Trusting God Rather Than Human Ideas

Saul and the army were constantly chasing David around the wilderness of Ziph, disturbing herds of livestock, trampling down the grasses, and driving away game.  Hoping to end the disruptions and curry favor with Saul, the local people offered to help capture David, in I Samuel 23:19-23.  “Then came up the Ziphites to Saul to Gibeah, saying, Doth not David hide himself with us in strong holds in the wood, in the hill of Hachilah, which is on the south of Jeshimon?  Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.”

And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.  Go, I pray you, prepare yet, and know and see his place where his haunt is, and who hath seen him there: for it is told me that he dealeth very subtly.  See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.”

Learning of the Ziphites offerto help Saul, David moved further south, to the wilderness of Maon, just south of Carmel.  Thanks to the Ziphites help, Saul almost captured David, according to I Samuel 23:24-26.   And they arose, and went to Ziph before Saul: but David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the plain on the south of Jeshimon.   Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.  And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.”

The Philistines were still looking for the opportunity to invade Israel, and took advantage of Saul’s hunt for David.  Saul had David surrounded, and was just about to capture him when he learned the Philistines had invaded.  It was such a serious threat he didn’t dare wait to make the capture, according to I Samuel 23:27-28.  “But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee, and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.  Wherefore Saul returned from pursuing after David, and went against the Philistines: therefore they called that place Selahammahlekoth.”  God caused Saul to learn of the invasion just at the right time.

Realizing how close he had come, when Saul went to fight the Philistines, David moved east to the limestone cliffs along the western coast of the Dead Sea in the area known as Engedi.  Upon his return, Saul learned of the move and pursued him with a large group of special forces, according to I Samuel 23:29-24:2.  “And David went up from thence, and dwelt in strong holds at Engedi.  And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.  Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.”

The rocky cliffs made the area popular for herds of sheep and goats, and there were a number of corrals for holding flocks overnight.  There were also a number of caves in the area where the shepherds stayed.   David and his men had hidden one of the large caves, and Saul came into the cave alone to take a nap.  David’s men believed God was giving him the chance to get rid of his enemy, according to I Samuel 24:3-4.   “And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.  And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee…”

David refused to murder Saul, but he did want him to know he could have killed him, so he cut off a piece of hi robe.  Later, he felt guilty about even doing that, as I Samuel 24:4b-7 tells us.  “Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.  And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.  And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.  So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.”

While David knew God intended him to be the next king, he also recognized God had chosen Saul.  He refused to try to accelerate his taking control by doing something that was wrong himself, preferring to wait and trust God to remove him at the proper time.  He allowed Saul to go unharmed. 

Putting His Faith In God Rather Than Man

David had protected Keilah even though his men were concerned that they might get caught between Saul” army and the Philistines.   Saul soon learned of his accomplishment and organized an expedition to capture him, in I Samuel 23:7-8.  “And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars. And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.”

David learned of Saul’s intentions, and was concerned that the people of Keilah might betray him to Saul.  He asked the Lord for what he should to in I Samuel 23:9-13.  “And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.  Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.  Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as thy servant hath heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech thee, tell thy servant.

And the LORD said, He will come down.

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?

And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

Then David and his men, which were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah, and went whithersoever they could go. And it was told Saul that David was escaped from Keilah; and he forbare to go forth.”

Saul had hoped to surround the city and trap David.  David only had about six hundred men by this time, and Saul was sure his much larger army could wipe them out if necessary.   Though they appreciated David’s rescuing them, the people of Keilah would feel they had no choice but to help Saul, so David left Keilah.  It is important to understand that people tend to place their immediate problems ahead of philosophy or friendship, and their betrayals should not be taken as a personal attack, even though they affect us personally.  Our faith needs to be in God rather than in the people. 

Realizing his plans had failed, Saul called off his expedition.  David went into hiding in the wilderness areas of Ziph, picking easily defended hideouts with multiple escape routes so he could not be easily trapped, repeatedly escaping Saul’s constant searches, according to I Samuel 23:14.  “And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.”

During this time, David and Jonathan met secretly, and Jonathan encouraged him, telling him that he knew one day David would be king and he would be his prime minister because of what God had said.  He warned that Saul was upset because he knew that was God’s plan, according to I Samuel 23:15-18.  “And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.  And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.  And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.  And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.”

Once again we see the difference between Saul and Jonathan.  Both of them knew what God’s plan was, and Jonathan accepted it, while Saul was determined to thwart it and get his own way.   Because he was selfish, the opposition only made Saul more determined.  Because Jonathan was focused on pleasing God rather than himself, he supported David, even against his own father. 

Fulfilling Prophecy

Angry that David had escaped again, Saul ordered that the entire city of Nob be killed.  Fearing the Lord and knowing what he Law said, the soldiers refused.   Doeg, was an Edomite, some of Israels enemies, and, although he participated in the Jewish religion, had little or no concern for the God’s law or the Jewish people.  When Saul asked him to kill the people of Nob, he didn’t hesitate, as II Samuel 22:18-19 tells us.  “And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.  And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.”

Doeg murdered everyone in the city, including eighty five priests and their families.  Only one priest, Abiathar, one of Eli’s great-great grandsons escaped, as I Samuel 22:20-23 tells us.  “And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.  And Abiathar showed David that Saul had slain the LORD'S priests.  And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.  Abide thou with me, fear not: for he that seeketh my life seeketh thy life: but with me thou shalt be in safeguard.”

Doeg’s murder of the priests at Nob was a partial fulfillment of the prophecy against Eli, in I Samuel 2:31-33.  “Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.  And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.  And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.”  It happened because of Saul’s selfishness, but David felt responsible for their deaths and offered to protect Abiathar.   Saul blamed their deaths on Ahimelech’s effort to help David and took no responsibility for it, like most proud and selfish people.    

While Saul was busy trying to find David, The Philistines had invaded Judah, attacking the city of Keilah, terrorizing the surrounding area.  When David prayed about whether he should go help them God directed him to go, in I Samuel 23:1-5.  “Then they told David, saying, Behold, the Philistines fight against Keilah, and they rob the threshingfloors.  Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines?

And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah.

And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?

Then David inquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.  So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.”

David’s men were hesitant about fighting the Philistines at Keilah.  As king, it was Saul’s responsibility to protect Israel, and they were concerned that taking time to fight the Philistines might leave them open to an attack by Saul.  God told him to go anyway, so they went and defeated the Philistines, killing many of them and taking herds of cattle from them.  It was after the battle at Keilah that Abiathar caught up with David and told him about the slaughter of the Priests at Nob, as I Samuel 23:6 tells us.  “And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.”  When he came, Abiathar brought the necessary accoutrements of the high priest. 

Feeding Corruption

Fearing he was insane, and that the evil spirit causing it would get loose if they killed him, the Philistines allowed Him to leave unharmed.  David took refuge in the cave Adullam, about thirteen miles west of Bethlehem.  There are a number of large caves in the area, providing ready and easily defended hiding places.  It was in an area he was familiar with from herding his father’s sheep.  Learning of his presence, others soon joined him, according to I Samuel 22:1-2.  “David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.  And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.”

David was not the only person hurt by Saul’s selfishness and fits of rage, and many people were looking for a way to escape his tyranny.  They joined David for mutual protection against Saul’s government.  Fearing Saul would retaliate against his family, David moved his parents to Moab for protection, in I Samuel 22:3-4.  “And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me.  And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.”

Hunters and herdsmen frequently visited the caves around Adullam, and while a small group could easily escape detection, it would be almost impossible to hide a group of four hundred for long.  The prophet Gad warned David to leave the area and go south into Judah where they would be more difficult to trap, in I Samuel 22:5.  “And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.”

Saul and his army were camped just a short distance from the Cave, waiting to find out where David was.  Learning that David had been spotted at Adullam but had left, Saul got angry at his men, accusing them of conspiring against him and helping David to escape, in I Samuel 22:6-8.  “When Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him, (now Saul abode in Gibeah under a tree in Ramah, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him;) Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, and make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds; That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that showeth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or showeth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

The more fixated against David he became, the more paranoid Saul became.  When his herdsman, Doeg mentioned seeing David talking to the Priests at Nob, he turned on the priests, accusing them of conspiring against him and ordering them killed, in I Samuel 22:9-17.  “Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.  And he inquired of the LORD for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.  And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub.

And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

And Saul said unto him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?  Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing unto his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.  And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not show it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD.”

Ahimelech tried to explain he had not known that Saul was seeking David and had not conspired against him, but Saul refused to listen, ordering that all the priests and their families be killed.  The soldiers still had respect for their constitution, the Jewish Law, and refused to obey such an immoral and unlawful order.   

There is a familiar saying that “Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  Power does not cause corruption but it does feed itb y enabling them to get by  with it.  As we have seen, the longer Saul was in power, the less concern he had for what was right, even to the point of ordering the entire population of a city murdered because of one person.

Fleeing From Saul

Saul’s response to David’s absence had convinced even Jonathan that there was no hope of reconciliation, and he had advised him escape while he could.  Since the Philistines had returned the Ark, it had not been reunited with the Tabernacle, and they could not offer the sacrifices exactly as God had commanded.  As a result, like Samuel, the priests had begun to hold sacrifices in various places.   One of those priests, Eli’s great grandson Ahimelech held worship services in Nob.  Having been forced to flee without taking time to get what he needed, David went to Ahimelech for assistance, in I Samuel 21:1.  “Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?”

Saul had become increasingly autocratic and even the priests were afraid to incur his wrath.  Ahimelech had undoubtedly heard rumors of Saul’s hatred toward David, and became suspicious when David was alone.  David told him he was on a secret errand and needed some food, in I Samuel 21:2-3.  “And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.  Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.”

The only food Ahimelech had was the showbread which was dedicated to God and reserved for the priests to eat.  He agreed to give him that if David could promise they had not been sexually active, in I Samuel 21:4-6.  “And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.  So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the showbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.” 

David told Ahimelech it had been at least three days since any of them had been home with their wives or had been around a woman, and while the showbread had been dedicated to God, it was little different than any other bread.  On that assurance, Ahimelech gave him some of the leftover bread from the day before.  One of Saul’s employees was there and saw David talking to Ahimelech, in I Samuel 21:7.  “Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.”

David told Ahimelech the secret mission was so urgent he hadn’t even taken time to get his weapons and asked if he had any he could use.  Since the priests were not expected to serve in the army, the only weapons he had was Goliath’s sword, which had been placed in their care after David killed him, but he offered it, in I Samuel 21:8-9.  “And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here.

And David said, There is none like that; give it me.”

Knowing Doeg would report seeing him, David didn’t dare stay with Ahimelech and fled to the Philistines at Gath for safety, hoping he wouldn’t be recognized.  When he was recognized, he pretended to be insane, in I Samuel 21:10-15, hoping they would not see him as a threat.  “And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.  And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.  Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?  Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?”

Believing that insanity was caused by evil spirits people were afraid to kill them for fear of releasing the evil spirits to attack someone else.  At the same time, they knew how erratic an insane person’s behavior could be and Achish didn’t want him around to cause trouble so David was allowed to leave unharmed.   Our treatment of the insane today is little more effective.  We either isolate them in psychiatric facilities, or keep them so drugged up they are incapable of normal emotional reactions.   When the drugs wear off and they feel things, they are terrified by the feelings and react even more violently than before.   Far too often our rush to calm them down hinders their learning to deal with those feelings, accentuating the problem.    Unfortunately, like David, some pretend to be insane in hopes that people will think they can’t help it and let them go free. 

Selfishness Can No Longer Be Hidden

Jonathan really had trouble believing his father was deliberately trying to kill David, but he had finally been convinced to find out if it was true.  If it wasn’t true, there would be no problem, but if it were, Even letting David know could put him in danger, so Jonathan devised a secret way of warning David while pretending to be practicing with his Bow and arrow, in I Samuel 20:18-23.  “Then Jonathan said to David, Tomorrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.  And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel.  And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark.  And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth.  But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away.  And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.”

There was a special feast on the first of every month.  Jonathan advised David to stay hidden until after the feast to see how Saul reacted to his absence.  If he got unreasonably angry he would know something was going on and warn David by shouting instructions at his armor bearer that he needed to go further but if he thought it safe he would tell him he’d gone too far.   It was a really simple code, but shouldn’t ever be suspected. 

The next day was the day of the celebration and Saul didn’t seem upset at first, as we see in I Samuel 20:24-25.  “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.”

Under the law, if a person had come into contact with a dead body or someone with a potentially contagious disease, they were to avoid considered unclean and were to avoid contact with other people for twenty four hours to eliminate the likelihood of spreading any possible pathogens.  When David didn’t show up for the celebration, Saul assumed this was why he was absent.  It hardly ever occurs to selfish and self-centered people that their actions are causing people to distrust and avoid them.  David was supposed to forget that Saul had made repeated efforts to kill him and act as if nothing had happened. 

When David didn’t show up the second day, Saul began to suspect maybe he hadn’t forgotten, and began to question his absence, in I Samuel 20:27-29.  “ 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?

And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem: 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.”

Like most selfish people, Saul could not stand losing control.  When told Jonathan had given David permission to go to his own family’s celebration Saul became enraged, insisting David had to be killed and accusing Jonathan of working against him, in I Samuel 20:30-32.  “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.”

Saul’s outburst didn’t make sense to Jonathan, and he questioned Saul’s reasons, in I Samuel 20:32-33.  “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.”  Like many self-centered people, Saul couldn’t stand having his decisions questioned, probably because he had no valid reason.  In I Samuel 19:1-7, Jonathan had been able to reason with Saul.   This time his selfishness had grown so much he could not be reasoned with.   Instead, he turned his anger on Jonathan, attempting to kill him.  Jonathan could longer overlook his father’s selfishness. 

Embarrassed and hurt by Saul’s outburst, Jonathan refused to stay for lunch.  It was obvious David was right about his father, and the following morning Jonathan sent David the warning he had promised, in I Samuel 20:34-39.  “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.  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.”

Knowing it might be the last chance to visit his friend, Jonathan sent his helper home and met with david in I Samuel 20:40-42.  “And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.  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.”

What’s Going On?

After Saul’s attempt to have him murdered, David went to Samuel for advice and protection.  Samuel had been afraid Saul would try to kill him for anointing David to be the next king, and Saul had become increasingly erratic and irrational over the years, so he didn’t dare stay at his home in Ramah.  He and David fled to Naoth, hoping to escape his attention.  Both Samuel and David were well known, and it wasn’t long before Saul learned their whereabouts, in I Samuel 19:19-21.  “And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.  And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.  And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.”

Three times Saul sent officers to arrest David, but each time, the Holy Spirit so impressed them with a message from God that they stopped to share the message instead of pursuing David.   Frustrated, Saul decided he would have to kill David himself, as we see in I Samuel 19:22-24.  “Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.  And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.  And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?”  Even the demonic spirit who was stirring up Saul’s hatred was no match for the Holy Spirit, and Saul was unable to kill David.  Like the others, he was so influenced by the Spirit’s power he stopped to prophesy, raising serious questions in the people’s minds. 

Dumbfounded by Saul’s attacks, David went to Jonathan to find out why Saul hated him so much, in I Samuel 20:1.  “And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life?”  Because they are unpredictable and seem irrational, Satanic attacks usually leave people confused about what caused them. 

Jonathan knew David had done nothing to incur such enmity and couldn’t believe his father would be that set on killing him, thinking it was just a momentary surge of uncontrollable anger.   He was sure he would have told him if it went deeper than that.  It is a common response for those raised in a home with an abusive parent.    David pointed out that Saul knew how close David and Jonathan were and would hesitate to tell him about such plans, in I Samuel 20:2-3.  “And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so.  And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death.”

David was so insistent Johnathan agreed to check out his concerns and report back what he learned, in I Samuel 20:4-17.  “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.”

Jonathan knew God had chosen David as the next king instead of himself.  Unlike Saul, he was willing to accept God’s will, promising to warn him of Saul’s plans and asking only that he not turn against him in the future, but show respect to his family when he became king.