Fellowship

Based on 1 Samuel 19-21

The friendship between David and Saul's son Jonathan shows us just how important fellowship & unity is in the Body of Christ. These two were able to support & encourage one another through tough challenges. That's what God desires us to do! They were both willing to make great sacrifices for one another's safety when Saul was enraged. Fellowship can not only help us to go on, but to go on with more love & strength than we may have had on our own!

"For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the Lord wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?" 1 Samuel 19:5

David originally asked his brothers when it was time to slay Goliath, "Is there not a cause?" He was trying to stir up a sense of fellowship and unity in The Lord at the time of this great challenge. He was trying to remind them that they were all on The Lord's side together. Now, Jonathan stood up to his own father and said there is no cause as to why Saul should be against David. Jonathan was trying to encourage that fellowship between Saul & David again. In this instance, Saul listened:

"And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he shall not be slain." 1 Samuel 19:6

Not long after, Saul still sought to slay David. The evil spirit continued to allow Saul to be jealous of David. But David was someone who wasn't afraid to fellowship God's presence. Even more important than the fellowship with Jobathan was the fellowship with God, and God miraculously allowed all Saul's messengers to prophesy when they came and sought David:

"And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied." 1 Samuel 19:20

Even SAUL prophesied!

"And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?" 1 Samuel 19:24

God has incredible ways of turning things around! We just have to remember to stick with those of Spiritual influence!

"Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?" 1 Samuel 20:8

David & Jonathan discuss how they will keep David safe from the hand of Saul, and even in this instance, David is still concerned with his righteousness before God, even going so far as telling Jonathan to slay him himself if there was any iniquity in him! When you have a bond like that with God, and with a friend, nothing else is stronger!

"So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul." 1 Samuel 20:16‭-‬17

How much do we really care for others? How much do we show love? David and Jonathan were willing to put their lives on the line for one another. That's a friendship based on the principles of God:

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

"And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded."
1 Samuel 20:41

The two friends soon had to depart from each other, and it was certainly a sad, yet heartwarming moment. Their friendship & fellowship was very admirable. Now, David must rely on and fellowship God's presence on his own as he runs from Saul...but David knew that above any person, God was in control! He even led him to the place where Goliath's sword was!

"And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me."
1 Samuel 21:9

God was providing for David wherever he went! He was favored because he knew how to be in fellowship with God and with other people who desired to be holy and righteous. We need to practice constant fellowship with God and the others God has blessed us with in our lives. We need to encourage one another in The Lord, especially in the tough times!