Good evening. For tonight's song service, we'll be singing from the Songs of Praise book. The first song we'll sing is song number 32, and we'll sing both verses, verses 1 and 2 of 32. Ising lowly, little lowly, Christ the Child is Lord of all. Simply dreaming, angels singing, bells are ringing, tidings ringing, Christ the Child is Lord of all. Christ the Child is born of God. Hosts were sleeping, shepherds weeping, angels filled the morning dew. Song of glory heard the story, tidings of the gospel true. The next song we'll sing is number 33, As With Gladness Men of Old, and we'll sing verses 1, 3, and 5 of number 33. Amen. In the guiding star behold. As with joy they hail his light, Leading onward, leading bright. So most gracious, golden and deep, Evermore your splendor see. is most rare, and the cradle plain and bare. So may we with holy joy, pure and free from sins allure, fall across this treasured way. Thanks to you, our help leads. and glorious city bright, thine shall be created light. Here is life, its joy is proud, new, its sun which goes not down. There forever may we sing alleluia to our God. Well, greetings in the Lord, congregation, and also a warm welcome to those who are visiting with us tonight. Always a pleasure to have out-of-town or nearby friends and family join us as we gather together on the Lord's Day to worship Him as His people. And tonight, like we heard this morning, we are here not just because it is our desire, but we are here because God himself calls us to worship. And the call to worship this evening is here in Psalm 40. I waited patiently for the Lord. He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction. and out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth. May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you. May those who love your salvation say continually, great is the Lord. So let's come tonight and remember especially the grace of God and His greatness to us in that way and bow in a word of silent prayer and ask for His blessing as we call upon Him together. Beloved congregation, I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Receive God's greeting. Grace to you and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen. Well, we heard that call to worship, and once more God has welcomed us into His presence. So let's turn for the opening song to number 178. Another song from Psalm 91, Because Thy Trust is God Alone. We'll sing stanzas 1, 2, 5, and 6. The first two and the last two of 178. My refuge, the highest throne, The kingdom shall upon me come, Lord, whereabouts my God enrolled. And till He comes and He is come and will prevail, He has been bled alone. How yet I could have kissed the snow? And as long as he shall call on me, those riches shall my answer be. I will be grateful. When in his trouble I will rest. Love, with deliverance I will give, And on earth in love he shall live. Of undivided life I will be sold, Those promises in Psalm 91 belong to us in Christ, and we follow that singing of such a wonderful promise by making confession of our faith with those well-known words of the Apostles' Creed. And after that, we'll turn immediately over to number 335, another Advent song, Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. So we say then, not only in true faith, but with one voice, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe a holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Come, inspected Jesus, for to set thy people free. From our fears and sins release us. Let us find our rest in thee. Israel, strength and consolation, hope of all the earth, thou art. Dear desire of every nation, joy of every loving heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King. For to reign in us forever, Have thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone. By thine own sufficient mirror, raise us to thy glorious throne. Well, let's turn to Luke chapter 23. We've come near the close of that third gospel, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We'll read the whole chapter tonight here at Luke 23. So we come then to God's Word, even as Scripture commands the public reading of the Word. We have that tonight with Luke 23. So it says to us, beginning in verse 1, Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king. And Pilate asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? And he answered him, You have said so. Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, I find no fault in this man. But they were saying, he stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place. When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said to them, you brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him. But they all cried out together, away with this man and release to us Barabbas. A man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus. But they kept shouting, crucify, crucify him. A third time he said to them, why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him. But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked. He delivered Jesus over to their will. And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them, Jesus said, daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed. Then they will begin to say to the mountains, fall on us, and to the hills, cover us. For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry? Two others who were criminals were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called the skull, there they crucified him and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching. But the ruler scoffed at him, saying, He saved others. Let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his chosen one. The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself. There was also an inscription over him, This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us. But the other rebuked him, saying, do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward for our deeds. But this man has done nothing wrong. And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he said to him, frually, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise. It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun's light