David & Jonathan

Well title of the series is David Amann after God's own heart this evening over the finger.

One of the qualities of a person after God's own heart.

I we can think of many qualities that would characterize a person who is after God's own heart, but this one is absolutely essential if this what is missing. You are not. I'm not a person after God's own heart and that is a quality of love David Hyde a great heart of love supremely. He loved the Lord.

For example, Psalm 18, verse one. David says I love you oh Lord, my strength, my strength, he says in Psalm 116 verse one. I love the Lord because he's heard my voice and my please for mercy to love the Lord is a friend of mine is English actually lived in Seattle and start with the Lord, but that we would call from time to time and is very interesting man work for Boeing, an engineer for 90 plane went down the middle of nowhere. You got the call at night to try and work out what is going wrong and so we will lived in very different worlds is very technical and very non-technical as my wife will attest to, but we became good friends of the things that intrigued me when he talked about a fellow believer.

He would say John. They love the Lord. We talk about people being saved. We talk about people being disciples. We talk about people being converted, but I thought that is a very good description of the true believer.

Someone who loves the Lord I ask you to love the Lord. Probably we a little more hesitant in answering the fast you are. You saved are you are you part of the family of God. We who are saved would very quickly say is praise God I am a believer but do you love the Lord, the essence of God is love. First John four verse eight anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. Jesus said, as he was summarizing the commandments in Mark chapter 12 and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself as your self. Paul says that God shows his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

This is the very foundation of the Christian life isn't it. We have read in setting Romans and I love Romans five verse five for Paul says that God's love has been poured out is not beautiful.

God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit is been given to us. So here is God's infinite love and then his grace.

That love is poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us and when we come to Christ. We receive this love the way and then are able, through the spirit to display that love to others and if we don't have this love we are not authentic followers of Jesus. John says in John in first John four. We love because he first loved us a true believer is one then who knows about God's love and not just theoretically but has experienced the love of God as we receive Christ and then can love others and their focus is evening. As you will surmise surmised by the title David and Jonathan is not so much on our love for God that is foundational, but rather our love for others. Jesus says by this all men, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another, both sides and a great chapter in first Corinthians 13. You can do many things you can of faith you can give your body to be burned.

You can have all of your goods. But if you don't have love, you are what zero absolutely nothing. Apostle John writes, first John four verse 20 if anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen in this commandment we have from him. Whoever loves God must also love his brother brothers and sisters in Christ. You say you love the Lord, but do you love your brothers and sisters in Christ is not a sentimental lab with a lot of which is conveyed not just in words of this labor love which is deep which is lasting and which is demonstrated in our actions and attitudes towards others as I thought of this David a man after God's own heart. I thought really wonderful if Calvary church was a church after God's own heart and what with that kind of church look like well here is an absolutely essential isn't it would be a church of love. Yes, really love God but God loves us without love is reflected to everyone who comes believer and unbeliever, whether we like them or not.

Whether we find the personality irritating are not. We will love them. I would be a church with. After God's own heart and that we have in the Scripture at this example of a love relationship between two men, David and Jonathan is a great example is a inspiring example of brotherly love to man love the Lord and loved each other so much land from them.

We think of a covenant between David and Jonathan attend with me in your Bibles. Then to first Samuel chapter 18 first Samuel chapter 18 want to read. First of all, the first five verses with you for Samuel 18 last time we thought of chapter 17.

The great story of David and Goliath and here it is the next chapter for Samuel 18 emphasizing that because my wife told me I misspoke this morning and a couple Scripture.

So my apologies. It's tough preaching when your recorded and when you have so many people who love you as one of the first thing they do is to point out all of your mistakes so this first Samuel chapter 18 I got that right.

You think there's one as soon as it finished speaking to Saul is after the killing of Goliath, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not like to return to his father's house.

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own.

