Deeper Reflection
DAVID WAS “AT HORESH” in the wilderness of Ziph (v.15). Note the two contrasting happenings in “David at Horesh”: “Saul had come out to seek his life…at Horesh” (v.15) and “Jonathan, Saul’s son, set out and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God” (v.16). It is not without significance that the narrator highlights Jonathan as “Saul’s son” in this context. The spirit of intentional and earnest pursuing after David marks the contrasting actions of the father and son. Doubtless, something positive happening to counter a negative situation “at Horesh” points to the divine providence over David’s endangered life. Certainly, at such rough and tough times, David needed encouragement. And Jonathan came at the right time to encourage David. Jonathan’s encouragement was “in God”. Jonathan “helped him find strength in God” (v.16, NIV). That’s what encouragement is and for. Such encouragement is not just mere human words. The presence and power of God is there in the encouragement “in God”, for it is an encouragement that points one to God – to who God is and what God says in His Word. Jonathan’s presence with the personal touch and care certainly brought comfort and refreshment to David. But it “does not have the abiding encouragement that God’s sure word does”⁴⁷: “through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Rom 15:4).

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⁴⁷ Dale Ralph Davis, 239