failed, and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. And having said this, he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, Certainly this man was innocent. And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. Now there was a man named Joseph from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action, and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, when no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment." So there we have it. The end of our Lord's earthly life by way of crucifixion. Well let's come in our congregational prayer and call upon God together, shall we? Our Heavenly Father, once more we thank you for the opportunity to hear your word read, for the opportunity, oh God, to sing songs of praise to your name, for the opportunity, Father, to make good confession of the faith once for all delivered to the saints. and for the opportunity to do all of those things, O Lord, not privately and not in a corner, but to do them publicly, having been called to worship you. What a privilege and pleasure that is, and we ask, O Father, that you would make that a priority for us, that all the days of our life, whether we are young or old or somewhere in between, when the Lord's day comes and the worship service is called, that we would be desirous as your spirit works a willingness and readiness in us to be found in your house and among your people. We ask, O Father, that you would bless all of these things during the service, not just that they would be an encouragement for us and serve to strengthen and fortify us and prepare us for the week that lies ahead, but that most of all, they would bring glory and honor and praise to your name, that your grace would be on display, that your majesty would be lifted up, and that in every way you would be acknowledged through Jesus Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit as the giver of every good and perfect gift. Father, we pray tonight for those outside of our congregation, and we remember ongoing prayers for several, and pray, O Lord, for your blessing to be with Dave Willinga, Nancy Cambier, John Scrooge, and Lindsay Neuendorp. We thank you, O Lord, that we can remember them before you, and not only on Sundays, but at times in our private prayers and in our family prayers. And we ask, Lord, that these tonight would be encouraged, that you would remind them of your faithfulness and of the care you provide even in their challenges. that you would give them, O Lord, all that they stand in need of, and that through these things you might give them, O Lord, strength of faith and fullness of courage and hope as they look to the future. We also pray, Father, for missionaries in our Federation, and tonight we remember your servant, Reverend Brian Cochran in Regina, Saskatchewan, and his family and ministry and congregation he serves there. We ask, O Lord, for your blessing to be with the men who were ordained to the office of elder last week. Fill them, we pray, with wisdom, with love, and with strength for the task of an under-shepherd. Bless, O Lord, that congregation which now is coming close to its tenth year in that community with an increase in numbers, but also, Lord, According to your will an increase in maturity as well as well that through the ministry in all of its parts and pieces The congregation might be well served and the roots that they established may sink down deep O Lord into rich and fertile soil We also pray that you would use the ministry of the word Wherever it might go forth O Lord to draw in your elect in that community to open eyes to open hearts that the light of Christ might shine brightly and and that many, Lord, according to your will, would be delivered out of the domain of darkness and transferred into the kingdom of your beloved Son. Father, we pray also for the members of our congregation that you continue to uphold and bless when they face weaknesses and challenges of body and mind. We ask, O Lord, for continued blessing to be upon Jane Rorda, and we give you thanks, Father, for Paul Anima and the answers to prayer that we have seen there. Give Jane and Paul and all others who have special needs, O Lord, grace, Give them, O Lord, opportunity, whether trial continues or relief is given, to acknowledge Your goodness and Your faithfulness. And teach them and all of us, Lord, when we face trials of any kind, to count it all joy and to bear up under those things patiently, remembering that You use them to humble us to endear your promises to us and to teach us that this world is not our home but that we are passing through. And we look for a city whose builder and maker is God, for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, and for a cosmos that is delivered, O Lord, in every way from the stain and scar of sin. We pray, Father, tonight that you would Teach us to be in prayer according to your word. And so to that end, we ask for the prayer of Psalm 23, verse 3, to be answered in each of our lives. And that you would lead us into the paths of righteousness for your name's sake. Father, may your commandments be that which we seek to walk according to, not that we might somehow think that we could ever earn acceptance in your sight, but that we might see that as the pathway of gratitude and the road of thankfulness that you call us to humbly walk down, depending upon you to guide our steps and to help us, O Lord, not to turn aside to the right or to the left, but to set our hope and our heart on the calling that you have for us. We pray, O Lord, that that prayer that Christ himself has taught us to pray would be in our hearts and in our minds and on our lips, that we might direct our prayers in this way unto you. We ask, O Lord, for your kingdom to come to us and in us. And we pray, O Lord, that each day that would be a desire that we would have. And you would help us, Lord, to be earnest and sincere in seeking that blessing from your hand. We pray also, O Lord, for any who might be chastened and ask that you would teach them to trust your fatherhood and to see that chastening as evidence of their sonship and to respond humbly and in faith. We pray, O Lord, as well for repentance to be given and that in these things