So it is that is repeated. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and give it to David at his armor, and even he saw it in his bow in his belt and David went out and was successful. Whatever Saul sent them so that Saul sent him over the man-of-war and this was good in the sight of all of the people and also the site of souls service no Saul at this time is the king of Israel. Israel's first king, and that he should have been the one leading the Israelites into battle. That's what the king did is why the nation wanted the king in the first place so that they would have a great leader warrior king who would be ahead of them as they go into battle, particularly at this time against the Philistines. Saul should've been the one fighting live, but he failed to do so. We also might have expected. One of Saul's sons. The goings-on a man like Jonathan himself, who was a warrior, a formidable warrior as we read, but it was David Sheppard who challenged Goliath into the payload of the spirit of God killed life so give God the great victory and one could have imagined, then the Jonathan the king's son could have been the resentful against David. After all, some of David's own brothers were resentful of him and one could've understood. Perhaps some jealousy of Jonathan against David, but the reverse is the case here is Jonathan one of the sons of Saul, Saul, not a good king but he was the Lord's anointed, and as his son saw Jonathan my well of expected that he would have been caring after his father's death is how it works.

The lesser mind then could've bitterly resented David this young intruder. This Sheppard from Bethlehem is now been anointed by Samuel reserve the great hero as he scaled Goliath. But notice we read here in verse one, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David and David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Verse three. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved them as his own so and we see this mind is very unselfish, was the ark loving he is to David who is younger than them. He strips himself of his robes armor is sort those of you who like collectors or guns you would find it difficult to give your gun out when you imagine giving your sword up. That's what Jonathan does disorders bony bells and he gives them to David. A surprising example of self sacrificial love. Agape love forgiving the interests of ourselves to advance someone else is in fact renouncing his claim to be the conference.

David not Jonathan is going to be the successor to the throat is loving someone is in the ball in the New Testament writings Philippians 2 verse three do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

That's what Jonathan is doing. He doesn't see David his arrival is no resentment against David, but in humility.

He kinds David is more significant than himself. He realizes this is the man that God's hand is on and the enter into this amazing covenant of love, of trust, of loyalty, which went to the very depths of the soul. How wonderful to have a friend like that your friend like that you know in our sex saturated society. Some people try to say that this relationship between David and Jonathan was kind of erotic homosexual relationship, no wasn't far from it. That love was founded on the love for the Lord in the kingdom of God and the advance in the advancement of God's kingdom and Jonathan recognize as you look to David that David was the Lord's choice. There is no bitterness there is no NB this is pure love, which flows from a pure love which comes from God and is reflected then to others.

Jonathan recognizes that David is the deliverer of Israel is the one who did God used to give the victory over the Philistines, and he therefore wisely wants to identify with David and all of his exploits.

He knew that it that the Lord was with David and as we read chapter 18 I'm going to read some other verses here with you. It was not only Jonathan who loved David for simulating again notice and the verse one and verse three. The Jonathan loved David as his own soul is emphasized. Verse 16, but all Israel and Judah loved David verse 29, Saul's daughter, Michael love David verse 28.

But when Saul saw a new that the Lord was with David and that Michael Saul's daughter loved him. Saul was even more afraid of David's. This is a man whose loved by many of the Lord is giving David great success. Verse five David went out and was successful. Whatever Saul sent him. Verse 14 and David had success in all of his undertakings for the Lord was with them. Verse 15 and when Saul saw that he had great success.

The student in fearful all of him. Verse 30 than the princes of the Philistines coming to battle and as often as they came out David had more success than all the servants of Saul so that his name was highly esteemed.

The typeface several times that the Lord was with David to feel that the Lord is with you.

This comes from a pure heart is in the art that loves God a love a heart that is responsive to God and to know God's call on your life and to know that the Lord is with you and so David and Jonathan enter into this a covenant by the covenant has to be renewed. Remember when David continues to be persecuted by Saul.

He find great comfort in Jonathan over to chapter 20 and I didn't feel Jonathan is going to renew the covenant with David to let them know all that was in Saul's heart for the good or bad, with a tremendous encourager.

Jonathan was to David and the covenant was to continue to the next generation for Samuel 20 verse 14. If I am still alive. Show me the steadfast love of the Lord.

I may not die, and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever. When the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the and Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David saying. May the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies and Dave and Jonathan made David sway again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul. The renewal of the covenant that this was going to continue, as indeed it was.

