“扫罗甚发怒， … 从这日起，扫罗就怒视大卫。” - 撒上 18:8-9

约拿单成为大卫的挚友，圣经以二人的心“深相契合”来形容他们的友情，约拿单“爱大卫如同爱自己的性命，就与他结盟。”

身为扫罗王的儿子，约拿单本来应该与他父亲最出色的战士互相竞争的。或许约拿单在他父亲身上看到他不想模仿的行为，而他却视大卫为一个与他有相同的希望、梦想、和志向的人。约拿单视大卫为一个友人而非敌人，他没有以妒忌和猜疑的眼光、小心翼翼地防备这年青的战士，他反而向大卫敞开宽宏的心、抱持开放的观念、和仁爱的情怀。

大卫的地位迅速高升，就像一个极出色的新人在小职业棒球联盟迅速崛起那样。有些人不再推崇扫罗王了，他们改而热烈追捧这位在多方面都打破纪录的新秀，大卫扭转了军事较量的方向，他获胜的消息在以色列瞬间爆红了。

这一切都令扫罗如滚热的沸水般嫉妒他，他眼中看到的只是大卫正在威胁夺取他的王位，他不把大卫当作一个人，他只想把大卫杀了。

然而神却另有计划，如果扫罗试图抗拒神的旨意，他只会注定失败。

祷告

主啊，当我与你为敌时，你使我成为你的朋友，求你帮助我关怀和爱那些似乎是与我敌对的人，又求你帮助我效法你来成就和睦。阿们。

撒母耳记上18:1-11

1大卫对扫罗说完了话，约拿单的心与大卫的心深相契合，约拿单爱大卫，如同爱自己的性命。
2那日扫罗留住大卫，不容他再回父家。
3约拿单爱大卫如同爱自己的性命，就与他结盟。
4约拿单从身上脱下外袍，给了大卫，又将战衣、刀、弓、腰带都给了他。
5扫罗无论差遣大卫往何处去，他都做事精明。扫罗就立他做战士长，众百姓和扫罗的臣仆无不喜悦。
6大卫打死了那非利士人，同众人回来的时候，妇女们从以色列各城里出来，欢欢喜喜，打鼓击磬，歌唱跳舞，迎接扫罗王。
7众妇女舞蹈唱和，说：“扫罗杀死千千，大卫杀死万万。”
8扫罗甚发怒，不喜悦这话，就说：“将万万归大卫，千千归我，只剩下王位没有给他了！”
9从这日起，扫罗就怒视大卫。
10次日，从神那里来的恶魔大大降在扫罗身上，他就在家中胡言乱语。大卫照常弹琴，扫罗手里拿着枪。
11扫罗把枪一抡，心里说：“我要将大卫刺透，钉在墙上。”大卫躲避他两次。

What Winners And Losers Do

"Saul was very angry. . . . And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David." - 1 Samuel 18:8-9

Jonathan became a close friend of David. The Bible describes their friendship as becoming “one in spirit.” And “Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.”

As the son of King Saul, Jonathan had every right to oppose his father’s best warrior. But maybe Jonathan had seen things in his father that he did not want to imitate. Jonathan saw David as someone who had the same human hopes, dreams, and aspirations that he had. Jonathan did not dehumanize David as an enemy. Instead of looking with wary eyes of jealousy and suspicion against the young warrior, Jonathan extended generosity of heart, openness of mind, and a spirit of charity.

David rose through the ranks like a stunning rookie rushing through minor-league baseball. Soon people were not praising King Saul anymore; they were raving about the young sensation who was breaking records left and right. David changed the game. His victories went viral in Israel.

All of this made Saul boiling hot with jealousy. All he could see was that David was a threat to his throne. Saul dehumanized David and tried to kill him.

But God had other plans, and if Saul tried to oppose them, he simply could not win.

Prayer

Lord, you made me a friend when I was your enemy. Help me to care about and love people who seem to be my enemies. Help me to live like you. Amen.