“约拿单向 … 扫罗 … 说：‘王不可得罪王的仆人大卫，因为他未曾得罪你，他所行的都与你大有益处。’” - 撒上 19:4

扫罗认为他有权命令每一个人去服从他的意愿，他吩咐他的儿子约拿单和所有在他周围的人去杀害大卫。

扫罗用这个方法来试验他的家人对他是否忠心。在这种情况下，我们通常会想到“血浓于水”这句话。我们设想人们会支持血亲多过支持他们的朋友或姻亲。

约拿单可能留意到，他父亲的众臣仆都默认扫罗的做法，当听到他父亲说要杀大卫时，约拿单显然感到很担忧。

约拿单当时没有公开表示反对父亲，但在离开父亲后，他便立刻在第一时间警告他的朋友大卫，说扫罗准备杀害他。约拿单没有顺从他的父亲，因着与大卫的友情，他甚至向大卫保证，他会与扫罗谈论这事和继续支持大卫。

扫罗的女儿米甲，此时已是大卫的妻子，她也暗暗保护大卫，以免他被她那杀气腾腾的父亲所害。

这些事件标志着扫罗衰微和大卫兴起的重要转捩。扫罗自己的两个儿女都选择帮助大卫，而不遵照血缘传统去支持他们自己的父亲。

祷告

主神啊，太多时候我有偏见，以致我盲从传统的做法、而没有听从你智慧之言。求你帮助我信靠和服从你的指引和带领。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。

撒母耳记上 19:1-17

1扫罗对他儿子约拿单和众臣仆说要杀大卫，扫罗的儿子约拿单却甚喜爱大卫。
2约拿单告诉大卫说：“我父扫罗想要杀你，所以明日早晨你要小心，到一个僻静地方藏身。
3我就出到你所藏的田里，站在我父亲旁边与他谈论。我看他情形怎样，我必告诉你。”
4约拿单向他父亲扫罗替大卫说好话，说：“王不可得罪王的仆人大卫，因为他未曾得罪你，他所行的都于你大有益处。
5他拼命杀那非利士人，耶和华为以色列众人大行拯救。那时你看见，甚是欢喜，现在为何无故要杀大卫，流无辜人的血，自己取罪呢？”
6扫罗听了约拿单的话，就指着永生的耶和华起誓说：“我必不杀他。”
7约拿单叫大卫来，把这一切事告诉他，带他去见扫罗，他就仍然侍立在扫罗面前。
8此后又有争战的事。大卫出去与非利士人打仗，大大杀败他们，他们就在他面前逃跑。
9从耶和华那里来的恶魔又降在扫罗身上（扫罗手里拿枪坐在屋里），大卫就用手弹琴。
10扫罗用枪想要刺透大卫，钉在墙上。他却躲开，扫罗的枪刺入墙内。当夜大卫逃走，躲避了。
11扫罗打发人到大卫的房屋那里窥探他，要等到天亮杀他。大卫的妻米甲对他说：“你今夜若不逃命，明日你要被杀。”
12于是米甲将大卫从窗户里缒下去，大卫就逃走，躲避了。
13米甲把家中的神像放在床上，头枕在山羊毛装的枕头上，用被遮盖。
14扫罗打发人去捉拿大卫，米甲说：“他病了。”
15扫罗又打发人去看大卫，说：“当连床将他抬来，我好杀他。”
16使者进去，看见床上有神像，头枕在山羊毛装的枕头上。
17扫罗对米甲说：“你为什么这样欺哄我，放我仇敌逃走呢？”米甲回答说：“他对我说：‘你放我走，不然我要杀你。’”

Going Against Tradition

"Jonathan [said] . . . to Saul . . . 'Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly.'" - 1 Samuel 19:4

King Saul believed he had the right to command everyone to obey his wishes. He told his son Jonathan and everyone around him to kill David.

In this way Saul tested his family members’ loyalty. Often in situations like this, as the saying goes, “Blood is thicker than water.” Family members were expected to support their blood relatives more than their friends or in-laws.

Perhaps Jonathan noticed his father’s attendants nodding in agreement with Saul. But Jonathan was clearly concerned as he heard his father say that David was to be killed.

Jonathan gave no indication of turning against his father. But as soon as he left the king’s presence, Jonathan wasted no time in warning his friend that Saul wanted to kill him. And instead of going along with his father, Jonathan assured David that he would speak with Saul and support David for the sake of their friendship.

Saul’s daughter Michal, who was now David’s wife, also protected David from her murderous father.

These events mark a crucial point in the decline of Saul and the rise of David. Two of Saul’s own children chose to help David rather than making the traditional choice of supporting their father.

Prayer

Lord and God, too often I have biases and blind spots, and I follow traditions rather than listening to your wisdom. Help me to trust and obey your direction and guidance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.