If you know the story is going to continue to the next generation of friends you know that friendship is to be renewed is to be kept vital. We can have great friends with the French abyss and cultivated. These friendships can wither and even diet. I was traveling to church this week and I realized it was quite some time since I've spoken to one of my friends and that so I called him and is a friend of no one for many many years spoken I I sent to my said how you how you getting on the said John them in the desert in the desert, followed of Christ in the desert and we spoke is an individual over the years was encouraged. May I know it was my turn to encourage him in the Lord and the is wonderful to have these kinds of friendship, something perhaps you have of her. The friendship in the past on, I haven't spoken to the friend for some time. I know that you friends could be more exciting. The Proverbs tells us, don't forget your old friends cultivate a relationship with them. Give them a call. Send them attack send them an email and keep the friendship fresh. This is what David and Jonathan does and Jonathan was there. Of course, when David was in difficulties is often said that the test of a true and loving friendship is seen in the difficulties of life. Proverbs 17 verse 17 a friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. When one would run the crest of the wave. Everyone wants to be a friend. Proverbs 19 verse six. Everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts social give me a lot against your goal of friends, presently French. A visit is buying them. But when we are alone when were in a crisis with women in some difficulties. It's then sadly that so often out-of-court friends desert us and happen to her Lord and he was exacted he was abandoned by his closeness but not Jonathan.

Jonathan was a loyal and true friend to David and the David's great needs. Can you imagine having the king conspiring to kill you with all of his forces and when David is in great need.

Jonathan, this man who loves David as his own soul brings comfort and renewal, as well as practical advice and counsel, Jonathan knew it. David needed a friends and jot Jonathan was such a friend of David that he defended David even when he was criticized and slandered by his own father. So Proverbs 18 – 24. There's a friend who sticks closer than a brother were aware that human friendships can rise and fall. But God's love is from everlasting to everlasting, but Shuman love is my challenge to you in the know when you are in your friendships, but Shuman love has to be expressed. How would someone know that you love them, unless you tell them is got to be displayed is got to be renewed many friends that you have people sometimes say to me how many friends they have an I/O stop completely. If you're talking friends like Jonathan.

Not many of them they don't come easy. Do they but wonderful to have that kind of friend, but my that kind of friends to others in my head Jonathan to others. Are you a Jonathan to others.

A friend who's there in need that be no honey brings that homes but never said things that friend is not shook so true. Who smiles whatever you do, my friend. If a friend you would be the friendship that is true.

A friend of some value to me as I would be to you then pray that my feet may attend to the path that he trawled for how shall I pray for my friend if I please.my God, I hope you people in your life when you spend time with them. You feel refreshed my friends.

I hope he's not still in the desert but when I call them we have that kind of friendship that we can encourage one another and when we and the conversation with both uplifted that her people that you interact with when you leave them you give something you feel you need a shower.

Dona, the sword negatives are so critical. But there's others who refresh us to encourage us who pray for us, who really are good friends. Jonathan is like that. I think the contrast with so the text says the Jonathan love David as his own soul, but so how does Saul look on David so is consumed with bitterness and envy, jealousy, and even hatred. That's how it is when we allow ourselves to drift from the love of God.

This is what happens when we allow an animator lead us into the path of resentment and otherness against others and David's success either in first Samuel is contrasted with Saul's envy and evil spirit, the spirit of God comes on David and has great success was an evil spirit comes on so and he's characterized by hatred by envy and bitterness back to chapter 18 verses six through nine, as they were coming home when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the sky warrior was in the woman came out. Of all of the cities of Israel singing and dancing to maintain Saul with tambourines with songs of joy with musical instruments and the woman signed to one another as they celebrated. Saul has struck regarding his thousands, and David has 10,000s. Saul was very angry in this setting, displeased him. He said they have ascribed to David 10,000s and to me they've ascribed five reasons and what more can you have but the kingdom and Saul I David from that day on, who do you view others, who do you view the success of others you Jonathan order you a soul.

Are you resentful and envious of the success of others.

Are you able to see what God is doing in the life of other people. Jonathan is able to play the second fiddle is at work, turn over to first Samuel 23 say I don't play their first fiddle of the second essay the second fiddle to place pretty difficult and he wants to play the first fiddle first Samuel 23 verse 15, David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Zephyr – and Jonathan, Saul's son arose and went to David at her ashen strength in this and in God and he said to him, do not fear for the hand of Saul.

My father shall not find you, you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to use all my father also knows this. Jonathan knew that in the purposes of God.