there might be growth and there might be grace on display. We pray as well, Lord, for any who are bitter, and pray that you would help them to remember how sweet your promises are, that those things, Father, might be that which fills their heart, and a root of bitterness would be uprooted and removed, and that not a remnant or piece of it would remain behind. We pray to you, O God, for any who might struggle with unforgiveness, especially those who would give place to that. Father, help them to acknowledge your mercy and show them how greatly you have forgiven them, that they might then, Lord, be ready to Put away any grudge or any hardness of heart or unforgiveness against another person and resolve instead to rejoice in how freely your mercy has been made known to them. And in that light, be ready and willing, O Lord, to forgive others. Father, for any who are angry, we pray you would fill their heart with the joy of Christ and the joy of the Holy Spirit. And for any who are earthly minded, Teach them, O God, to lift their eyes above the horizon of this life, to be heavenly-minded, to be spiritually-minded, and to walk here below with the wisdom of your Word and with the spectacles that Scripture puts on that they might then see accordingly what is important and the priorities that you call them to have as one who names the name of Christ. Father, we pray for the offering that we take later in the service for Divine Hope Seminary. We thank you that we can continue to support this ministry prayerfully and financially. We ask, Lord, your blessing to be with the men who serve as professors, Reverends Anima, Brummel, and Ipema. Give those brothers what they stand in need of for that labor and that calling. We pray, Lord, that our church and others who partner together would have the blessing that you know is needed on that offering, that the shortfall that Divine Hope Seminary is experiencing could be met, and that would be a reminder to us, O Lord, how fully and faithfully you provide, and that the inmates and the men who are the recipients of that study and of that ministry would have your word impressed upon them, that your grace would open their hearts and minds to receive those things in spirit and in truth, and that in every way, even though they be in the darkness of the prison system, and they may nevertheless hold forth the light of Christ one to another for encouragement and to their fellow inmates for evangelism as well. So Father, as we lay all of these things before you, we look, ask, and beg the answer you know that we need, even as Christ himself taught us to pray, Saying together, our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Well, let's turn over to number 107. We sang from this psalm last week, number 107, Psalm 59. Remember, that's the psalm that David wrote as he reflected back on these things in 1 Samuel 20. So that's the connection that we have with the preaching tonight. And we'll sing stanzas three through seven of number 107. You found me on the way. Lord, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou, Thou The Lord will not regard, but Thou wilt turn them back. O God, my strength on Thee I lay, to Thee for refuge lay. My God, with mercy will defend, triumphant I shall be. Let wickedness and pride be put to shame. Here all shall know that Thou dost rule, and all shall fear Thy name. Let wickedness and raging power now rage in impotence. Well, let's turn back over to 1 Samuel chapter 20. We read the first part of that chapter last week, and looked at verses 1 to 23. So now we'll read the second half, and that will be our preaching passage as well. So here we are, 1 Samuel chapter 20, beginning in verse 24. Here's what the Word of God says. So David hid himself in the field, and when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul's side. But David's place was empty. Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, something has happened to him. He is not clean, surely he is not clean. But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan, his son, why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today? Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. He said, let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers. For this reason, he has not come to the king's table. Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan. And he said to him, you son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die. And Jonathan answered Saul, his father, why should he be put to death? What has he done? But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month. For he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him. In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David and with him a little boy. And he said to his boy, run, arrows that I shoot. As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, is not the arrow beyond you? And Jonathan called after the boy, hurry, be quick, do not stay. So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said to him, go and carry them to the city. And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. Then Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring forever. And he rose and departed. And Jonathan went into the city." So there it is, the last part of 1 Samuel 20. Well, let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you again for the reading of your word and pray now for your blessing upon the preaching of the same. Use, O Lord, a simple ministry to accomplish profound things in each of our lives. We ask, as we sit, attentively make this word come to us in spirit and in truth, that it might penetrate, O Lord, into our hearts for enlivening, into our minds for instruction, and into every area of who we are that we might be encouraged by these things. So have your will and way among us, O Lord, whether that means correcting or training or reproving, that you might use this word to mold and shape us to be fit and faithful servants unto you in all things as we call upon you in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, let's remember where we're at and how we got here as we look to finish things off in 1 Samuel tonight. Remember, boys and girls, David is a man on the