The First Proclamation ... when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul ... “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands”. Saul was very angry, for this saying displeased him. .... So Saul eyed David from that day on. Saul spoke with his son Jonathan and with all his servants about killing David. But Saul’s son Jonathan took great delight in David. Jonathan told David, “My father Saul is trying to kill you; therefore be on guard tomorrow morning; stay in a secret place and hide yourself. I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you, if I learn anything I will tell you.” Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have been of good service to you; for he took his life in his hand when he attacked the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced; why then will you sin against an innocent person by killing David without cause. Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan; Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” So Jonathan called David and related all these things to him. Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.
Prayerful Awareness We see our common enemy - the Devil’s machinations in this human drama. Despite the great victory secured with selfless sacrifice by David for Saul in response to the calling by Yahweh, the heart and mind of Saul is fearful of losing the earthly blessings secured. This fear manifests in an over-riding greed for power; a craving for the adulation of the crowd. Saul is neglectful of the divine calling we all are to respond to - that inner journey to search for, and to understand, and to heed the will of Yahweh in our life’s journey; the holy pilgrimage the psalmist sings about. Our Lord Jesus, having overcome the temptations of the Evil One, in the wilderness, sought to avoid the entrapment of the crowd’s adulation, and retreated from the population centres in the course of His ministry. Knowing well that the majority of the fickle crowd invariably seeks mere sensual titillation, even in and through a holy man or prophet, He distanced Himself, so that only those who were serious in their pursuit would access Him. Even then, Jesus commanded the unclean spirits who recognised Him to keep silent, so that recognition that would draw superficial crowds diverting His ministry would be minimised. Jesus recognised the virtue of being ‘Open and Silently available’ before Yahweh, having seen the fulfilling role of Mother Mary.
Prayer Starter We thank You Abba Father for giving us Your Son Jesus, and for imparting us Your infinite wisdom through Him. O Holy Spirit, assist us to keep our focus on Jesus the Son, Who focuses on the Will of the Father and shares His Sonship with us.
