SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN: “A Friend And A For”
*DAILY BREAD: A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN*
Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries Department
*THEME: I WILL GO*
Monday, November 22, 2021
Topic: A friend and a foe
_David took up [a] lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan. . . 2 Samuel 1:17_
King Saul and his son Jonathan had died in battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:1-6). So David composed a song of lament to honor them.
How could David mourn for Saul? Saul had tried to kill David several times, and he had spent considerable time hunting David down with his army. Because of that, David had become a refugee in the land of their enemies, the Philistines.
Even so, the report of Saul’s death grieved David. Why? Saul had been chosen by God to be the people’s first king. David honored that out of respect for the Lord, and he often called Saul “the Lord’s anointed.”
David’s mourning for Jonathan made sense. He was the first member of Saul’s family to stand up for David. He made a covenant of friendship with David against his own prospects for the throne. Jonathan pleaded with his father to see David as a blessing to Israel, not a threat.
Saul had shown David what not to do as Israel’s leader. And Jonathan had shown how a person can be a true friend. David found no paradox in mourning both of these men. They each gave him something that made him alive to God’s purposes and plans.
*Song*
Come, thou Almighty King,
help us thy name to sing,
help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
o’er all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
Come, thou Incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword,
scatter thy foes.
Let thine almighty aid
our sure defense be made,
our souls on thee be stayed;
thy wonders show.
*Prayer*
Lord of all things, I need to give due honor to the people you have placed in my life. I give you praise for those who have shown me love and friendship, and I recognize the lessons I have learned from others. Help me to honor you in everything I do. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
Monday, November 22, 2021
Topic: A friend and a foe
_David took up [a] lament concerning Saul and his son Jonathan. . . 2 Samuel 1:17_
King Saul and his son Jonathan had died in battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:1-6). So David composed a song of lament to honor them.
How could David mourn for Saul? Saul had tried to kill David several times, and he had spent considerable time hunting David down with his army. Because of that, David had become a refugee in the land of their enemies, the Philistines.
Even so, the report of Saul’s death grieved David. Why? Saul had been chosen by God to be the people’s first king. David honored that out of respect for the Lord, and he often called Saul “the Lord’s anointed.”
David’s mourning for Jonathan made sense. He was the first member of Saul’s family to stand up for David. He made a covenant of friendship with David against his own prospects for the throne. Jonathan pleaded with his father to see David as a blessing to Israel, not a threat.
Saul had shown David what not to do as Israel’s leader. And Jonathan had shown how a person can be a true friend. David found no paradox in mourning both of these men. They each gave him something that made him alive to God’s purposes and plans.
*Song*
Come, thou Almighty King,
help us thy name to sing,
help us to praise.
Father, all glorious,
o’er all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
Come, thou Incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword,
scatter thy foes.
Let thine almighty aid
our sure defense be made,
our souls on thee be stayed;
thy wonders show.
*Prayer*
Lord of all things, I need to give due honor to the people you have placed in my life. I give you praise for those who have shown me love and friendship, and I recognize the lessons I have learned from others. Help me to honor you in everything I do. For Jesus’ sake, Amen.