run, and he comes here even at the beginning of the chapter to seek some sort of help or encouragement from Jonathan. That's how things opened up, we saw last week. And Jonathan and David, remember, had that special relationship together, the covenant of friendship that was established between the two of them all the way back in chapter 18. And what they do here, like I mentioned last week, is really a reaffirmation and extension of that covenant of friendship from the opening of chapter 18. And also, remember, Jonathan alludes to it at the end of the chapter here, but the covenant that Jonathan made with David by way of extension and reaffirmation in verses 14 and 15 like we heard about last week, that secures the protection of Jonathan's family into the future, even if Jonathan himself should lose his life, which is what happens when we get to 1 Samuel chapter 31. And then the strategy that the two of them use, that we talked about a little bit last week, it's something only the two of them are privy to, and it's a means of communication that they use so that they are both on the same page regarding Jonathan conveying to David what Saul's determination is against him, whether good or evil. And in all of that, in all of what Jonathan and David are planning together, They're looking to be faithful to the Lord. They're looking to further God's kingdom. And they're looking to follow God's will. So that's key, those three things, to be faithful to the Lord, to further his kingdom, and to follow his will. That's important for us to keep in mind as we seek to understand what's going on in the passage here. But you know what else, congregation? That's important for us to understand, too, as we look at the week that lies ahead. We, too, should seek in Monday through Saturday, as well as tonight, to be faithful to the Lord, to further His kingdom and to follow His will. With all of those details in mind, let's come to look at the last half of the chapter and keep verses 24 to 42 before us. You can see if you have the insert, David and Jonathan agree on how to evaluate Saul's intentions. Last week we saw that their plan was religious with the oaths and the covenants binding between the two of them. Tonight we see that this plan is dangerous. So think about it for a minute as the dangerousness of this plan comes to the forefront in this part of the chapter. based on what was planned in the first part of the chapter. It puts Jonathan in harm's way with his father and it further allies Jonathan with David which adds another layer of complexity and danger to the whole situation and scenario here. So look at the passage and how it opens up in verses 24 and 25. We have there what I would call narrative transition. It brings us from the first part of the chapter to the second part of the chapter. David hides in the field. The new moon celebration in the king's court arrives. Saul takes his seat, notice, by the wall. So you be the judge. Does Saul take his seat by the wall because that's his customary seat? Or does Saul take his seat by the wall because he's paranoid about protecting his own back? Maybe it's a mix of both. In any case, Jonathan sits opposite his father. Abner is beside. the king besides Saul as well, and then it tells us that David's seat is empty. If this were a play, and we were watching the scene unfold here at the beginning of the passage here in verses 24 and 25, if all of the actors accordingly came onto the stage and took their positions like it's described here, at that point The music would let us know that something is about to happen. Dun, dun, dun. The stage is set, the spotlight shines on David's empty seat. How are things going to unfold here with everybody that's on the scene? And so let's pause up front to note something. Let's pause for a minute to appreciate the drama of God's word. You can cut the tension here with a knife, congregation. Although this is simple narrative transition, yet what we have here is, it's not just history. It's redemptive history. This is God's revelation. This is what God wants us to know as He reveals to us all the details that took place in David's rise to the kingship of Israel. This is God-breathed as well as every bit as much as something that the Apostle Paul wrote or that the Lord Jesus Christ said. And what we have here in 1 Samuel 20 is useful for teaching, for reproving, for correcting, and for training in righteousness that the people of God might be complete, fully furnished and equipped for every good work. You've got to love. The Scriptures congregation, it thrills the heart, it fills the mind, it promises grace to the humble, it warns the proud, and it promises the sure hope of forgiveness to all who believe in and belong to Jesus Christ. So as you sit through a series of sermons, not just here in 1 Samuel, but any other sermons that you hear over the course of your life, remember, Remember to rejoice in the glory of God's Word. To believe all of what is written and all of what you hear. Because guess what? 2 Timothy 3 verse 15 is still true. And it is the Holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise unto salvation, which through faith in Jesus Christ. And even narrative transition is part of what God would have us give attention to. Look at where it goes from here in verses 26 to 29. It tells us that even though Saul notices David's absence, that he remains quiet about things to himself, he thinks to himself, and notice again, we're given insight into Saul's thoughts like we have seen in previous chapters. Saul thinks to himself, something has happened, David's not clean, surely he's not clean. In other words, Saul surmises that whatever the case might be, there's some kind of ritual uncleanness that prevents David from coming to this new moon celebration feast. So there's another wrinkle in terms of Old Testament law that's in place and that's in view with what the persons in the narrative are thinking about. But look at when the second day arrives. David still is not on the scene and Saul notices that and basically he asks Jonathan, what's up with all of this? Notice he calls David the son of Jesse. He calls him that a few times in the passage. Perhaps