Agendas and Pride

Jonathan answered, "David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, 'Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.' That is why he has not come to the king's table. Saul's anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don't I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send and bring him to me, for he must die!" "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" Jonathan asked his father. But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him.

-1 Samuel 20:28-33

There is a problem that occurs amongst the Sons of Men when people take it upon themselves to extend their plans and agendas beyond the boundaries of their own self. It is one of the most tragic manifestations of human selfishness, and causes irrational, erratic, and sometimes psychotic behavior as the thwarting of a man's agenda is considered a personal affront. It is even worse when such an affront comes from the man's own son. After all, if anybody should pay homage and respect to an old man, shouldn't it be his son? That's at least what is often thought by those old men in those situations.

For Saul and Jonathan, it was a particular problem. Jonathan had developed a very close relationship with David, who was beginning to receive a lot of credit that Saul thought he himself deserved. Saul was jealous of the attention David was receiving from the Israelite people, and it enraged him that Jonathan too had formed a bond with the young and aspiring warrior. We are told elsewhere in the scriptures of the prophet Samuel that Jonathan and David loved each other, and when Jonathan was killed in battle, it is said that when David was told that Jonathan had died, he sang the following as part of his mourning song:
"I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother;
you were very dear to me.
Your love for me was wonderful,
more wonderful than that of women."

Such a bond between David and Jonathan was despicable to Saul, because Jonathan's bond with David seemed, in Saul's eyes to be a personal offense and betrayal. It went against Saul's plans for Jonathan--to succeed him on the throne (thought that was still less important to Saul than Saul's own glory and ego, as evidenced elsewhere).

The fact that Jonathan's loyalty to David would spark such rage in Saul is evidence of Saul's own narcissism and selfishness. It was tragic. Saul attempted to harm Jonathan's physical well-being...attempted to murder him even, all for what? Saul apparently did not have the wisdom Paul gave the Ephesian church "Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, lest they become angry."

It is important that we never let such pride and our own agendas come in between people we love. We must elevate love above all perceived injuries and all perceived harms. Sometimes that means abiding by King Solomon's advice that "There is a time to speak and a time to remain silent," and we must recognize the importance of doing each when they are appropriate. We must organize our lives by the principle Paul set forth in his letter to the Galatian church "The fruit of the Spirit is first love, then peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law." Prior to that Paul advised that "For all of the law is fulfilled in one word, even this 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another."

The tip of the spear belongs in its sheath, and only then can the sword of Love manifest its Divine power.