched with the feelings of infirmities of men. It was a free heart that can easily receive inspiration. It was not a clumsy heart full of bitterness. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth actually speaks. This was spontaneous. It was not a song researched and composed over the months. It came flowing from a fountain within his heart. David must have kept his heart with all diligence for this kind of inspiration to issue forth within him spontaneously. This was the heart David had. “And he ordered his men to teach the song to everyone in Judah. He called it “The Song of the Bow,” and it can be found in The Book of Jashar.” (2Sam 1:18).
This is amazing to me today. By this act, he wanted to immortalize Saul and Jonathan in a light other than Saul’s wrong doings. What he wanted the children of Judah to remember of Saul was not how he chased David out of the country. It was not how he went back to witchcraft. It was not how he failed woefully and how an evil spirit tormented him. David would not highlight the weakness of Saul in order to emphasize his own strength. And it was to be taught to children of Judah and not the Benjamites. What a way to bridge the gap of enmity between the two tribes. He would not allow an ethnic rivalry to ensue on his own account. What a heart David had! Is this a challenge to you at all? Then you must cry to God to give you a right heart; a heart that would not put anything in writing if it only obscures the good of another. Even if the man is bad, it must not be your pen that paints him black for the coming generation. Prevail with God to give you His own kind of heart today. He should not allow you to carry about the heart that harbors men’s offenses. He must help you even on the pulpit only to present the good aspect of men, when you have to be particular. If for admonition, you have to speak of the evil of men in your vicinity, you must be gracious. It must come with mourning and tears on your face. He must break your heart and make it more tender and sure. You become callous in dealing with men when you forget the grace that kept you standing. You need the Lord to help you with a broken and a contrite heart, and the ability to love men from the depth of our heart.
This is the song:
“The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel. How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!” (2Sam. 1:19-27).
My heart shivers as I contemplate the depth of affection expressed in this song. No love song would surpass this in poetry. I wondered if any of the family of Saul would sincerely have painted him this way. Will the chief men of Saul’s tribe describe him in this candour of a language? We have a need to cry for God’s mercy on this hidden aspect of David’s life that we need to learn. “The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!” Saul was the beauty of Israel in the mind of David. Yes, he was when he started out. He was described as very handsome and tall. He towered in beauty among all the men of his day. Though bitterness and needless war turned him black and sour at last, David did not see that. He kept seeing him as the beauty of Israel. He knew him to be the mighty man of valour. Though women sang only thousands to Saul’s credit and tens of thousands to David, he did not see himself as mightier than Saul. David still saw Saul as the mighty man of Israel. Lord, this is a challenge. How do I accept men and women to rank me higher than men that I met in the Christian race? How do I allow my heart to stray as to think of myself of being more important than those who laboured in obscurity, who did not have the privilege to gather the crowd I now see by the mercy of God. If it were not for the population explosion and the outbreak of a general yearning after God, how could I have seen anything better than those camps our brothers organized for us, where we were taught the principles of the word of God, when we were mere infants in the faith. Some may have fallen into disrepute and false doctrine. Some may have even married two wives out of the distress of the time. How dare I see them differently from what they were to me when I sucked from their hands the milk of life? The Lord must grant me a right perspective to see men as I should. David maintained that Saul was the beauty of Israel and the mighty man of war they had. Looking further at the lamentation of David over Saul and Jonathan, we see the heart that David had. I desire to see my own heart as well renewed and rekindled for the glory of God.
He Was Conscious of The Glory of God
“Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.” (2 Sam. 1:20).