that's a reference all the way back to the end of chapter 17 after David beats Goliath and Saul wants to know his lineage and his parentage. And he says, I am the son of your servant Jesse from Bethlehem. Perhaps that still sticks in Saul's mind the way David answers him there. And he refers to him as the son of Jesse here. And then he brings up the fact to Jonathan that not only was David not here today, but he wasn't here yesterday either when Saul kept his mouth quiet about things. So apparently enough is enough and Saul can't stands no more. But Jonathan is ready for his father's query, isn't he? And in verses 28 and 29, Jonathan goes along with the story that David had cooked up back in verse 6 in order to explain his absence and says that David asked leave to go down to Bethlehem and spend his time at a feast with his brothers and to reconnect with his family there. And then as if to reinforce his words to his father, he says at the end of verse 29, for this reason, he has not come to the king's table. So let's pause to understand something clearly. Although we saw that like Michael did in chapter 19, that Jonathan uses deceit here in order to help David. We have to understand carefully why Jonathan's doing that. He's doing it in one regard, for the sake of this covenant of friendship that he and David have together, which itself has religious suggestions and overtones to it in the sight of God. But Jonathan's doing it as well in order to protect the one that he knows God has chosen to be the next king of Israel. So it's not a case. It's not a case where Jonathan is giving us a principle to follow that the end justifies the means and that as long as you get what you're planning for, it doesn't matter how you do it. That's not what's going on here. But it's a case where extreme measures are taken It's in a dangerous situation the one who needs protection can receive that protection. And so it's not necessarily that everything's fair in love and war, but it's along those lines in terms of what Jonathan and David are conspiring here together to determine what Saul's plans are. And so Jonathan's covenantal commitments in protecting David this way, it's ultimately counter-cultural in terms of how life works in the ancient Near East. This is a covenant between the two of them that binds them together. It's a covenant that keeps Jonathan's commitments to his friend David rather than to his father Saul. And it's a covenant that enables the two of them to be salt and light, to have an impact and an influence on God's work in this time as things drive forward, ultimately leading to the Lord Jesus Christ. Because David is a father of Christ. So when Jonathan is doing these things to protect David, Jonathan is doing these things, whether he's fully aware of it or not, to protect the line of David that will lead to the Lord Jesus. And in the end, the principle that we can pick up on is along those same lines. Our friendships in the Lord are ties that bind. Our friendships in the Lord give us commitments that are ultimately Godward. And our friendships in the Lord should be pursued so that they are salt and light and have an impact and an influence for the sake of Christ and his kingdom in this world. As we walk together, let's walk together in love and let's walk together to honor God above all else, whether at home, whether at work, whether at school, or whether in the community. And notice further, notice further in, maybe look at verse 29 in particular, where Jonathan picks up on the story that David had cooked up back in verse six. What Jonathan does there, congregation? He puts himself at risk for the sake of David, doesn't he? Jonathan basically counts all things as loss. in order that he might be a servant to the One that God has chosen to be King, in order that he might be a servant to the Word that no doubt he has been told, has been revealed to David, and so that Jonathan might then pursue God's Kingdom and the advancement of that. So, if we can use a bit of an anachronism, Matthew 6, verse 33, Seek first God's Kingdom and His righteousness, and everything else will be added unto you. That wasn't a cliche for Jonathan. He didn't know that verse the way we know it, but that principle was something that Jonathan knew, and that Jonathan was convinced of, and that Jonathan lived in light of. So in other words, for Jonathan, this is all a first commandment issue, congregation. Jonathan is showing in his help of David where his allegiance lies. Jonathan's allegiance is with David, and therefore Jonathan's allegiance is with the Lord. Well, likewise, beloved, there's a point of contact that we can make with that as well. When we're faced with difficult decisions, perhaps even if there are commitments that we would make that would put us in danger or in harm's way, let us maintain our allegiance to God. to His cause, and to His will, and to His way. Whether that means cultural conformity that is pressed upon us, and that we resist because we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, or whether that means boys and girls and young people, if there's peer pressure that would seek to push you in a direction that you know is wrong, and that you know you shouldn't go down. Because after all, the issue is this, in terms of First Commandment. We believe in Christ, and we belong to Him. He's our Lord, that means He's our King, and that means that serving Him is not only a responsibility that we have, but it's a calling and a privilege. Remember that. Believe that. And live in light of that calling and that privilege which is yours. Look at verses 30 to 34. They show us what happens after Saul learns about Jonathan's knowledge of David's alleged whereabouts. When he himself, Saul himself, has been left in the dark about all of this. In fact, you can tell how things unfold and what Saul says to Jonathan. that he may very well suspect that Jonathan has some kind of an involvement in this ruse that has been cooked up in order for him and David to collude together to resist Saul and deceive him. In verse 30, when Saul addresses Jonathan, It tells us that his anger is kindled against him. And maybe not so surprisingly, Saul, he