Jonathan Misses the Point
Intro: Chapter 20 is a turning point in our story of Saul, David and Jonathan. After this point the relationship between them will never be the same. There are actions we take which can totally change forever the dynamics of a situation. Dec 7, 1941 was a day that changed history. The same can be said for Nov. 22 1963 and Sept. 11 2001. After chapter 20 all parties wake up to the reality of the situation.
What Have I Done?
1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” 2 And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” 3 But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”
1. David asks, “What have I done?”
What indeed had he done? Let’s look at it from Saul’s point of view.
1. David had been given Saul’s kingdom.
2. David had been given the power of the Holy Spirit which previously had empowered Saul.
3. His own so Jonathan David.
4. The nation loved David.
5. His daughter Michal loved David.
6. David successfully defeated Goliath while Saul was afraid.
7. Saul had to depend on David’s music for the soothing.
From Saul’s point of view David was the root of all his trouble.
The bible warns us about persecution when we begin to live our lives for God.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. John 15:18-19 (ESV)
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (ESV)
Notice how David does not begin by accusing or attacking Saul. He begins by focusing on his own sin. Notice the two-fold references to sin (“iniquity”, “sin”) in verse 1. David seems to be genuinely interested in knowing if he has done something wrong which has brought about the treatment Saul has been dishing out to him. Is there any way in which reconciliation might be achieved? Can this be patched up? Is there anything I can do to make the situation better? These are all questions that every mature Christian asks when faced with unhappy people.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matt 5:9 (ESV)
“Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.” — Confucius
Sometimes it is so hard for us as Christians to understand why people react so negatively to us. How can they be so threatened by us?
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” John 3:19-21 (ESV)
2. Have you ever asked yourself, “What have I done?”
3. What is Jonathan’s response?
Disbelief.
Not So!
You’re overreacting.
It couldn’t be that bad or I would have known.
4. Why is it so hard for Jonathan to see his father’s evil intention?
It is simply inconceivable to Jonathan that Saul has actually gone back on his word, after he promised that he would not put David to death (19:6).
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Cor 13:4-7 (ESV)
Jonathan loves his father, but he also loves David.
Jonathan wants to quote Rodney King “why can’t we just all get along?”
David Proposes a Test
4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” 5 David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go, that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. 6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.’ 7 If he says, ‘Good!’ it will be well with your servant, but if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him. 8 Therefore deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?” 9 And Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you?”10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you roughly?”11 And Jonathan said to David, “Come, let us go out into the field.”So they both went out into the field. 12 And Jonathan said to David,“The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13 But should it please my father to do you harm, the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the Lordbe with you, as he has been with my father. 14 If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; 15 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.”16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord take vengeance on David’s enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul. 18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap. 20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark. 21 And behold, I will send the young man, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’If I say to the young man, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. 22 But if I say to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’then go, for the Lord has sent you away. 23 And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.”
In verses 5 and following, David proposes a plan that will demonstrate Saul’s intentions toward him. This seems to be as much for Jonathan’s benefit as for David’s. The plan is simple. The next day is the new moon, and thus a time for Saul to make a sacrifice and share a sacrificial meal. David is part of Saul’s household and thus expected to be present. If Saul does intend to kill David, he will be very upset to find that David is not present at this meal. If Saul has no plans to kill David, his absence should not be a problem to Saul. David plans to be absent, and by his absence test Saul’s intentions toward him.
5. How does David hope to discern the intention of Saul at the new moon festival?
6. Why does David remind Jonathan of the covenant between them?
When Saul is under the influence of the evil spirit he had a tendency to act violently. If he overreacts to David’s absence, this will confirm to David and also to Jonathan that Saul is intent on killing David.
David is still giving Saul the benefit of the doubt. If it comes out that David had indeed wronged Saul somehow and is worthy of death he asks Jonathan to kill him himself, instead of handing him over to his father.
7. But why would David’s absence be such a big deal to Saul?
It looks like David had not eaten many meals at Saul’s table recently. Twice already, Saul has attempted to kill David with his spear while he was in his house. David fled from Saul’s household and even from his own house, ending up in Ramah with Samuel. For some period of time David has been absent. This festive meal must be something like Christmas is for us, as family time when family members are expected to be present. It does not matter that David has his own family and they might want him to be with them. Saul expects David to be with him, which provides him another opportunity to finish him off. David absence is therefore to be the test.
8. What does David mean buy saying “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?”
David seems to be questioning the logistics of how will Jonathan will get the information to him. What happens if Saul catches on to their scheme and kills Jonathan?
9. After assuring David that he will inform him of his father’s intentions, why does Jonathan seem to be asking David for kindness and to confirm a covenant between David and Jonathan’s family?
Now, if David must flee, Jonathan has a request of him, a request based upon the covenant there two have made with each other. If Jonathan survives the test, then let David spare his life, just as he has sought to protect David’s life. Jonathan knows that David will survive and that he will become the next king of Israel. When David becomes the King, Jonathan asks that David spare his life. He knows all too well that when one king replaces another, the prevailing king kills off the rivals for his throne, including their heirs. Jonathan wants David’s assurance that he and his descendants will not be annihilated, as is normally the case. The two men refine and reaffirm their covenant with each other, as a manifestation of their love. There is a critical difference between this clarified, refined covenant and the one made earlier. The former was a covenant between two houses, two dynasties. This covenant is between David’s descendants and Jonathan’s descendants.
10. How is Jonathan going to tell David the results of the test?
In verses 18-23, Jonathan carefully spells out a plan by which he will convey the outcome to David’s test to him. David is to hide out for three days while the test is being conducted. Then, at the end of this period, he is to come to the field where they are presently standing. There, Jonathan will signal the outcome of the test to him. Jonathan will shoot three arrows, as though aiming at a target. Then, Jonathan will send a servant boy to retrieve the arrows. If Jonathan directs the young lad to seek the arrows in Jonathan’s direction, then David should understand that Saul’s intentions toward him are good, and thus he can come out of hiding. But if Jonathan directs the lad to seek the arrows beyond where the lad is, then David is to understand that Saul intends to harm him, and he should flee.
24 So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. 25 The king sat on his seat, as at other times, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat opposite, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. 26 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.”27 But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.” 30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31 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.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him. 35 In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy. 36 And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.”As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” 38 And Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!” So Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. 39 But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. 40 And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.”41 And as soon as the boy had gone, 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. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘TheLord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.
11. The tactics that David and Jonathan contrived involved deception. Does God condone lying?
God does not condone lying and in fact He does not sponsor every action that His people take on His behalf. There are many instances in the bible where His people do things contrary to his word. The test is how successful are they when they try to use the methods of the enemy?
What happened when Abraham lied about Sarah being his sister, or Isaac lying about Rebekah being his sister?
Christians never seem to get the same results from lying that non Christians do.
12. How did Saul receive the contrived story concerning David’s absence?
He saw right through it and knew Jonathan was lying.
13. How did Jonathan almost get the point?
Good thing Saul was such a lousy spear thrower.
14. David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept most…………..Why?
Things will never be the same again, and they both know it. David realizes that Jonathan is going to be the big loser in this drama. The fact that it has been confirmed that Saul is intent on killing the next god anointed king, at this point seals Saul’s fate. David and Jonathan know for sure that David will be the next king. Nothing Saul can do will be successful in preventing it. David also knows the character of Jonathan, and knows that Jonathan will not be disloyal to his father. David realizes that the fate of Saul and Jonathan are hopelessly tied together.
· ACC …. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
· BBC………..Bridgeway Bible Commentary
· BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)
· BKC……….Bible Knowledge Commentary, the
· BN …..Barnes Notes
· CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark
· CN …… Constables Notes
· CSC…….Chuck Smith Commentary
· Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT
· ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes
· Gill………..John Gill Exposition of the Bible
· IC……….Ironside Commentary
· JFB…………..Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
· Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.
· JVM ….J Vernon McGee,
· MH………..Matthew Henry Commentary
· MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
· NET………Net Bible Study Notes.
· NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes
· NTCMM……..The New Testament Commentary Matthew and Mark.
· RD………….Robert Deffinbaugh bible.org
· VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies
“Fair Use “ Notice – Title 17 U.S.C. section 107
The above post may contain copyrighted material the use of
which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is
being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of
environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, social
justice, for the purpose of historical debate, and to advance the understanding
of Christian conservative issues. It is
believed that this constitutes a ”fair use” of any such copyrighted material as
provided for in section 107 of the Copyright Law. In accordance with the title
17 U.S. C. section 107, the material in this post is shown without profit to
those who have expressed an interest in receiving the included information for
research and educational purposes.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please feel free to make civil comment. Divergent views encouraged,