“Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul desireth, I will even do it for thee. And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even. If thy father at all miss me, then say, David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city: for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family. If he say thus, It is well; thy servant shall have peace: but if he be very wroth, then be sure that evil is determined by him. Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father? And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and show it thee; The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will show it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt not only while yet I live show me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul” (1 Samuel 20:4-17).
Introduction
David unburdens his soul to Jonathan. He tells him all his concerns and fears about what King Saul is planning for him. Though Jonathan can hardly believe that his father would stoop to such a wicked act, he is willing to go along with David’s idea and promises to do anything he might ask of him.
David’s request
David knew that he could trust Jonathan, and in reality, except for the prophet Samuel, he had no other confidant. He puts a bit of pressure upon his friend and asks him to promise to investigate his fears a little deeper. Even Jonathan knew that there was a certain danger involved here, but since he was no fair-weather friend, he was willing to pay the price of that friendship. This illustrates that true friendship does not come cheaply.
The Lord Jesus Christ promised to be our closest Friend, “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you” (John 15:15). He promised to answer our prayers, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). He laid His life down for us, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
David’s plan
The outcome of the plan was meant to reveal if Saul was really intent on killing David or if David was simply overreacting to the king’s mental and spiritual condition. David’s absence from the yearly feast, as he was expected to attend, would show if Saul was indeed angry with him.
Jonathan’s promise
Jonathan promised to tell David everything that went on at the feast, and if his father was planning to kill him, then he would help him escape. Jonathan “would help to deliver him from evil if it were real and from the fear of evil if it were but imaginary” (Matthew Henry). This promise was made in the name of the Lord and that he deserved both the curse and death if he failed to keep it. “A covenant of the Lord - That is, a solemn covenant, not lightly undertaken, but seriously entered into, in the name and fear of God, and in his presence, calling him to be the witness of our sincerity therein, and the avenger of perfidiousness in him that breaks it” (John Wesley). This oath was one of the strongest anyone could make, but for Jonathan it was a sign of affirmed friendship with David.
Jonathan asked David to promise him to protect his family in the future once he became king of Israel. It was the custom in those days for a new king to put the members of the previous royal family to death. “And it came to pass, when he reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite” (1 Kings 15:29, see also 1 Kings 16:11 and Judges 9:1-5). Jonathan was probably fearful that David might take out his anger on Saul’s family for the treatment he had received. “Because he had a true friendship for David, he desired that the covenant might be inviolably observed through all their generations” (John Wesley).
Conclusion
Jonathan had no doubts that David was destined to become king. He was willing to submit to him even though he himself was the legal and rightful heir to the throne. Though he knew that God was with David, he still held reservations concerning his future intentions. As prince he was willing to humble himself and plead for his descendants. “There has seldom, if ever, been exhibited a finer instance of triumphant faith, than when the prince, with all the resources of the kingdom at his beck, made this request of the hapless outlaw” (W. G. Blaikie).
© 24/3/2009