lets the obscenities fly as he berates Jonathan. And if you see what Saul says there in verse 30, if you have ears to hear, then you can pretty well make the connection with the phrase that I would venture to guess most of us are familiar with and that lives in our culture, and exactly what it is that Saul is saying to Jonathan. It's not an accusation of Jonathan's mother, but he's an accusation against Jonathan himself. And then in verse 31, we read more of what Saul says in his rant. He tries to persuade Jonathan to turn David over to him in order to preserve his own legacy and his own inheritance as the son of the king whose kingdom is in his hand if he wants it. But Saul's mistaken, isn't he? And Saul's going to come up empty in the request that he makes here of David. Saul, he underestimates congregation, where Jonathan's heart is in all these things, because Jonathan's interest is in God's kingdom, not in his own kingdom. And Saul's words, and then the urging of verse 31, that's of no value to Jonathan. Because the covenant that Jonathan has already made with David to protect his descendants when this new king comes onto the scene, it answers the offer that Saul makes there. And besides, how is it that what Saul asks Jonathan here to hand David over to him, how is it that that can come off as anything other than a desperation move, a hail Mary of sorts? Because Saul can't really think. that David would turn Jonathan over to him after everything that has unfolded, after everything he himself has seen, and after everything we have been told from chapter 18, 19, and now 20. There's no way that Jonathan is going to throw David under the bus like that and deliver him over to his father. But you know what's happening here with Saul? Sadly enough, all of what Saul says and does here in this part of the passage, It shows him slipping further into the madness that is slowly overtaking his heart and his mind. It's the further result, congregation, of chapter 15, verse 11. where Saul has neglected God and has not kept His commandments, but has walked in the other direction. And although it's not mentioned here, the evil spirit that we've read about a couple of times that's been afflicting Saul, this is all likely part of that whole scenario. It's sad and it's tragic. But you know what else it should be? It should be a warning to us. If we walk away from the Lord and His grace and the service He calls us to render, the only alternative is to walk in the other direction and to spiral downward and to be overtaken by sin and disobedience and madness and to open ourselves up to the evil spirits and the realm of the evil one. That's why Christ taught us to pray, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Make that your prayer congregation and depend upon God to watch over you and care for you like Psalm 91 says, with the shelter of his wings that you might abide under the shadow of the Almighty and know him as your refuge and your fortress. Look at verse 32, Jonathan responds to his father, and again, he speaks in David's defense, saying something similar to what he said back in chapter 19, verses 4 and 5. And then in verses 33 and 34, so to speak, it's Saul being Saul, and to no one's surprise, he chucks his spear again. But this time, Jonathan is the intended target. Saul's own son, the one he just got done saying, is supposed to be the heir apparent of the kingdom. And after that happened, we're given insight into Jonathan's thoughts. He now knows that David was right. that Saul still has evil intent against his friend, the up and coming king. So it tells us that Jonathan rose, look at verse 34. He rose from the table in fierce anger. He ate no food the second day of the month. He was grieved for David because his father had disgraced him. By this argument and this assault, Jonathan had been disgraced by his father. Essentially, Jonathan is suffering persecution here for the sake of God's kingdom. And so let me ask, are you up for persecution if it arises in your life for the sake of God's kingdom? Are you up for the kind of mistreatment that may come your way when you seek to serve God and uphold his character and make a stand for his anointed one? Not David, but his anointed one, Christ. Are you ready for what might lie ahead in the culture that continues to go more and more away from service and acknowledgement of God's rule and what might be on the horizon for those who are disciples of Christ? Let me ask this question. What if it comes to the point in your life at some time in the not-too-distant future where you're forced to make a decision that will reveal where your loyalties lie? Maybe that will happen at some point in the culture, if you're at work, or if you enter into politics, or if you go into the military. Maybe that will happen at some point on the job that you now have, as maybe things at some point become increasingly more and more hostile, or you're put in a position to compromise your Christian character or your Christian convictions when it comes to business dealings. Maybe you're a young person and you go away to college and you're at a Christian school and the professor is teaching about evolution. Or you go to a state school and you're surrounded by unbelief on every corner. What will you do then? Is your faith strong enough to withstand those fiery darts? Will your commitments be revealed as genuine and the foundation that you stand upon be indeed the rock of Christ? Let me give you three things to keep in mind when those things arrive. Because in the end it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when will they come and how strong will the attacks be. Ask God to give you a heart and a mind that is kingdom focused in all things at all times. There will be shortcomings you'll see in that, but you're asking essentially for God's kingdom to come in you in that second petition of the Lord's Prayer. Seek, as you plan for the future, for God's will to be followed by you, that you could live for Him no matter what the situation or circumstance around you is. And then know what it is you believe and why you believe it. And then be ready to go out into the world and to stand on and to