He wasn't going to be number one is going to be number two that God had passed over Saul's children there were going to be king, and that David was going to be the king. A lesser man with the been resentful. He was demeaned, but that he would've plotted against David, he would've joined his father in trying to assassinate David so that he could be the king but not Jonathan over the years. One of the sad things that I've noticed in church life and ministry of the sometimes jealousy rivalry even competitiveness tragic into you see, the more he resents others the lash, you will be useful to God. A person after God's own heart isn't resentful but God uses other people. They rejoice. Paul says that you rejoice with those who rejoice in you weep with those who weep. Do you honor others you see God at work, do you do you rejoice do you show appreciation for four others, or when you see God using others, perhaps more significantly than you that you have the resentments and an envy later in the cities were going to see Paul as Saul pursuing David and David shows love to Saul. Even when he's trying to kill him because David a man after God's own heart recognizes that Saul is the Lord's anointed so. Here's a warning is neither in our friendships and as we interact with people we want to be like David and Jonathan, a deep, deep love. We want to be far away from the resentments in the otherness and the envy and the scheming and the plotting of so you say Christians wouldn't do that yes they do they think they can they can do that anyone away from the Lord can be very nasty, very cruel.

David and Jonathan are concerned with the kingdom of God.

Now let me ask you to come over to chapter 31 first Samuel 31 and will read of the death of Saul and Jonathan and first Samuel 13 1B take time is a short chapter attributed all just to remind you of it for Samuel.

31 now the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain among the globe or the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons in the Philistine struck down Jonathan a been a dab and multi-sure, the sons of Saul, the battle pressed hard against Saul and the actors fund them and he was badly wounded by the archers and Saul said to his armor better draw your sword and thrust me through with it less.

These uncircumcised common thrust me through and mistreat me in his armor better would not 40. Fear greatly. Therefore, Saul took his own sword and fell on it on his armor bearer saw that Saul was that he also fell upon his sword and died with them. Thus Saul died and his three sons and his armor bearer, and all these men on the same day together with a tragic and when the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley and those we on the Jordan saw that the men of his village fled the Saul and his sons were dead, they abandon the cities and fled in the Philistines came and lived in them the next day when the Philistines came to strip the slain. They find Saul and his three sons fallen on Mungo bore so they cut of his head, stripped of his armor and sent messengers during the land of the Philistines, the county.

The good news to the house of their idols and to the people he put his armor in the temple of ash that often they fastened his body to the wall of Beth John.

But when the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard what the Philistines are done to solve all the valiant man arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of the sons of the wall of Beth John and decay into two Jabesh unbuttoned them there.

They took the bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in gibberish and fasted seven days tragic and so in Tucson on moment go bore.

Jonathan is fighting with his father. Father, in spite of the strained relationship they have the common NMA against the Philistines and Saul realizes he is losing the battle and gases armor better to kill him, his armor bearer very wisely says no he's not going to kill the Lord's anointed and so Saul takes his life commit suicide as disease, armor bearer first Chronicles when the account is given their first Chronicles 10 verse four then Saul took his own sword and fell upon it, but it's interesting at first Chronicles 10 verse 14 we need this. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turn the kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse, he took his own life, but without this morning about God's foreknowledge of these predestination. Yes, Saul is held responsible for the his own life. But beyond that is the Lord to put them to death and gives the kingdom over to David and so ends very sad life of the first king of Israel and the men of Israel want to see what happens.

A fleet in the next day the Philistines come and take Saul and his sons on my on my go bore and they take them and they nail him to the wall and bash on some of us were there just a few months ago we visited Beth John Solomont will bore see the Philistines and the cut off their heads and fasten their bodies to the wall for the ignominious and Albert and Edgar Schein rights and no it was dark and dark Philistine night to the headless body of Saul and the sons dissected by all swing in the wind on the walls of Beth Schein limits the horse music of vultures and jackals great victory for the Philistines of any Philistines that David had earlier defeated and so Saul is dead and Jonathan is that the second Samuel one them with this. I close at tonight. It is in verse 17 it cited David's lament for Saul and Jonathan and David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah old is written in the book of Josh are, he said your glory always really slain on your high places of the mighty have fallen talent not in goth publishers not in the streets of Asheville in the Philistine cities less the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, less the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. Verse 23 Saul and Jonathan beloved and lovely in life and in death. They were not divided they were swifter than eagles and were stronger than lions you daughters of Israel weep over Saul concluded you luxuriously and Scarlett to put ornaments of gold on your bottle. How do the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle. Jonathan lies Celine on your high places. I was distressed for you. My brother Jonathan. Very pleasant.

