The running begins      

This sermon on 1 Samuel 20 traces David’s final days in Saul’s court and his covenantal friendship with Jonathan as a study in God’s protection, human loyalty, and dependence on divine strength. The message highlights how God uses various “agencies” of protection—people, prophets, and the Spirit Himself—to sustain His anointed servant. As David faces betrayal, fear, and separation from every earthly comfort, his bond with Jonathan models covenant faithfulness rooted in God’s promises rather than personal gain. The narrative reveals the cost of obedience, the danger of envy, and the refining work of suffering that shapes David into a king after God’s heart. Ultimately, even as David enters his “running years,” the sermon calls believers to rest in God’s unfailing presence, to encourage one another toward faithfulness, and to find strength in Him alone.