18/09/2025
GRACE ENLIVEN.
(A devotional of Amazing Grace Living Bible Church Inc.)
BY BISHOP (DR) PAULSON AND BISHOP (DR) IGHO ODU (FCCA).
THURSDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER 2025.
TOPIC: A PROMISE KEPT.
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 20:34-42; 2 SAMUEL 9:1 (NKJV).
1 Samuel 20:34-42
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.
35 And so it was, in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad was with him.
36 Then he said to his lad, “Now run, find the arrows which I shoot.” As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
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?”
38 And Jonathan cried out after the lad, “Make haste, hurry, do not delay!” So Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows and came back to his master.
39 But the lad did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew of the matter.
40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, “Go, carry them to the city.”
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. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so.
42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’ ” So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
2 Samuel 9:1
1 Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”
MESSAGE:
A promise is a commitment or declaration assuring that one will or will not do something. It is an assurance given to another person. Jonathan and David had become very close friends to the annoyance of Saul, Jonathan's father, who knew his son was jeopardising his future (1 Samuel 20:30-32). Indeed, Jonathan was unconcerned about his father's fears because his love and commitment to David were sincere. He kept his promises to David, not minding the outcome.
It was only right that David reciprocated the love of one who showed his commitment so clearly by giving him his robe, armour, sword, bow and belt.
David's commitment too was total and was eventually tested after Jonathan was killed at war. Since no one else knew about the promise he made to Jonathan, he could have easily reneged on it, but he did not. In 2 Samuel 9 we read that he sought out descendants of Jonathan, so he could keep his promise.
God, our perfect example, made promises to Abraham about his descendants and to this day, He is still keeping them. The Israelites still live in the land God gave to Abraham. He also kept His promise to David about always having a descendant on the throne. We can also learn from Jacob, Hannah, and Jephthah, who fulfilled their promises to God (Judges 11:30, 35&36, 39).
Do you keep your promises? Do you think deeply before making promises so you can be committed to keeping them?You must not make promises that you cannot or do not intend to keep.
PRAYER POINTS:
1 Lord, I repent for every promise I have reneged on.
2 I ask for grace to carefully consider my words, O God.
BIBLE READING FOR THE DAY: LUKE 16-18.
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL OVERSEER. SHALOM!