David being conscious of the glory of God would not broadcast the downfall of Saul and Jonathan in the country of the Philistines. He hated to see the uncircumcised rejoice over the fall of his master, Saul. There was nothing that could make him relish in the death of the Lord’s anointed, such that he would speak carelessly about it among the unbelievers. Yes, the Philistines saw the fall of Saul and the children of Israel as the victory of Dagon, their god. They went and tied the body of Saul on the wall as a public exhibit of their victory, and they took his head to the house of Dagon to celebrate. They acted the same way when they captured Samson. The enemy rejoices with the joy of triumph any time a man of anointing falls into disrepute. There is jubilation in hell each time a servant of God falls into sin. It usually receives the widest publicity in hell and in the media. It is made as if all men of God have fallen. You must be careful not to be the man that spreads the news of the fall of your brethren for the enemy to triumph. David’s heart was so loyal to the house of Israel and the house of Saul that he hated publishing their fall in Gath. It must be concealed, he felt. Though it was already a public knowledge in Gath, in Askelon and drums were already rolled out in the land of the Philistines before David was ever told of the calamity, he still felt it must not be a matter to be spread. It was not the good news he was called to spread. This is another challenge. We must not rejoice at the fall of any man in God’s house. We must not allow it spread as if it is the good news we have been commissioned to preach about. We must not spread any news that gives even one occasion for the enemy of the Cross to gloat over the Church. The Lord must help us to show discretion on what is published under our hands. While we must warn all others of impending dangers, it must not be in such a way as to arm the enemy with all the information for him to assault and insult the name of our God.
He Would Not Wear A Stolen Crown
David was more concerned about the effect the death of Saul will bring on the name of the Lord than the benefit of an empty throne to him. His desire was not to be a king who rides upon the fall of another. He would not wear a stolen crown and bracelet. He would not grab the throne as a spoil of another man’s downfall. The Lord must deal with our hearts. What I will be is what He planned to make me. It does not depend on the downfall of another. It does not emanate from the failure of other brothers. They do not need to fail and fall into obscurity before I shine forth in God’s purpose. I do not need a relative shining. It is not a comparative glory I long for. Lord, keep my heart at this and let me so run the race. Help me to look ahead with this clear focus in my heart. No one needs to fall before I can step into my inheritance in Christ.
“… Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.” (2Sam. 1:21).
He Had Great Respect For The Anointing
The cry in the heart of David flowed forth with purity. It came as a genuine compassion for Saul. In it l can see his heart again. He had great respect for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He knew the anointing separates a man from commonness. It sets him apart for God. He must not be rough handled because he bears the anointing of the Lord on his head. It was clear to David that anointing brings a man into a close covenant with God. His sensitivity to spiritual authority is hereby heightened. He spoke as though it was an abomination for the shield of an anointed man to be vilely cast away. This is another challenge. The respect of the anointing on men upon whom it pleased God to pour it must be uppermost in your heart. You must not join men to ridicule the Lord’s anointed at any time.
“for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.” (2Sam. 1:21).
Saul made himself vile when he chose to disobey the Lord. He made himself vile when he was overtaken with bitterness and envy to the extent of employing the choicest men in the army to chase as it were, a flea. Yet David still thought his shield should not have been vilely cast away the way it happened on the mount Gilboa. You must pray the Lord to give you the heart that loves Him and His people.
He Sang The Praise Of Saul
“From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty”. (2Sam. 1:22).
David in this verse highlighted the strength, the boldness and the expertise of Saul and Jonathan. He paid a glowing tribute to their bravery in battle for the Lord. Jonathan had single handedly confronted the Philistines before and came home with significant victory. Saul had not been a coward in battle. He had discomfited the Amalekites and even the Philistines before, while he walked humbly before the Lord. All these, David decided to put on record and in their right perspective. What a man. He did not see the publishing of their exploits as a threat to his own honour. He never wanted to steal the hearts of the people from their leader to himself. He would not join the women to repeat their song “Saul killed one thousand only, but David killed ten thousands, ten thousands, praise the Lord” This is again the challenge from the heart that David had. Most men will obscure the exploits and the achievement of others and only sing the praise of themselves. They will speak of their ministry, their books, their songs and all theirs but none of another. David acknowledged Saul and Jonathan as great warriors, who never stopped short of victory in battle. The sword of Saul never returned empty. They went for the mighty among men. “Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions”. (2Sam 1:23).
If it had been Jonathan alone that David spoke about here, it would have been understandable. How could he join Saul with this tribute unto loveliness and pleasantness? Yet, this was how David saw Saul. It was the matter of the heart. He actually mentioned Saul before Jonathan. He knew Saul to be lovely and pleasant before he met Jonathan. It was because of Saul’s love for him at the beginning that he came to meet Jonathan. It was also because Saul graciously brought him to the palace and appointed him his armor bearer that Jonathan took a likeness to him. It was because of Saul’s early love for him, that he exposed him to the battles that now made him a warrior. David would not forget that it was Saul that accepted to jeopardize his name and throne when he agreed for him to face Goliath on his behalf. It was worthy of note here to see David recall the goodness and the pleasant behaviour of Saul to him. He did not forget all the benefit that Saul brought to his life at the very beginning. He was forever indebted to the love of Saul for him. The bible actually said “Saul loved David and he would not let him go back to his village again” It was only the music of the women that caused the trouble. (1 Sam. 18: 1-8).
