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“And he (David) arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city” (1 Samuel 20:42).
“And David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house” (1 Samuel 23:18).
Jonathan was a good friend of David’s, and he encouraged David several times, even going down to the wilderness to visit him, when Saul was trying to kill him. Yet in both cases recorded in our verses today, he went back to the city and to his house. He was a king’s son, and perhaps the thought of “camping out” in the woods for an extended period of time did not appeal to him. He was unwilling to go into rejection with David. As a result, he died in the battle on Mount Gilboa later on.
Jonathan is like the Christian who does not want to share rejection with Christ. We can be true believers and really love the Lord, yet be unwilling to take our place outside of this world. But if we follow the Lord Jesus, we must be willing to go into rejection with Him, even if it means separating from close relatives, and perhaps some of the comforts we may be used to having. Christ must have the first place in our lives!
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