Loving intervention

Jonathan praised David to Saul and said, ‘Sir, don’t do wrong to your servant David. He has never done you any wrong; on the contrary, everything he has done has been a great help to you. He risked his life when he killed Goliath, and the Lord won a great victory for Israel. When you saw it, you were glad. Why, then, do you now want to do wrong to an innocent man and kill David for no reason at all?’ (verses 4,5)

Read 1 Samuel 19:1-18

‘How much is one apple and one banana? $1.10? I haven’t quite enough. Can I please have one apple, and one banana for my girlfriend here? We’re really hungry.’ The fruit stall holder shook his head, and the sales assistant said no.

‘Just one banana, one apple?’ pleaded the young man. I watched, and it struck me that I could buy the apple and the banana for them, but these were total strangers – none of my business. How dare I intervene in another’s dilemma? The moment passed, and it was gone. This happened in the year 2000 on a busy Melbourne street.

Speaking and acting for good is limited by our lack of love in the face of difficult circumstances.

Jonathan braved his depraved, angry, insanely jealous father to speak and act for his friend David. Through Jonathan’s loving intervention David was freed for a time. God sent Jesus to go into bat for you and me, to plead our cause. Through his intervention we are freed for all time.

Pour out your love, dear Father, into my heart. Clothe me with fidelity so that I am ready to speak and act for good in all circumstances. Amen.

by Eunice Freiberg in ‘Renewed Hope for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2000)

Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.