Reception and Refuge

1 Samuel 18:1-19:24

The life of faith involves elements of both pleasure and pain that are held in tension, as explicitly illustrated in today’s text.  The love and adoration of Jonathan, Michal and the people of Israel for David is contrasted with the rage and jealousy of the declining King Saul.  Likewise, as those who are in Christ, we are at the same time the adopted, well-loved children of the Father even while we struggle in this life with the shame of persistent sin.  In the cross of Jesus, we see beautifully communicated both our refuge from God’s just wrath toward sin and our loving reception into the King’s family.