_And David fled from Naioth, in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan._ DAVID AND JONATHAN 1. It will be suitable for us to dwell on the remarkable friendship between David and Jonathan--a beautiful oasis in this wilderness history. (1) It was a striking proof of the ever mindful and considerat... [ Continue Reading ]
_There is but a step between me and death._ SOLEMN NEWS Notice the views and feelings that will naturally possess a man who believes “there is but a step between him and death,” or that his end is near. I. The world, with its pleasures, pursuits, and prospects, will, appear small. The mask is tak... [ Continue Reading ]
_A yearly sacrifice for all the family._ THE FAMILY FESTIVAL The word in this verse rendered “sacrifice” is in the margin of our English Bible rendered with somewhat greater felicity “feast.” There comes to view, therefore, in the narrative an unusually interesting fact; namely, that the family of... [ Continue Reading ]
_What if thy father answer thee roughly?_ A WORD FOR THE PERSECUTED I. Our first point is, what you may do, what there is a possibility of you doing, should your friends answer you roughly. 1. You may “by-and-by be offended.” I mean that you may leave Christ altogether, because you cannot bear hi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jonathan caused David to swear again because he loved him._ LOVE PLIGHTING TROTH I. Now, first, great love desires to bind itself to the beloved one. And, first of all, remember that Jesus bound Himself to His people by covenant bonds. 2. Then, next, Jesus would have us bound to Him on our p... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt be missed._ BEING MISSED There are two aspects of truth in these words. One fact is plain enough; the vacant chair will one day be our own. I do not say that the highest motive that can inspire us is to be found in a desire to be gratefully remembered. No; Christian duty has its highes... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I will shoot three arrows._ THE CLAIMS OF FRIENDSHIP I. The arrows taught that a strong and noble friend was standing in the breach. 1. Never be ashamed to own a friend. Do not count him your friend whose name you are ashamed to mention. 2. Never be ashamed to speak up for the cause of Trut... [ Continue Reading ]
_David’s place warn empty._ THE EMPTY PLACE “And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty” (1 Samuel 20:25). I shall look at these words in the spirit of accommodation to the ordinance... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jonathan answered Saul, his father, and said unto him, Wherefore should he be slain?_ DAVID’S FRIEND, JONATHAN “There is little friendship in the world,” said Lord Bacon. “O friendship,” wrote the author of _Endymion, _“of all things the most rare; and therefore most rare, because most excell... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger._ JONATHAN’S MORAL COURAGE I propose to enquire into the moral meaning of this incident; to see whether there is anything in it that applies to our own circumstances. I think it impossible to read this story without having the mind arrested as sev... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord._ REAL FRIENDSHIP “All faithful friends went on a pilgrimage years ago, and none of them have ever come back”; so wrote one of the Puritan divines, whose heart was depressed at the time most lik... [ Continue Reading ]