I Samuel 20:24-42
“So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.” (I Samuel 20:24-26)
Following their plot to find out Saul’s real intentions, David didn’t show up for the monthly dinner and meeting. Everyone except David was there. Saul noticed his absence and decided he must have come in contact with a dead body or accidentally been exposed to some sick person and was observing the required quarantine to prevent spreading it.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
Beththlehem: And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.” (I Samuel 20:27-29)
When David didn’t show up the second day, Saul had to know whydavid had asked and asked Jonathan because he knew they were close friends. Jonathan responded that David had requested permission to go and visit his family, and that he had given it. He hadn’t simply gone AWOL.
“Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.” (I Samuel 20:30-31)
Saul flew into a rage, accusing Jonathan of being just like his mother and trying to destroy what he was trying to do. Didn’t he understand that God had said that the kingdom was going to be taken away from Saul’s family, and the only he could see to prevent it was to kill the person God had chosen? He just didn’t know what was good for him like Saul did. David had to be killed so Jonathan could become king.
“And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.” (I Samuel 20:32-34)
Saul was so enraged he even tried to kill Jonathan for asking why it mattered. Suddenly, Jonathan knew Saul’s treatment of David wasn’t just a sudden fit of rage, but an irrational deep down hatred. Jonathan was shamed by the knowledge that Saul actually wanted to kill David and it wasn’t just a sudden uncontrollable urge. He was so upset he walked away without eating himself. It was the first time he had realized that Saul‘s rage was the result of deliberate thought, and he could no longer excuse it. Imagine the shock to realize that your own father would even kill his own children to get his way.
“And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.” (I Samuel 20:35-40)
Jonathan then went out for archery practice, as he and David had agreed. When his arrow keeper went to get the others, Jonathan deliberately shot one way past him nd told him he needed to go farther to warn David not to come out of hiding. He insisted the boy hurry to find them, then sent him home with the bow and arrows. The boy suspected nothing.
“And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.” (I Samuel 20:41-42)
Jonathan remained behind when his arrow keeper left so he could talk to David. David came out and thanked him for the warning and they expressed their friendship. Jonathan reminded David of their commitment to remain friends forever, and encouraged him to get away safely. Each then went their way.
“So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, and David's place was empty. Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean.” (I Samuel 20:24-26)
Following their plot to find out Saul’s real intentions, David didn’t show up for the monthly dinner and meeting. Everyone except David was there. Saul noticed his absence and decided he must have come in contact with a dead body or accidentally been exposed to some sick person and was observing the required quarantine to prevent spreading it.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David's place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
Beththlehem: And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king's table.” (I Samuel 20:27-29)
When David didn’t show up the second day, Saul had to know whydavid had asked and asked Jonathan because he knew they were close friends. Jonathan responded that David had requested permission to go and visit his family, and that he had given it. He hadn’t simply gone AWOL.
“Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.” (I Samuel 20:30-31)
Saul flew into a rage, accusing Jonathan of being just like his mother and trying to destroy what he was trying to do. Didn’t he understand that God had said that the kingdom was going to be taken away from Saul’s family, and the only he could see to prevent it was to kill the person God had chosen? He just didn’t know what was good for him like Saul did. David had to be killed so Jonathan could become king.
“And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.
So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.” (I Samuel 20:32-34)
Saul was so enraged he even tried to kill Jonathan for asking why it mattered. Suddenly, Jonathan knew Saul’s treatment of David wasn’t just a sudden fit of rage, but an irrational deep down hatred. Jonathan was shamed by the knowledge that Saul actually wanted to kill David and it wasn’t just a sudden uncontrollable urge. He was so upset he walked away without eating himself. It was the first time he had realized that Saul‘s rage was the result of deliberate thought, and he could no longer excuse it. Imagine the shock to realize that your own father would even kill his own children to get his way.
“And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.” (I Samuel 20:35-40)
Jonathan then went out for archery practice, as he and David had agreed. When his arrow keeper went to get the others, Jonathan deliberately shot one way past him nd told him he needed to go farther to warn David not to come out of hiding. He insisted the boy hurry to find them, then sent him home with the bow and arrows. The boy suspected nothing.
“And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.” (I Samuel 20:41-42)
Jonathan remained behind when his arrow keeper left so he could talk to David. David came out and thanked him for the warning and they expressed their friendship. Jonathan reminded David of their commitment to remain friends forever, and encouraged him to get away safely. Each then went their way.
I think we all meet a Saul in our life, where the passions that rule them make them unbearable when they fixate on something. Saul's ambition had turned to murdering David and nothing would hold him back, no matter what action was needed, how it was viewed, or the ensuing consequences. I have personally known such people, and have been deeply harmed by their singular, tunnel-vision pursuit of whatever goal they need to gratify.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
DeleteSadly some of them are religious or political leaders who, like Saul have considerable influence or power to enable them to do a lot of harm.