stand for those very same things. God will bless that kind of a commitment and he will give you the courage you need to fight that kind of a fight. Let's pick up on one more thing before we move on. Saul's response here when he finds out that Jonathan is aware I would suggest that Saul finds out that Jonathan has helped David escape and be gone from this meeting. But regardless of what the details are in that connection, Saul still is harboring jealousy in his heart and anger against David. And there's another opportunity to warn us against that congregation. If you have jealousy in your heart, if you have anger in your heart, if you have hatred in your heart, eventually those things will come out of your heart. And you know why? Let me illustrate it this way. If you go home tonight and fill a coffee cup with coffee, and then you tip that coffee cup over, what's going to spill all over the table? Coffee. You know why coffee's going to spill all over the table? Because that's what's in the cup. The reason bitterness and anger and hatred and jealousy comes out of Saul's heart is because that's what's in his heart. And when it gets spilled over, that's what comes out. But let's broaden, let's broaden things out here. What about the person that harbors lust in their heart? What about the person that harbors resentment in their heart? What about the person that harbors pride, or covetousness, or unbelief, or whatever else it might be? Beware, congregation, of harboring those things in your heart. Because something we see very clearly in Saul is this. Here's a principle. Unrepentant sin does not fade away, but it always remains with the individual. That's Saul's problem here. That's been his problem for a few chapters, and that will be his problem, unfortunately, all the way to the end of his life in chapter 31. So what's the takeaway? Well, the takeaway is, first of all, to be warned about these things. Secondly, to guard our heart and our mind and think on those things in Philippians 4, which are good, which are noble, which are pure, which are worthy, etc. And to see big picture implications, negatively and positively, for what lies in our heart, whether at home or at school or at work or at church. In our relationships, in our friendships, whatever's on the inside. will eventually come to manifest itself on the outside. So maybe some of you sit here tonight and you know that you've harbored anger or lust or pride or resentment or whatever else in your heart. You know you're guilty and you maybe wonder what to do. Well, first of all, humble yourself in true repentance before God and turn away from those things. Secondly, in that light of true repentance and humility, seek the throne of God's grace in Christ that you might be forgiven for those sins. And then in the third place, ask God for a clean and pure heart. And then go and seek to serve Him depending upon Him all along the way for grace and guidance that you might show yourself to be humble and thankful to Him for His patience and His mercy. After all, the Gospel promises not just forgiving grace in Christ and a clean slate in God's sight. But the gospel also promises new life. It promises spiritual growth, and we are called to seek that in the life of sanctification that God calls us to look for from his hand. It's Psalm 141, verse three. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth. Keep watch over the door of my heart. Let's look as the passage continues in verses 35 to 42. We have the unfolding of what was previously planned back in verses 18 to 22. And the little boy that Jonathan brings along is an interesting wrinkle here. The little boy likely provides Jonathan with a measure of cover because it's Quite likely that he has accompanied Jonathan on these sorts of things before when target practice comes into the picture. And so by all outward appearances, it's business as usual for Jonathan. And if Saul happens to have any of his men that have Jonathan under surveillance, well, they're not going to be suspicious as they see him leaving with his little boy in tow to go for target practice out into the field. But as things fall out, there's more to it than just that, right? That the plan that David and Jonathan has discussed, it comes to pass here. Verse 39 parallels and echoes what we saw last week in verse 23. And after the arrows fly, Jonathan sends the boy away with his weaponry and David comes out of hiding. He bows with his face to the ground three times and he and Jonathan kiss and weep. With David weeping the most, it tells us, And it's a display of friendship, not erotic love. We've talked about that before with the covenant that the two of them have. It's a cultural custom, the way they hug and kiss and weep together out of the sorrow and sadness that they have in light of everything that Saul has displayed. Remember this congregation, not just as we read what David and Jonathan go through here at the end of the chapter, but in your own life as well. We're dependent upon God's providence, and on God's promises. And in that light, David and Jonathan and we learn this. Here, they learn that God's promises and God's providence is all they have to go on. They learn patience and trust, and that's what we should learn. Faithfulness in friendship, and that's what we should learn. The sure hope that comes in light of God's providence and promise, no matter what, He unfolds to us and brings us through. Here's a pastoral point. As David's life unfolds, already to this point, David has faced a series of personal attacks from Saul, and there's more coming down the line from him. David's going to be a man on the run for some time. But you know what? David never lost his faith, did he? You read the Psalms and he poured out his complaint to the Lord. He expressed his frustration and his fear, but there's always that undergirding foundation of confidence and trust in God. David never lost his faith, David never lost his hope, and David never lost sight of God's faithfulness. Congregation, let that be said of us too, as individuals, as families, as a body of believers. Although we be burdened and weighed down by all sorts of disappointments and trials, yet in the