TODAY’S MANNA
SATURDAY JULY 7, 2018
TOPIC: DIRTY POITICS
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 20:24-34
1) THE KEY VERSE:
“So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame”
(1 Samuel 20:34).
2) THE TEXT:
(1 SAMUEL 20: 24 – 34 KJV)
“24. So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
25. 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.
26. Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.
27. And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
28. And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem:
29. And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favor in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table.
30. Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
31. For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
32. And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
33. And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
34. So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.”
3) THE MESSAGE:
i) Politics is said to be a dirty game because of how it is played. A lot of scheming, diplomacy and intrigues are employed to attain desired goals. Some even involve in character assassination, deceit, fetish practices or even gruesome murder of opponents to secure positions.
ii) From our text, we saw the dangerous and dirty politics Saul played. He wanted David killed so that the kingship could be retained in his family.
iii) Whereas the king was surrounded by sycophants and yes-men who would rather allow injustice to prevail in order to benefit from it.
iv) Jonathan, Saul’s son, was not afraid to declare his mind that David was innocent. He proved to be a true friend of David and a man who lived by his conscience.
v) All along, he thought David’s fears of his father intention to kill him were unfounded. To confirm this, David arranged to be absent from dinner for a few days to see how Saul would react.
vi) When Saul eventually discovered that David was permitted by Jonathan to take a few days off, it offended him greatly. In his anger, he threw a javelin at Jonathan because his support for David was detrimental to the succession plan.
vii) In politics, self-serving interests, not truth, bring people together. When evil men, like Saul, begin to appeal to tribal and family sentiments to justify their wrongdoing, Christians should have nothing to do with it.
viii) Like Jonathan,
a) we must rise to defend the truth and oppose injustice and oppression no matter how much benefits we stand to gain.
b) We must adopt our choices in life with eternity in view.
c) Our lives must never be predicated on self-interests, however enlightened.
d) We must be strictly governed by eternal and heavenly values only.
4) THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Incorporating eternity into one’s plans and ambitions is wisdom.
5) BIBLE READING IN ONE YEAR:
JONAH
Happy Weekend😁😁
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