29th November 2023

29th November 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - 1 Samuel 20:12-22 


Message Alan Burke 


In your hand right now or in front of you, you have a device that is more powerful than the computer that put men on the moon. What we have is an amazing piece of technology before us, think just what it can do, things that would have been impossible just 20years ago is no longer science fiction but science fact. Like 20 years ago I owned a Nokia 6600 with one rear facing camera with an amazing 0.307 megapixel camera whereas today the latest phones have a 200mp camera that is over 650 times better. Phones track our locations, they can listen in on all our conversations we only say “Siri”, “Ok Google” or “Alexa” to get their attention. Can you imagine if Saul had at his fingertips the technology of today as he attempted to hunt David down, there would have been no chance for David and Jonathan would have unknowingly been used as bait.


While Jonathan did not want to accept that his father wanted to kill David he went along with the plan and gave David the assurance that he desired. Knowing that his actions meant that he was about to be disloyal to his father for the sake of what was right. The two men made a solemn covenant reassuring each other of their godly motivations. Jonathan asks that David would show him hesed love,  NIV in v14 uses the word and translated it as unfailing kindness, the KJV puts it as kindness, in v15 it comes again and in both the NIV and the KJV it translates the word hesed as kindness. Jonathan asked this for he knew that in the future it would be he that needed kindness and mercy and that David would be the one with the power to help, he understood that one day roles would be reverse, David would become king, and when he did he would be dependant on David’s grace, it was a speech and a request of extraordinary faith, Jonathan feared the one who was afraid.


The kind of love that Jonathan asked David to show him in a sense is peculiar for it is a word that is almost exclusively attributed to God alone speaking of his love towards his people. This word hesed is used in Exodus 34, where we are told, the Lord passed before Moses and proclaimed, and I’m taking this from the ESV because it is consistent… “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” Don’t forget that the Lord said these words to Moses just after His people had made a golden calf and worshiped it. Jonathan appeals for David to show him a love like that the Lord shows towards us a sinful people, a love that continues steadfastly, the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. 


Why was all this necessary, the making the covenant, the swearing, the vowing, the oath taking? Well it is because we are sinful people and we all have at tendency to break our promises, Jonathan wanted more than mere platitudes. There is a question that comes out of this for us, in narrative that deals with loyalty, friendship, keeping our word, what do our actions and our words say about us, they ultimately speak volumes, they speak volumes about who we are, our relationship with the Lord our God, self examination can be difficult for us but maybe the thing that we should seek is a loyal friend to be honest. Also that love that the Lord shows us, his hesed love is one that we do not deserve. What we deserve just like the people who worshipped the golden calf is the wrath of God and not his mercy, not his love. Yet our God has shown his great love towards us that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, let us not forget the wonder of God’s love towards such people as us. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?
The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, (2 Tim. 3:16, Eph. 2:20) is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. (1 John 1:3–4)
​