1 Samuel 20 - Jonathan Risk All

1 Samuel 20 - Jonathan Risk All

v1-v23 - Trust in Jonathan

David left Naioth and went looking for his friend, Jonathan. Jonathan was surprised at what David told him, for he did not know that his father had reverse his promise, even when he used the Lord's name. He assumed that Saul will tell him if he changed his mind. 

David said Saul will not tell Jonathan his intentions, for he knows of Jonathan's love for David and Saul did not want him to be grieved. 

Jonathan promised to do whatever David ask. David told him that he will not attend the celebration of new moon tomorrow, and ask Jonathan to tell Saul that he had to go home to Bethlehem for a yearly sacrifice with his clan. If Saul became angry, then he knows that he intends to kill him. 

David added that if he had something wrong, then Jonathan should kill him directly, instead of bringing him to Saul. Jonathan ask David to trust him, for if he knows what Saul had intended to do, he will surely have told David. 

Jonathan brought David to the field, and ask God to be the witness to his vow.  He promised to let David know how Saul would react tomorrow. He assured David that he will not die; else he accepts the same fate from God. In return, Jonathan made a humble plea to David, which was extraordinary since he was the next King in-line.

Jonathan said to David: "If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die; and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” (v14-15)

Jonathan is not just humble but he was very spiritually sensitive to know that God will pick David over himself to be the next king. What was most important to him was David's love, for it was written: "...for he loved him as he loved his own soul." (v17)

Before they left, they made a plan for David to come back to the field on the third day, when the celebration is over. Jonathan will come and shoot arrows, and ask a boy to go and find them. If Jonathan shouted out that the arrows are near, then it would indicate that David is in no danger. However, if he said that the arrows are far away, then David's life is being sought by Saul. 

v24-v34 - Jonathan Risk Everything

The next night, Saul sat down by the wall with Abner, and Jonathan sat opposite. Saul did not say anything about David being absent, for he thought perhaps David had not kept himself ceremonially clean. 

The next day, Saul noticed David was still not around. He asked Johnathan the reason. Jonathan told Saul that David had asked his permission to go home to his city for a sacrifice. Saul exploded in anger when he heard that. He shouted at Jonathan with strong languages, even insulting Jonathan's mother: "“You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?"  (v30, NLT) 

Saul himself feared David will become king: "For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” (v31)

Jonathan answered his father: "“Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” and Saul answered with his spear. These probably happened in front of all the leaders and important people, bringing shame, and almost death, to Jonathan. 

Jonathan realized that his father is indeed committed to kill David. He was grieved and did not eat the whole second day. 

v35-v42 - Final Goodbye

On the 3rd day morning, Jonathan went back to the field and ask the boy to run ahead to find the arrows. As he was running, Jonathan shot one arrow further and told him that the arrow is further away. David knew that he was right about Saul.

David came out of hiding after Jonathan sent the boy and the weapons home to the city. The bible recorded one of the saddest goodbyes: "David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most." (v41)

Jonathan reminded David their covenant: "“Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” (v42)

And they rose and depart from each other.

Postscript

After David became the next king, and Jonathan had passed away, he fulfilled the covenant he made with him. Jonathan had a crippled son, and David found him out. 

2 Sam 9:6-8 said: "And Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. And David said, “Mephibosheth!” And he answered, “Behold, I am your servant.” And David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your father, and you shall eat at my table always.” And he paid homage and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?”  

To Jonathan, his personal loss was kingdom gain.