1 Samuel 20

1 Samuel 20:1

20:1-3 After leaving Naioth, David came to Jonathan and tried to find out why Saul was so intent on his destruction. Apparently Jonathan knew nothing of his father’s continued attempts on David’s life. David explained that the king would not share his plans with Jonathan because of the friendship that existed between him and David. 20:4-9 A test was proposed that would make it plain whether David was in danger or not. Instead of taking his place at the royal table for the monthly feast, David would remain absent. If Saul inquired as to his absence, Jonathan would explain that he had gone to the yearly sacrifice at Bethlehem. (This might have been true, even though the trip is not recorded in Scripture. If it was a lie, it is simply recorded as a fact that is not approved by God.) If Saul didn’t object, this would show that David was safe; but if the king became angry because David had once again slipped out of his hands, then Jonathan would know that David was in grave peril. 20:10-17 Jonathan promised to go . . . into the field on the third day and let David know how things had gone by means of a prearranged sign. Perhaps sensing what the outcome would be, Jonathan asked David to show the loyal love of the LORD to him and to his house when he rose to power. It is clear from verses 14-17 that Jonathan believed that David would yet be king; but he reaffirmed his love to David even though he realized the throne rights, vested in him, would be David’s. What unselfish devotion! 20:18-23 These verses detail the sign by which David would be notified as to the king’s attitude. Jonathan would come to the field and shoot some arrows near a rock where David would be hiding. The directions he called to the lad who would fetch the arrows would tell David to flee for his life or to return to the court in safety. We might wonder why Jonathan arranged all this play-acting to communicate with David when he later went and talked with David directly anyway. At this time, however, he might not have known that he would be able to contact David without being seen. 20:24-34 On the first night of the feast, Saul said nothing about David’s absence, reasoning to himself that David was probably ceremonially unclean. But on the second day, when he quizzed Jonathan about David’s whereabouts and found that he had gone to Bethlehem, Saul flew into a rage, accusing Jonathan of befriending the man who would rob him and his mother of honor. His language was rough and his manner even rougher as he tried to pin his own son to the wall, transferring his hatred for David momentarily to Jonathan. 20:35-42 On the morning of the third day, the appropriate sign was given and David’s fears were confirmed. The men wept in each other’s arms; they must now travel separate paths, no longer to enjoy each other’s companionship. David went into hiding, a necessary part of God’s plan to prepare him for the throne. Jonathan went back to the royal court, remaining loyal to his father, yet knowing deep inside that he would not be Israel’s next king. Should he have gone with David? Was he right in remaining loyal to his father, even though the Lord had rejected Saul from being king?