“There must have been at least a moment—after Saul’s gaslighting—where Jonathan felt as though he had betrayed his father and dishonored his mother. And he would certainly have had some desire to claim the comfort, control and glory of royalty for himself. Any one of these emotions could have motivated him to break his commitment to David and obey his father’s edict. Looking to the end of the story, we know that Jonathan’s loyalty to God’s people not only cost him in his relationship with his own father and king, but that he suffered lifelong separation from David as well. He did not get an immediate reward of happy fellowship to replace the family relationships, position and glory that such covenant love had cost him…”
Israel Needs an Obedient King (1 Samuel 18-19)
Tune in as Pastor Josh preaches from the extended narrative in 1 Samuel 18-19, which is bookended the removal of royal robes:
“In this context, the robes represent everything that we desire as humans: control, comfort, and glory. These are things that are uniquely possessed by the king of Israel…Those who seek their own control, comfort and glory are unable to genuinely love the people of God. Those who seek their own control, comfort and glory will find themselves in opposition to the people of God. Those who seek their own control, comfort and glory will find themselves in opposition to God. Those who seek their own control, comfort and glory will lose it all anyway…”
Israel Needs a Humble Warrior King (1 Samuel 17)
“This is not a story about God’s people winning the battle. This is about the one who will go out before us and fight our battles. This is about the Lord of hosts, the God of armies who, through his anointed king, defeated the enemy of His people, prefiguring Christ Jesus, who doesn’t just help us to win the battles of life, but first he goes out before us, alone, to win the war. Only then does he call us to follow him in his victory. Like the Israelites, we are blessed to be a part of the clean-up action. Driving out the last remnant of our enemies — sin, death, and Satan — all who have already been wholly defeated by Christ…”
God Gives Israel a Humble King (1 Samuel 16)
Israel Needs a King (1 Samuel Intro)
“Scripture teaches it very clearly: you are a bad judge of what is right. You need a King! No matter who you are, there comes a point when Scripture will gut you — cut you to the core of your flesh. Whether it is what it has to say about your sexuality, or your attitude about money, or your desire for a family. Whatever it is, in many different ways the Word of God will direct you in the exact opposite direction that you would choose for yourself, even with your best intentions…”

