1 Samuel 19:1-7 – Causeless Rage
In chapter 18 Saul’s attempts to kill David have been secret. He’s had the cover of his spiritual troubles and Philistine attacks for his attempts to dispatch his rival. Now he moves into the open – verse 1. Saul must be unaware of Jonathan and David’s deep friendship. Jonathan moves to protect David (verses 2-3) and to mediate for David (verses 4-5).
Jonathan’s brave rebuke makes a compelling case (verses 4-5). It is rational – David has not sinned against Saul, but rather brought Saul much good, in which Saul rejoiced. He makes a theological case too – through David the LORD has worked a great salvation. Lastly, he makes a moral case – he has not sinned against Saul;, David is innocent and his murder would be without cause. It’s a case that is compelling even to Saul – verse 6.
So it is with Jesus Christ – our rage against him is causeless. There is no cause in his life: his adversaries couldn’t pin any crime on him, and Jewish and Roman courts could not find anything to convict him of. There is no cause in his being: he is God, righteous, holy, and pure. There is no sin in him. There is no cause in his works and ways. Jonathan’s words echo through the ages: “he has done much good,” and he still does. He sustains and upholds life as King. He gives us all the necessities for life, and many unnecessary pleasures.What about our trials and troubles though – surely here are things for which we can charge him with doing wrong to us? Job thought he had a case for God to answer, but he discovered that God’s transcendence, holiness, righteousness, and goodness mean that he is not judged by our standards, but by his own. If we were to bring him to trial, the things we thought we could indite him for would reveal to us that he has been acting in love towards us all along (Romans 8:28). When it comes to our salvation, he took his life in his own hands, laid it down, and defeated the giant. Through him God worked a great salvation for his people (verse 5). No-one can bring a charge against him; nothing in him provokes our sin – it is causeless rage.
Questions
- How does Jonathan’s description of David in verses 4-5 shadow the Lord Jesus?
Prayer Points
- Ask God to forgive you for the causeless sins you have committed.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.