Duty and Privilege of the Christian to His Brethren

In this part of the sermon: He provides an overview of David's life as a fugitive from Saul, highlighting Saul's relentless pursuit and God's constant deliverance, setting the stage for Jonathan's…

Saul's jealous eye is described as a 'green eye' that burned with envy, making even noble deeds appear ignoble, illustrating how envy distorts perception.

And Saul eyed David from that day forward. No longer did he look upon him with good will and with favor. His eye became a green eye that burned with envy. It became a jealous eye that was constantly looking at David as a threat to his own position. And when that happens, no one can do anything that is right in the sight of an evil eye. The most known

7:33 - 8:03 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The essence of what Jonathan did, is captured in the words, he strengthened his hand in God. Now, here we have a figure of speech. When we read in the Scripture that someone strengthened the hands of another, what it mea…

The phrase 'strengthened the hands' is explained as a figure of speech meaning to encourage resolution, not physical exercise, clarifying its biblical usage.

When we read in the Scripture that someone strengthened the hands of another, what it means is, they encouraged and increased someone's resolution to pursue a given course of action. That's what this figure of speech means. It doesn't mean that someone put someone in a regimen of pumping iron to give them stronger arms or hands. Let's look at a couple of illustrations where this terminology is found.

14:11 - 14:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The essence of what Jonathan did, is captured in the words, he strengthened his hand in God. Now, here we have a figure of speech. When we read in the Scripture that someone strengthened the hands of another, what it mea…

Nehemiah's report of God's hand upon him strengthened the people's hands, illustrating how encouragement increases resolve for a good work.

Come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. And I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also the king's word that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

15:51 - 16:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He defines 'strengthening his hand' as encouraging and increasing someone's resolution, illustrating this figure of speech with examples from Nehemiah and Judges, and clarifying…

The men of Shechem strengthening Abimelech's hands to slay his brethren illustrates how resolution can be intensified for an evil course of action.

And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. And the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jeroboam might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren. There was an intention and purpose to kill his brethren. These men strengthened his hands.

17:05 - 17:36 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He defines 'strengthening his hand' as encouraging and increasing someone's resolution, illustrating this figure of speech with examples from Nehemiah and Judges, and clarifying…

False prophets strengthening the hands of evildoers illustrates how wicked intentions can be augmented by ungodly influence.

What did they do? They augmented, they intensified that purpose and resolution to pursue this evil course of action. Jeremiah 23.14 says this is one of the functions and the wretched fruits of the ministry of the false prophets.

17:36 - 17:55 Read in full sermon

Driving home: He buttressed and increased David's resolve in God. You see, the reference point in Jonathan's ministry to David was not man, not circumstances, not anything that Jonathan might bring to him. It transcended man, circumst…

David's refusal to kill Saul in the cave, despite his men's urging, illustrates his commitment to God's timing and way, rooted in God's immutable promise.

and you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto you, that also Saul my father knows. How is David strengthened in that whole complex of resolution to wait God's time and God's way to bring him to the place of God's appointment? David's men would say to him when he's found in the cave with Saul, God has delivered him into your hand, kill him and take the throne. David said no.

21:14 - 21:50 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The second means is affirming God's invincible purpose, as Jonathan assures David that Saul will not find him, deriving confidence from God's promise rather than circumstances.

David often escaping 'by the skin of his teeth' illustrates the perilous nature of his situation, making Jonathan's affirmation of God's invincible purpose all the more powerful.

He hides out someplace and somebody goes and snitches to Saul. And Saul sends out another part. And David has to leave. And the whole account of these chapters is Saul's almost demonic, yes, demonic, murderous intention, I am going to get him.

24:48 - 25:07 Read in full sermon

The point: Affirm to each other God's invincible purposes, believing that Christ will build His church.

A quotation from Blakey's commentary on David's life emphasizes Jonathan's faith and piety in strengthening David's hand in God, highlighting the spiritual nature of true friendship.

and he will indeed accomplish it affirm to each other God's invincible purposes and say with soul now Paul the apostle standing amidst the raging of that storm that paralyzed even these experienced souls steaming with fear wherefore sirs I believe God wherefore sirs I believe God and may that be our posture affirming to each other the invincibility of the purposes of God listen to Blakey in his wonderful commentary or series of sermons on the life of David

38:44 - 39:28 Read in full sermon

The point: Prayerfully make a fresh covenant of commitment to Christ, one another, and the church.

The spontaneous covenant renewal by the church leaders at a prayer meeting illustrates a fresh, genuine commitment to Christ, one another, and the church in a time of trial.

as your leaders did spontaneously a few weeks ago a special prayer meeting on a Saturday morning and I shall never forget it as long as God gives me rationality and memory each man spontaneously expressed in fresh covenantal language his commitment to Christ to one another and to his church in this place some men making a covenant of willingness to lay down their lives for one another and for you the people of God oh what a posh sentiment do you think so I believe the same Jehovah who smiled there in the thicket

43:20 - 44:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Prayerfully make a fresh covenant of commitment to Christ, one another, and the church.

Martin's personal example of experiencing righteous anger when his wife's honor is denigrated illustrates the appropriate response to injustice against loved ones.

who have not betrayed that covenant and others do them shame it is righteous for you to experience righteous anger if someone speaks ill of the wife of my youth who has been a pure and faithful wife for 42 years I will not sit and take that without righteous anger and my love for her demands righteous anger expressed in righteous channels and Jonathan expressed his righteous anger not in carnal channels

45:34 - 46:19 Read in full sermon