Introduction

We have been learning how to deal with difficult people from the story of Saul and David. Today we come to the central theme of the whole story—a theme that points us to the very heart of the Christian faith.

For those of you who don't know the story, Saul was anointed the first king over God's people. Nevertheless, he was an absolute disaster. We've followed the story of how God told King Saul that the kingdom would be taken away from him and his family, but Saul did not accept this message. In the meantime, David, a teenager, was anointed to be the next king. , After quite a show of military might, Saul took David onto his staff at the palace. While serving there, David formed a deep bond of friendship with Saul's son, Jonathan.

Saul had never accepted the fact that his son was to never sit on the throne. There were probably many conversations in the palace between father and son that went something like this: Jonathan, you don't need to worry about that old prophet, Samuel. We're a strong family. You'll sit on the throne one day my son; don't you worry. I'll see to it.

But Jonathan was not so sure, because he had faith in God, and he knew what God had spoken.

As Jonathan and David became friends in the palace, I wish I could have heard their conversations about the future. I picture them out in the fields one day, and Jonathan says to his closest friend: You know David, I'm not sure I'm going to be king. What do you think?

There was probably a long silence.

Finally, David says: Jonathan, can I tell you something that I've never told anyone else in all of my life?

Yes, tell me. I'm your best friend. You can tell me anything.

So David continues: One day the prophet came privately to my house. He said that God ...

Colin Smith is pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois.