1 Samuel 20
March 15, 2017
1 Samuel 20
1 Samuel 20
Shawn Bumpers / General
1 Samuel / Saul (king); David; Faith
Jonathan confirms that Saul is not going to give up trying to kill David and so David flees.
Introduction
Starting with chapter 18, Saul began trying to kill David.
David had done a lot for Saul and for Israel.
And so Saul began to plot against David, desiring to have him killed.
In regards to chapter 20, some commentaries take on a critical tone toward David, calling him impulsive because he leaves Ramah and his friend Samuel and flees to Gibeah to confer with Jonathan.
In fact, I think this was a divine opportunity given by God.
In our chapter for tonight, Jonathan, who has apparently been absent from court and despite hearing his father plotting against David, simply can’t believe that his father, Saul, plans to murder David (20:1–3).
The two devise a plan to discover Saul’s intentions, and Jonathan promises to report to his friend (vv. 4–10).
In verses 24-34, David deliberately skips a ceremonial meal and Saul’s behavior reveals to Jonathan that he definitely does intend to kill David.
V1-4
As soon as David was back in the company of Jonathan, he asked him question, “What have I done?”
But Jonathan has a hard time believing that his father really wants to kill David, even though chapter 19 tells us that Saul said just that to Jonathan.
But Saul had disobeyed God many times over and refused to repent for his sins, preferring to cover them over with lies.
Despite the danger, David needs to know once and for all if Saul is going to relent or not in his desire to kill David.
As you may remember, the people of Israel had demanded a king.
They were not willing to wait on the LORD’s timing.
They made demands on the Lord and He decided to give them what they asked for.
Meanwhile, God was preparing the king that He had in mind for Israel, one who would pre-figure the future Messiah and through whom the future Messiah would come.
But let’s not forget Jonathan, who is also a great man of God and very loyal both as a friend and as a son.
David and Jonathan stand out as true examples of devoted friends.
But Christ calls for supreme devotion to Him and His will for our lives.
Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
2 Corinthians 5:17–21 NKJV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Moving back to our text, Jonathan mistakenly thought that his own relationship to his father was closer than it really was.
He was sure that Saul would confide in him, but subsequent events proved him wrong, for Saul would even try to kill Jonathan!
In fact, so certain was David of this that David felt he couldn’t put his faith in what Saul told Jonathan.
Proverbs 18:24 NKJV
A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
V5-10
Jonathan offered to help in any way his friend suggested, and David proposed a simple test in order to deduce Saul’s true feelings.
The New Moon (the first phase of the moon when it is dark) signifies the first day of every Jewish month.
The New Moon festival marked the consecration to God of each new month in the year.
If Saul became angry, then David’s assessment was correct, but if Saul excused David and didn’t press the matter, then Jonathan was correct.
We really need to see all of this from David’s perspective.
He remembers that Jonathan’s support for him is challenged by the fact that his father is against David.
V11-17
From verse 11 to verse 23, David listens while Jonathan reviews the covenant they had made with each other (18:1–4).
It’s a really great picture for us when we need reassurance.
1 John 1:9 NKJV
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 2:25 NKJV
And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.
James 1:5 NKJV
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
John 14:2–3 NKJV
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
Back to our text, Jonathan took an oath and promised to give David the correct message on the third day of the feast, so he would know whether the king was friendly or angry.
Jonathan knows that if his father Saul intends evil against David, it means that David must go away.
Look at the end of verse 13 where Jonathan says, “And the Lord be with you as He has been with my father.”
It’s another mark of this incredible friendship.
Sometimes David was stronger spiritually, and sometimes Jonathan was stronger.
But there was a bond in the LORD between these men that could not be broken.
Jonathan also went beyond the immediate crisis to deal with future events.
He knew that David would one day become king, and he prayed that the Lord would bless his reign.
Next, Jonathan reaffirmed his own oath.
The implication is that the love the two men had for the Lord and each other was sufficient to make the agreement binding.
Jonathan had brought much joy and encouragement to David during those difficult years.
And David and Jonathan thought that David would be king and Jonathan would serve as David’s second in command.
V18-34
So they made plans on how to communicate with David in hiding.
Saul would probably have Jonathan watched to see if he would lead them to David, so they had to be very careful.
David was expected to be at this special feast of the New Moon, and so his absence was conspicuous.
Jonathan responded as they had planned before … that David had gone to Bethlehem.
Saul was enraged.
Saul’s tirade were meant to disparage his son Jonathan as being a dirty rotten scoundrel.
Saul figured that Jonathan’s friendship with David was treachery against his own father.
Saul was aware that his son knew where David was hiding and commanded Jonathan to find David and bring him in to be slain.
V35-40
Jonathan waited until the next day and then went out into the field with his armor bearer as though he were going to practice shooting arrows.
It took quite a bit of courage for Jonathan to communicate with David, even secretly.
There was something noble in Jonathan’s commitment to David as a friend.
As he promised David, Jonathan shot three arrows, one of which was sent far beyond the boy, making it necessary for Jonathan to shout to the lad.
This was not their last meeting.
V41-42
David and Jonathan loved each other, and had a strong bond of friendship. But David couldn’t stay, and Jonathan couldn’t go.
They both had reasons to weep, but the text says that David wept the most.
David is certainly a great study, but also Jonathan … what an incredible man of God he was!
But if God just wanted a godly man to be king, why not Jonathan?
David will not return to “normal life” until Saul is dead and David is king.
This is a pretty bleak road for David to walk, but it is God’s road for him.
But David wouldn’t do that to Saul.
Back to our text, both men reaffirmed their covenant, knowing that the Lord heard their words and saw their hearts.
David left and traveled three miles to the priestly city of Nob, and Jonathan returned to Gibeah and continued to be an officer in his father’s army.
David would be in danger from this point forward.
Jonathan would keep his part of the covenant the two made.
We will see David’s kindness to Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was handicapped.
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