1 Samuel 20
1 Samuel 20; Pss 36, 59, 143
After previous attacks from Saul (cf. chs 18-19), David was desperate to know of his status before the king (20.1-10). Perhaps most infuriating to David was that fact that he had done Saul no wrong (v. 1). This reminds the reader of Ps 59, where David later beseeched the LORD, “Look! They set an ambush for me. Powerful men attack me, but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine. For no fault of mine, they run and take up a position” (vv. 3-4). David was in such trepidation that he swore to Jonathan, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death” (v. 3). The dialogue between David and Jonathan reveals that David was especially concerned to know for certain of Saul’s disposition toward him, which was eventually revealed when David was absent from the New Moon festival (vv. 3-10).
Despite what it might cost him personally, Jonathan planned to protect David from his father’s rage (vv. 11-24). Since David planned to avoid Saul and the New Moon festival in the king’s court, he questioned Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” (v. 10). Jonathan replied in an extended monologue which demonstrated covenant-loyalty for David (vv. 11-17). Jonathan’s pledge to David included calling God as a witness of his truthfulness regarding Saul’s reaction to his absence at the New Moon feast (vv. 11-13), and a request that David treat his family with fidelity even if Saul wished David dead, “because he loved him as he loved himself” (v. 17). Jonathan set forth a specific plan for letting David know of Saul’s reaction to his absence (vv. 18-24): the direction Jonathan directed the archer’s assistant would inform David of Saul’s intentions.
On the day after the New Moon, Jonathan discovered Saul’s plan for David (vv. 25-34). The text is vivid:
“Saul became angry with Jonathan and shouted, ‘You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you are siding with Jesse’s son to your own shame and to the disgrace of your mother? Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me—he deserves to die” (vv. 30-31).
At this point in his life, Saul epitomized what David wrote in Ps 36: “Even on his bed he makes malicious plans. He sets himself on a path that is not good and does not reject evil” (v. 4). Saul’s schemes against David revealed that he was more concerned for his place on the throne than Jonathan’s royal status: “Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, so he knew that his father was determined to kill David” (v. 33)! Jonathan had his answer as to Saul’s reaction about David’s absence from the festival.
Jonathan informed David of Saul’s plans and the friends were forced to part ways (vv. 35-42). After sending the archer’s assistant away, Jonathan kissed David, and they “wept with each other, though David wept more” (v. 41). Calling God a witness to their covenant of family loyalty, Jonathan and David separated, with only one subsequent meeting recorded in Scripture (cf. 1 Sam 23.15-18). Perhaps it was while he was departing from Jonathan that David was inspired to write, “My spirit is weak within me; my heart is overcome with dismay” (Ps 143.4).
The friendship of Jonathan and David has rightly been used to tutor many young people of the kind of devotion it takes to make a friendship work. Yet, one should not leave the LORD out of the picture—because the friendship of Jonathan and David was grounded in a spiritual covenant. The depth of their loyalty is illustrative of what Jesus said later, words that show His supremacy in the storyline of Scripture. Just after He washed His disciples feet—an act that would foreshadow His crucifixion—Jesus commanded His disciples:
“I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13.34-35).
*For a complete list of references, please see scripturestoryline.com