Praise
Before there was King David, there was King Saul and his son Jonathan. Although Saul had his flaws, as we all do, he had been a mighty warrior and defender of the Israelites. He lived in a time when the Philistine city states on the Gaza plain were subjugating the Israelites who lived in the hills. The book of Judges is full of Philistines running roughshod over the Israelites, and part of the initial success was their iron age weaponry.
The Israelites were still in the bronze age, weapons wise, but that was beginning to change. Saul and his son Jonathan were among the first Israelites to possess iron weapons and with them they fought the Philistines, and led the Israelites to many victories; yet, in their last great battle the …show more content…
Saul had taken David into the court as a harpist and also as a warrior. David won many battles against the Philistines under the leadership of King Saul. This made Saul intensely jealous of David, and he regarded David as a threat to Saul establishing a dynasty; but, Saul’s son, Jonathan, was a great friend of David’s, even to the degree that he had protected David from Saul’s attempts to kill David. Jonathan recognized that God had chosen David; yet, as a loyal son, he remained loyal to his father, Saul; and, more importantly, to the Israelites, in their struggles with the Philistines
This week’s sermon was “Praise,” and the Scripture Reading (2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27) was a song of David that praises not only Jonathan, who had befriended David; but, also King Saul who had previously befriended David. In spite of all the hardships King Saul had caused David, David has some kind words for King Saul. David was able to see the positive in King Saul and what he had done for the Israelites. Think about it: When someone has done us wrong, it is difficult to see their good side; but, that is what David did; David, who was about to become
Before there was King David, there was King Saul and his son Jonathan. Although Saul had his flaws, as we all do, he had been a mighty warrior and defender of the Israelites. He lived in a time when the Philistine city states on the Gaza plain were subjugating the Israelites who lived in the hills. The book of Judges is full of Philistines running roughshod over the Israelites, and part of the initial success was their iron age weaponry.
The Israelites were still in the bronze age, weapons wise, but that was beginning to change. Saul and his son Jonathan were among the first Israelites to possess iron weapons and with them they fought the Philistines, and led the Israelites to many victories; yet, in their last great battle the …show more content…
Saul had taken David into the court as a harpist and also as a warrior. David won many battles against the Philistines under the leadership of King Saul. This made Saul intensely jealous of David, and he regarded David as a threat to Saul establishing a dynasty; but, Saul’s son, Jonathan, was a great friend of David’s, even to the degree that he had protected David from Saul’s attempts to kill David. Jonathan recognized that God had chosen David; yet, as a loyal son, he remained loyal to his father, Saul; and, more importantly, to the Israelites, in their struggles with the Philistines
This week’s sermon was “Praise,” and the Scripture Reading (2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27) was a song of David that praises not only Jonathan, who had befriended David; but, also King Saul who had previously befriended David. In spite of all the hardships King Saul had caused David, David has some kind words for King Saul. David was able to see the positive in King Saul and what he had done for the Israelites. Think about it: When someone has done us wrong, it is difficult to see their good side; but, that is what David did; David, who was about to become