From the Pastor’s Heart…

 (May 16, 2010)

1 Samuel 23:16 reads, “Saul’s son, Jonathan, went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in the Lord.”

Saul was the King of Israel. Jonathan was Saul’s son and David’s friend. David was God’s choice for king; a man after God’s own heart. Saul increasingly felt threatened by David’s popularity and his own unpopularity. He was consumed by jealousy and looked for opportunities to kill David. So David is hiding in the desert of Horesh and Jonathan comes to help David ‘find strength in the Lord.’

David already knew (of course) about the strength of the Lord, but in the middle of tough times, he (like you and me) sometimes doesn’t necessarily feel the large doses of His strength that He offers.

Scripture teaches us that we must ‘strengthen ourselves in the Lord.’ Several times it tells us of accounts (like 1 Samuel 30:1-6) where even though we are deeply distressed, we should find strength (or strengthen ourselves) in the Lord. We must pray, read His Word and remember His control and love.

But then scripture also teaches us that we are to be a strength to one another in the Lord. David was hurting and God sent Jonathan to minister to him and help him find ‘strength in the Lord.’

I have had many Jonathans in my life who have come to give help and strengthen me. I thank God for every Jonathan that has touched me. I thank God for every Jonathan opportunity that I have had to be there for someone else.

We can’t all be everywhere, so the body of Christ is encouraged to be that Jonathan to each other.

It is a joy to be your pastor.