Dr Paul Allen

English: Baptist communion elements (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "I in them." John 17:23 If such be the union which subsists between our souls and the person of our Lord, how deep and broad is the channel of our communion ! This is no narrow pipe through which a thread-like stream may wind its way, it is a channel of amazing depth and breadth, along whose glorious length a ponderous volume of living water may roll its floods. Behold he hath set before us an open door, let us not be slow to enter. This city of communion hath many pearly gates , every several gate is of one pearl, and each gate is thrown open to the uttermost that we may enter, assured of welcome.  If there were but one small loophole through which to talk with Jesus, it would be a high privilege to thrust a word of fellowship through the narrow door; how much we are blessed in having so large an entrance! Had the Lord Jesus been far away from us, with many a stormy sea between, we should have longed to

"David and Jonathan," by Rembrandt. Jonathan is the figure in the turban. Hermitage News (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron , the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel ( 2 Samuel 5:3). David had a good legal claim to be Saul’s successor. Saul had repeatedly called him “my son” (1 Samuel 18:2; 24:11, 16; 26:17). Jonathan had adopted him by covenant as a brother equal to himself, and Jonathan was crown prince (18:3–4). Jonathan had yielded the throne to David by covenant (23:17–18). In addition David was Saul’s son-in-law (18:27). Yet, David was only 30 years old (2 Samuel 5:4), and there still lived an older son of Saul, Ishbosheth , who was about 40 years old (2 Samuel 2:10). While there was no precedent, inheritance to the throne was not automatic in Israel. The people had to vote and elect a man to be king, though the first candidate put forward

Michal Watching David from a Window, as in 2 Samuel 6:16: "And it was so, as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out at the window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart."; watercolor circa 1896–1902 by James Tissot (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) "Death of King Saul", 1848 by Elie Marcuse (Germany and France, 1817-1902) (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) J onathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David , along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow, and his belt  ( 1 Samuel 18:4). In 1 Samuel 17, we read that the Philistines assembled to make war on Israel and sent out a giant named Goliath to represent them. Day after day he taunted Israel, demanding that they send someone to battle him one-on-one. Nobody, including King Saul , volunteered. By contrast David volunteered and was successful. The army of Israel followed David’s lead, and