• 1 sam 20 Will you listen to the arrows
• Here we go- Jonathan and David are trying to figure out what is going on with Saul. David and Jonathan make a plan. Jonathan will go and see if Dad is still mad. Jonathan goes to find out- and Dad is clearly mad. So much so he tries to kill his own son. The plan they have is this- Jonathan will go and see if Saul is mad, if he is, at an appointed time, Jonathan will shoot arrows in a direction where David will be waiting. If Jonathan cries out that the arrows are near him, it means to come back. If he cries out they are beyond him, then run. The arrows are beyond him. David fleees. They meet. David is saved!
• Jonathan is doing a wonderful thing for his friend- He’s going into danger, and then reporting back to him what he should do.
• David has a choice here- listen to the arrows or listen to himself. They’ve had the conversation, and when David is sitting out there in the field waiting, he is going to have to choose what he is going to do
1. Jonathans Arrows say- I have knowledge
• The arrows fly- 37 When the lad had come to the place where the arrow was which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried out after the lad and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?”
• This is the moment that David has been waiting for. He’s hiding in the field, and wondering- am I safe? Can I go back, or must I flee- Jonathan shoots the and says “I know more than you”
• Obviously he does- He’s the one who went and talked to Saul. This was the plan
• I’m going to go and see what is going on and let you know
• 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?” 33 Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David.
• That’s what happened- and you can’t write that on a side of an arrow- you got to TRUST
• Pro 10:14 Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
• Its at this moment that David has to ask himself- am I going to trust the arrow or not
• be very easy to change his mind here- Sitting for a long time waiting for a sign can lead to your mind telling you different things- ehhh maybe its ok, shot wrong, forgot what we talked about
• Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.
• If David wants life- he better choose to listen to the arrow and J and receive it.
• Pr 18:15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
• What does it mean to you
• What arrows are being shot to tell you something that you are refusing to respond to?
• Arrows of correction that are trying to tell you what to do and how to live?
• See Jonathan knew better than David and was doing what he could to help him
• David could have ignored it and said “whatever- who does he think he is”
• But Jonathan was the one in the possession of the knowledge- NOT David- David’s ONLY option was to TRUST the arrow and TRUST the one with the Knowledge
• Jn 8:43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
• Do you know why people wont listen to instruction? Pride. Selfishness. Arrogance.
• People want to own the process instead of just winning- it destroys many people.
• Pro 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
• Why would you not listen to someone who knows better? (doing lunges on Friday)
• People who are successful in an area are people you should listen to- Youtube- IF videos DO IT
• Rev 2:7 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
• We better listen to what God tells us to do. We better not ignore his arrows of knowledge.
2. Jonathans Arrows say- I am trying to protect you
• Think about- Jonathan could have not followed through with the agreement. He could have chose to do something different- but he followed through with what he said he would do
• He was trying to protect his friend! He was trying to save him!
• 17 Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul
• 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully.
• That’s a friend! Jonathan isn’t going to let harm befall his friend!
• A good friend will tell you when there is danger
• John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
• Jonathan had put himself in Danger to protect his friend and now the arrow declares- Im protecting you friend!
• Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
• God will use what he needs to use to protect his people- and in this instance- God used J
• This was the whole Goal of the arrow- Protection for David- he was to be the KING and he couldn’t go back to where Saul was and be killed and his friend is protecting him from DEATH
• What does it mean you.
• I’m not jonathan, and you’re not David and Saul isn’t out to Kill you.
• But do you know what is out to Kill you? Sin. The World. Hateful despicable things.
• The greatest arrow that God is sending into your life is to avoid spiritual destruction
• READ John 3:18-21
• Jesus has come into the world to keep you from the evil one and forgive you from sin
• Flee sin and turn towards Jesus in Faith- and IF you have- you need to warn against EVIL
• Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
• We are to expose evil to keep others from falling into grievous sin
• Ez 3:21 Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; also you will have delivered your soul.”
• I understand I’m not Ezekiel and you are not Israel- but the thought is clear- SIN IS BAD
• When I preach about the dangers of Sin its because of the danger of it- Its horrible
• Ezekiel 33:8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand.
• Will you listen to the Arrow? The Arrow screams PROTECTION- DON’T GO IT WILL KILL YOU
• Saul was going to kill David- Jonathan shot the arrow to warn- An arrow is shooting TODAY
• WILL YOU LISTEN!>? I know that there are people who are on the edge of destruction
• You will remember this day that the warning came and you didn’t heed its warning
• Acts 20:26-27 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
• You may not listen to the arrow- but I have shot it- its up to you at this point
3. Jonathans Arrows say-Turn Away
• As the arrow shot- it told David- Don’t come back here. Its beyond you. Go the other way
• TURN- DON’T COME BACK- A declaration-
• Pro 22:3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.
• David was prudent- He didn’t ignore the call of Jonathan.
• 41 As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times.
• David went south- He changed his direction- he sought the protection promised
• But he had to TURN. Had to have a direction change from the warning
• What good is a warning if you don’t change your direction? You just keep going towards evil?
• Hey Jonathan- I heard you- I saw you- I get it- but I’m still going towards my death
• Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.
• I would guess the spirit of the Lord spoke to David- Turn away- and HE DID
• What does it mean to you?
• There is an arrow telling you to turn- turn away from something- from sin, death, actions
• Are you listening? Will you change your direction?
• James 5:20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
• As a pastor- I know I preach challenging messages. I get it. But if you knew the nature of the sin of people who have attended or do attend or watch them turn away- You’d understand
• I’m literally screaming- LISTEN TO THE ARROWS- ITS BEYOND YOU- DON’T COME BACK
• Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
• Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.
• If you’re moving in a direction of sin, and someone, even me, encourages you to change directions- CHANGE- Turn it AROUND. Go the OTHER WAY- DON’T GO BACK
• Have you ever had food poisoining before? I have- One place in Kent- Never gone back.
• Here’s the problem- God is imploring you to turn away- but if you don’t listen- you’ll die.
• Proverbs 29:1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
• Change direction. Choose life. Choose Jesus. Experience the best God has to offer for you.