Though men may fall out with us in life, we must not forget what they were used of God to do in our lives in the years of our pilgrimage. We need a thankful heart to recall the good any one has done for us. David would not ignore all the goodness of Saul to him in the beginning. He promoted him and introduced him to Israel. He even offered him his armor at a time. He gave him the instrument of office to enable him discharge his God-given talents. We need to appreciate men whom God has used at a time to raise us up, even if they are now in disrepute. He commended their undivided love for him and for each other, even unto the point of death. For Jonathan to die by Saul’s side was a sign of undivided loyalty. Though committed to David, Jonathan was also faithful to his father in fighting against the Philistines. He was a victim of his father’s error, But David would put it on record that it was pleasantness of life.
They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. This is another leadership quality we must learn from David. He knew how to appreciate men and apportion praise without elating men. He spoke what was true of Saul and Jonathan. He had watched them closely before. He admired them. He honoured them in his heart. Whereas others may think he competed with Saul, he never did. He respected Saul and would have loved to learn more from him if not for the misunderstanding that arose due to Saul’s wrong heart.
“Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.” (2Sam.1:24) .
He Pointed Saul out To The Praise Singers
Now David addressed the same daughters of Israel who sang songs that formented trouble between him and Saul. He again pointed to Saul as the man they should acknowledge rather than himself. It was Saul, who clothed you in scarlet. It was Saul who clothed you with other delights. It was Saul, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. It was Saul, not David. What a heart do we find in David! What a magnanimous heart this was. He lifted Saul again to the limelight before the daughters of Israel. I wished he had spoken loudly at the time they were singing their famous songs, but where would have been the wilderness test and exposure for David. It was God’s provision for his training. He could not have moved from the killing of Goliath to becoming the king of Israel. He would not be acquainted with grief. He would not be a shepherd at all, if he did not smell like the sheep. If Saul were alive to hear this lamentation, he may have been melted and overcome. Though it did not seem any kindness shown to Saul would have made a difference to his evil heart now. O Lord, help me to be faithful as to refer honour to the legitimate owners when men credit to me what was not due to me. Help me to point the hearts of praise singers to all who laboured for them and most especially to the Lord who works all things in all men.
He Was Faithful To Jonathan
David finally turned the lamentation on Jonathan, his bosom friend. We saw in Jonathan a selfless man, who was willing to lay down his life and comfort for the safety of his friend. He was willing to part with his own heritage to see David become all that God said about him. David simply stated what we have watched all along in his relationship with Jonathan. He called him, my brother. This was true. It was vivid. As we examine the life of Jonathan all through first Samuel, we find out that this was not an overstatement. “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” (2Sam. 1:26). I also want to be faithful unto the men God brings my way, and to be selfless as regards all I can do to help them on their way to the fulfillment of God’s call and purpose for their lives. I want to be loyal to men whom God has bonded me with in life and in ministry. I want to be a man of integrity in every possible way. Jonathan loved more than the love of a woman. I crave for such love to be poured from God’s own bosom unto me, so that I can affect men and women with such affection as we see here in Jonathan. Though he died by the side of Saul, he was a different man. He lived in the house of Saul, but he bore a different heart. I seek God’s grace to dissociate myself from every alliance that seeks to destroy men and women God is raising for the end time battle. What about you?
David’s heart was tested and proved in the wilderness. What we now see here was not his natural heart. It was the trimmed heart that had gone through God’s hand. Do you appreciate what the Lord has now made of this man? Do you see a lot of difference between you and this man as yet? Do you see a great distance between your heart and his? One thing you must honestly do, is to place your heart at His feet, singing with the old saints… “Behold me Saviour at thy feet; Deal with me as thou seest meet; Thy work begin and thy work complete; But take me as I am.”
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