midst of those things, let us look up to God who still sits on the throne and who calls us to trust Him even in the lowly weakness of our lives. That's what it means to walk by faith. and not by sight. Look at verse 42. Jonathan says, shalom to David. Go in peace. He reminds David of the oath between them. We have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord. He specifies the terms of this covenant. The Lord shall be between me and you and between my offspring and your offspring forever. That's referencing verses 14 and 15. And then look at the last line of the chapter. David and Jonathan part ways and there's a poignant note in the narrative here. Neither one knows what's going to happen from here and how things are going to unfold. And guess what? Apart from one other brief meeting in chapter 23, this is the last time that David and Jonathan see each other as far as things are recorded for us in scripture. There's lessons for us in what Jonathan says to David and in the fact that these two are essentially parting ways for the next to the last time. The lesson in terms of what Jonathan says to David is for us to be mindful of seeking to communicate peace to each other. Maybe even in an evangelistic sense in the week that lies ahead. Think about it like this. Romans chapter five, verse one says, we have peace with God because we have been justified by faith through Jesus Christ. Philippians chapter 4 says, we are to be anxious in nothing, but in everything. Let our requests be made known to God, and that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Peace is a fruit of the spirit congregation. Peace is given to us by Jesus Christ our Lord. And biblically, peace, it's a wholeness, it's a stability, it's a tranquility, despite the winds and waves that are all around us. Peace, shalom. It's steadfast and immovable because it's founded upon God's promises and God's faithfulness. That's what Jonathan is wishing to David here. Peace be with you. Well, why don't we follow in that same mold and wish one another peace in the Lord. Not out of superstition or custom, but from the heart and in good faith. to our family, to our friends, to those in the community. Peace be with you. Shalom. Who knows what God would do with that kind of a greeting? Who knows where God might lead in those kind of opportunities as we have a chance to speak further with those that we wish the blessing of God's peace to. Let's pause to close out with one more thought. David and Jonathan, as I mentioned, apart from the one instance in chapter 23 where they see each other briefly, this is the next to the last time they're going to see each other. What if you could be intentional about the last thing you would say to somebody? To a loved one or to a friend? What would it be? Why not, peace be with you. Go in peace. Culturally, maybe there's a little bit of an equivalent where we tell one another, I love you. We say that as spouses or as parents to children or children to parents. That's a cultural equivalent of sorts, but it's a little thin. Shalom and peace is fuller and richer than just simply, I love you. Because shalom and peace includes love, where necessarily in our understanding love doesn't necessarily include shalom or peace. But think about this tonight, the last thing you say to your loved ones before you go to bed tonight. Parents, what will be the thing you're intentional about saying to your children as they leave for school in the morning? Maybe you visit someone in the hospital and you leave the room. What's the last thing you say to them? Maybe you see a friend at work or someone that you've witnessed to over the years. And you punch out tomorrow or you see them at the feedlot or wherever it might be. What's the last thing you'll say to them before you leave? There's many occasions. But we never know when the last time we're going to see someone is. Seize that opportunity to say something meaningful. And with God's blessing and your prayers upon that, it would be important to them and he would work through that to convey grace and guidance. Peace be with you, congregation. And may you go in the week that lies ahead in the peace of Christ. Amen. Well, let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you again for your word and ask that you would bring it to us in spirit and in truth and for Jesus' sake. Amen. Let's... I'm going to change the song if I can. I think our accompanists are... Well, maybe not with... Maybe we'll stick with the song we have. I don't want to throw... Are you up for a song? Alright, let's turn to number 264. Let's sing from Psalm 122. We can pray for the peace of Jerusalem in our song. And that, I think, might be more fitting than praise to the Lord, the Almighty is a fine enough song. Psalm 122, number 264, my heart was glad to hear the welcome sound, thinking especially of our prayers for peace upon God's people. Our heart was glad to hear the welcome sound, The call to sing death, O world's house of prayer. Our feet are standing here on holy ground, Within thy midst of city grand and fair. God's people to Jerusalem prepare To hear his word and worship him with praise. The throne of justice, and eternal heir, Earth's highest throne through endless length of days. Heaven is prairie, made for giant beasts, Thy sons to hold Thee, here shall prosper world. Faithless in Him, Thy fellowships increase. And peace within Thy walls forever. Reverend and Companion says, My curse shall be when Christ is me abide. Since dark of morning he is well in place, To thee my love shall never be begun. Well, as the deacons come forward to receive the offering, remember that goes to supply and support the ongoing work of Divine Hope Seminary. And our closing doxology again, number 125, stanzas three and four. Okay. Sing unto God, ye nations, ye kingdoms of the air. Sing unto God, all people, and praise his majestic word. He writes in loyal triumph what He speaks of mountains tremble before the Lord. O glory, might, and honor, the strength to battle by, is our proud Texas people, who on this cloud rely. For crowned by holy clouding, thy awful glory shine. Beloved, the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.