Relational Blindness: 1 Samuel
Often, our relationships create blind spots preventing us from seeing a situation clearly. Who doesn’t want to defend their friends? Who genuinely wants to think less of their friends than the ideal? When we love and care for people, we see them as a paragon of themselves.
Once Saul shows up in Ramah, David flees. He is running from Saul at this point. Some criticize David, believing leaving demonstrates a lack of faith in God’s ability to protect him. While the thought cannot be disproved, it is a bit hard to swallow. David fought a massively armored Goliath with nothing but a sling and God’s protection. Who is Saul compared to Goliath?
David seeks counsel. David wants to make sure his name is still considered righteous among the warriors close to Saul. Who better to start with than Saul’s own son?
David’s question shows his mindset. While it may appear David is trying to determine his error, that isn’t truly the case. David knows he has done nothing to hurt the king. He’s not argued with the king. He’s not tried to lead a coup. He’s not insulted him. David has not tried to lift his reputation higher than the king’s. David has responded to the king’s call-to-arms and he has fought the battles God called him to fight. David knows his innocence.
In going to Jonathan, David wants to hear Jonathan attest to his innocence. David wants to know which bond is stronger: Jonathan’s bond to God and righteousness or Jonathan’s bond to his father. This moment is to show whether Jonathan also knows David’s righteousness.
Jonathan is a righteous man. He affirms David’s righteousness. It turns out, though, David has good reason to question Jonathan. While Jonathan agrees with David’s claim of innocence, Jonathan is still blinded by his relationship to his father. Jonathan makes the case that Saul isn’t against David because he doesn’t know anything about it. Jonathan believes his father would confide any murderous plan in him.
Relationships blind us. We want to believe the best about our friends and family. We defend them even when they may be in the wrong. Jonathan is blinded by his relationship with Saul and does not sense the same level of danger as David. Saul has tried to pin David to the wall with a spear on several occasions. He sent spies to murder David in his own home. He sent David out on military campaigns hoping he would die. Most recently, Saul disturbed the worship of God to find David and kill him. The only reason Jonathan cannot see the true danger to David is because of the blind spot created by the relationship he has with his father.
Relationships are wonderful. God desires us to be in community with one another. The support, encouragement, love, and forgiveness relationships give us are all gifts from God. We need to be vigilant, however. Often, our relationships create blind spots preventing us from seeing a situation clearly.