Have you been to me. Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of woman by the mighty have fallen in the weapons of war parish.

Surely I just read the next target surely is some of the most beautiful and electric laments in all of Scripture. What would've been your reaction to the death of someone who is trying to kill you. What is your reaction when someone you don't like someone who's done some wrong against you. Something bad happens to them. The person who stops you getting you think the promotion you deserve a person who's maligned you. What is your reaction when something bad comes to them. Do you rejoice do you say well is no it's my turn.

This desires all of that serve them right that that's not the response of David. This man after God's own heart. He mourns the death of Saul and Jonathan, you know, this verse nine he refers to the 19 affairs the glory of Israel and the just, Solomon Solomon, Saul and Jonathan are beloved and lovely in life and in that they were not divided they were swifter than eagles that were stronger than lines. Verse 23 and three times he says how the mighty have fallen all rather than rejoicing this man after God's own heart is lamenting and you also doesn't want the animated know of the defeat verse 20 talent not in goth publishers not in the streets of Asheville unless the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, less the daughters of the uncircumcised exult is the case sometimes when one of our brothers or sisters in Christ messes up falls into sin does something wrong that we can't wait to tell even unbelievers. The salacious details about it is not the reaction of a man after God's own heart is he saying no, for all of the hatred of Saul against David when Saul dies and Jonathan dies David to say no, don't rejoice. Don't talent among the Philistines, don't declare it because his beautiful eulogy for Jonathan. I am distressed for you. My brother Jonathan. Very pleasant. Have you been to me. Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of woman.

This is loyal love is not based on the covenant. Both David and Jonathan out under the Abraham a covenant and believe the day will come when the Lord will be the great King and rule over all of the earth as the waters cover the sea with you about me. How do you regard your brothers and sisters in Christ.

He presages respecting verse one reverently love continue coming from a family of six.

Borges, my mother quarter that frequently to us.

Let brotherly love to be in the church of love course, we do we experience God's love, the love between David and Jonathan was deep but David's greater son, our Lord Jesus Christ loves us much more than these men loved each other pulse, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

Paul says the son of God loved me and gave himself for me.

I think of his great love as our Savior gives everything he has.

To accomplish our salvation. They had their company and we have the new covenant that we celebrate communion. Don't wait the new covenant is Christ shed his blood as we thought this morning for your salvation and mind. May we drink of that deep deep love. That's why we never get away from the cross is why we never get away from the gospel, because it is there in the redemptive work of our Savior that we drink, time and time and time again of that deep, deep love and through the spirit that love is continuously poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit so that we are known as people of love a wonderful people in our community said you know a big church much at all, that they believe but there's one thing I do know these are people of love's wonderful isn't it when people come even unbelievers, and to Calvary and I asked him well would you think, and that they say if you loved. I feel cared for and that they receive the love of God as they receive Christ's.

But as they go to a life group as they sat nervously interacts. The sense that they are love, that we love one another and may God bring into your life. Jonathan someone who loves you someone who stands with you, someone who encourages you, someone who can admonish it. Someone who can help you and pray for you value, such a friendship and above all, continue to drink deep of Calvary's grades love was putting together father, we thank you for this example of this friendship between David and Jonathan. It was an extraordinary one.

David says that themselves. In fact, it's that love was was greater than the love of woman and we thank you for friends.

I thank you for the friends I have over the years. Thank you. Above all father for your love for us and that when we are cold and Harton were sometimes perhaps critical of others are envious of others or even Britain against people, may we quickly confess the sins and be refreshed with you love. We want to be like David that we have success as we are doing your will and so I pray for my brothers and sisters here. Father, thank you for the mother, the Sunday evening that you will refresh them and help them and that their relationships with one another will be strong will be godly and will be loving and that people who come to Calvary will know that we love God and that we are disciples of Jesus because we love one another. Strengthen us farther than for the task that you give to give to us this week. In Christ name a bed