David is hiding out in the wilderness. He knows Saul is hunting him as prey. While he waits patiently on God’s providence, the Lord gives him an unusual blessing.
David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16 And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” 18 And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home. ~1 Samuel 23:15-18
While it’s quite lamentable that a man as excellent as David would be reduced to a position of bare survival in a hostile world, it reminds us where honest and honorable men’s citizenship truly lies. And, despite David’s under-the-radar approach, his best friend finds him. (more…)
David’s in trouble and he knows it. The past couple of chapters have detailed his flight, his fears, and his faithfulness. Now, beginning in chapter 22:6 of 1 Samuel, we are shown the extent of Saul’s corruption.
Now Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. 7 And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, “Hear now, people of Benjamin; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, 8 that all of you have conspired against me? No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day.” 9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, “I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, 10 and he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.” ~1 Samuel 22:6-10
Saul stands up with spear in hand. Paranoid much? I know, right?! So the bloody inquisition begins. Who is this corrupt leader most suspicious of? His two best and most excellent men. Those who would have done him the most good of any if he had just been willing to deal fairly. (more…)
David has now departed from his wife, his home, his military position, and his best friend. Saul’s rage against him could not be kindled neither by prophet (Samuel), nor prince (Jonathan). Where has he left to turn?
Then David came to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech came to meet David trembling and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one with you?” 2 And David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, ‘Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.’ I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.” 4 And the priest answered David, “I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5 And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?” 6 So the priest gave him the holy bread, for there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which is removed from before the Lord, to be replaced by hot bread on the day it is taken away.
7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul’s herdsmen.
8 Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.” 9 And the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it, for there is none but that here.” And David said, “There is none like that; give it to me.” ~1 Samuel 21:1-9
David runs to the tabernacle and turns to Ahimelech the priest. (more…)
Jonathan now fully understands the murderous intentions of his father towards David. Just as he promised, he returns to the field in which David is hiding and he shoots his bow as a sign of warning.
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, ‘The Lord 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. ~1 Samuel 20:35-42
Jonathan’s original plan to signal David was to shoot three arrows. Note, though, that he only shoots one, hastily sends the boy away, and hurries quickly to the place where David hides. Why? (more…)
David and Jonathan have spoken privately and David is to wait as Jonathan goes to find out his father’s intentions. Because David trusts Jonathan with his life, he listens to him and goes and hides while Jonathan heads to the new moon feast and sits down with Saul.
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. ~1 Samuel 20:24-25
Although it was likely a very large feast, the text gives the impression that this is an elite table of big heads. It seems that this table was meant for only four men – Saul, Jonathan, David, and Abner. A few things are notable: 1. Saul sat with his back to the wall. He was as paranoid as he was guilty and insecure. Sin makes us unstable. 2. Saul’s right hand man was neither his militarily courageous and honorably proven son, Jonathan, nor David who had also proven himself as such. No. Saul’s right hand man was Abner – his uncle who was a traitor and whose ambition really wasfor Saul’s throne. Sin makes us stupid. 3. David appeared to be extremely highly esteemed in Saul’s house. Sin makes us inauthentic. (more…)
When I was a little girl, little boys used to prick themselves with needles and press their fingers together declaring that they were closer than best buddies – they were “blood brothers.”
With the AIDS epidemic, I suppose becoming blood brothers isn’t nearly as popular or politically correct these days. Nevertheless, we all still have a blood brother. Consider David and Jonathan’s account in 1 Samuel 20. (more…)
Saul has already made several attempts to kill David. He has done so both by his own hand and militarily. Each attempt has failed and he’s becoming more desperate and even more bold. Now, just after David has married into his own family, Saul declares to all of his servants that David should be killed.
And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” 4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 5 For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?”6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before. ~1 Samuel 19:1-7
Consider what hatred does.
Why wasn’t Saul ashamed? He had not even one reason for his evil ambition against David save his own fear and insecurity. He had no charges to claim against David. How could he suppose he could get away with this cold-blooded killing without reprisals?
Saul was brazen and unashamed because he knew not God. He knew only his own need. He knew only his own fear. He knew only his own jealousy and rage. Godless men fear godly men more than they fear anything else.
Saul thought he could get away with this wicked plot at the hands of other men because 1. he didn’t believe in God’s justice and recompense and 2. his position had given him a false security in regards to men. The reason he was so insecure about his position was because his position was the only ace he had left in the hole. His position is what gave him security and without it, he was devoid of all favor – both with God and man.
Therefore, Saul’s primary goal as king is the murder of anyone who threatens his position – even a man so humble, so helpful, so handy to him as David was.
“…But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David.”
Consider what love does.
Jonathan sticks up for David, even when he knows it may well cost him greatly. He tries to hold his father accountable by speaking the truth about David. He reminds Saul of David’s goodness to him and to the entire company of God’s people. Jonathan defends the honor and innocence of the friend whom he loves most and he warns David of the danger he’s in.
Jonathan willingly risks his own position and reputation for David’s. Consider that he, Saul, and David were walking in the same field. Saul was his superior, his father, his king, even. If he had discovered David in that field and realized Jonathan and David’s alliance, Jonathan may have been deemed a traitor and even been put to death himself. Yet, he risks his own comfort, position, and reputation with his superior for the safety and protection of his friend…kinda reminds me of mybest friend – Jesus.
What trust David must have had in Jonathan! Knowing how easily Jonathan could have given him away – knowing exactly where he was in that field. Jonathan could have set him up so easily! Yet, David trusts this man and even follows him back to Saul’s court willingly.
Neither David nor Jonathan fear the other’s actions. They fully trust one another and they bravely face the big, bad bully together– in wisdom and in humility.
Hatred is not ashamed of its own perversion. It’s full of fear, insecurity, injustice, and false assumptions. Hatred is brazen, bold, and cold in it’s evil ambition. Hatred knows only it’s own need and its own rage. Hatred’s ultimate goal is always death to anyone who threatens its safety and comfort.
Love, on the other hand, is wise and humble. Love warns, stands up for the truth, willingly accepts personal sacrifice, and defends the reputation of the innocent. Love faces its enemies with courage and strength, together. Love trusts at all times and never fears.
Goliath is slain. Saul is still acting like a fool. But, in 1 Samuel 18:1-5, David is given one of God’s rare blessings – a true blue friend.
As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. ~1 Samuel 18:1-5 (more…)
David is hiding out in the wilderness. He knows Saul is hunting him as prey. While he waits patiently on God’s providence, the Lord gives him an unusual blessing.
Everyday Encounters With the Creator 