Considering the Bible

Jonathan Warns David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 20:30-34

30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness?
31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.”
32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?”
33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death.
34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

In our last post, Jonathon informed the king of David’s absence, of David requesting to “celebrate the new moon with his family.” In this post we will consider Saul’s response to Jonathon. Saul definitely provided Jonathon clear direction on the future of David!

David is going to die!

As is obvious, Saul has completely lost any sense of control, for he verbally attacks Jonathon. First off, Saul attacks Ahinoam, Jonathon’s mother. At no place in the Word is Ahinoam, Saul’s wife spoken of as unfaithful. This was simply the ravings of a man who was out of control, realizing his own son was favoring David.

After speaking so roughly of Jonathon’s mother, and of his choice of favoring David, Saul blurts out the real issue. The kingdom would not be established through Jonathon.

But Saul had been told this by God, and the message was being acted out in front of his very eyes. Yet Saul would not give up, even as he was falling apart. No – David must die, and Jonathon would have to go bring him to Saul.

How illogical a man is when he is facing such loss that he has been warned of! He spoke of Jonathon favoring David, and yet expects Jonathon to deliver David to him for his death!

Jonathon had his answer but he was not willing to give up on his efforts of reconciliation.

“Why should he be put to death?”

This sent Saul over the edge. Saul had to kill someone – he was determined to hold on, rejecting the message God had given him. No – his rage was uncontrollable, and after Jonathon challenged him on his reasoning, that was it. Saul flung a spear at his own son.

Can you imagine this? Saul attempted to kill his own son! Saul was a determined man in his madness, not counting the cost to his own family in his effort to fight against God.

David had to die. Saul was willing to kill his own son in his rage. Jonathon finally was convinced.

David had to run for his life. He no longer had any hope of finding peace with the king, and had a price on his head, even the life of the crown prince!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jonathan Warns David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 20:24-29

24 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.
26 Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean.”
27 But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?”
28 Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem.
29 He said, ‘Let me go, for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers.’ For this reason he has not come to the king’s table.”

Before we get to Saul’s response on David’s absence in our next post, I find it interesting that Saul, the king of Israel, the leader of God’s people, would have his seat up against the wall.

If there are any law enforcement readers, I think you will recognize this practice. I have a friend who has two sons, both with careers as police officers. When they go to a restaurant, or any social event, they tend to find seats up against walls. This is typical of those who are concerned with safety, for it provides no opportunity for someone to come from behind.

If this is Saul’s condition as king of Israel, he is showing signs of suspicion, which we should expect from a man who is losing all confidence in his reign. He is taking precautions even in his choice of seating!

God has told him his days are numbered, and each day is a day of watching, worrying and waiting. It is as if his efforts to remain safe are not supplying the intended effects.

How sad for those who know their time is limited, even for those who seek to deny it!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jonathan Warns David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 20:18-23

18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.
19 On the third day go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand, and remain beside the stone heap.
20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I shot at a mark.
21 And behold, I will send the boy, saying, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you, take them,’ then you are to come, for, as the LORD lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger.
22 But if I say to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then go, for the LORD has sent you away.
23 And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the LORD is between you and me forever.”

Jonathon directed David to “go down quickly” to a place, and yet it might be three days before he can get the information he needs to give to David. What is Jonathon trying to do here? Is he beginning to get paranoid of the situation? Possibly, and we will get back to that idea in a moment, but I would like to address this “time” condition Jonathon is laying on David.

To go down quickly might not have the idea of time, i.e., get down to the place immediately, but is an adverb the speaks of extent or amount, even describing effort. Other ways this Hebrew word is translated includes “much”, “greatly”, “very” and “diligently”. As you can see, the idea of quickly isn’t associated elsewhere with this word. May I suggest this term is describing the distance Jonathon is describing David should travel to a hiding place. And this place seems to have been known by both men. A place near the stone Ezel. Nowhere else in the Word is this stone described, but it was a known place between the men, a place where David had hid before, and that was enough.

Now regarding the paranoia Jonathon may have been experiencing, previously when making general plans, Jonathon had implied he would communicate directly with David on the intent of Saul towards David. (See 1 Samuel 20:12-13). With each passing day, it seems Jonathon is taking extra precaution, for he introduces a young servant to be the vehicle of communication to David in the wilderness.

For all appearance, even to those who may be following Jonathon for the King’s sake, Jonathon will be simply performing target practice in the woods, and yelling out to his servant where the arrows have flown. I think Jonathon knows that the time is short, as David does, and that extra precautions are needed.

This discussion between to two men happens to be one of the last times they ever see each other, for in three days, Jonathon has to send his best friend on the run from his father.

David is convinced of his situation, and Jonathon is beginning to see the writing on the wall. With this realization, Jonathon must have have incredible inner tension, turmoil and confusion. His loyalty to David would mean the end of his Father’s reign, and yet his responsibility to honor his father brought him into a turmoil many of us have never experienced.

David would be on the run in the next few days, and Jonathon had three days of anticipating the worst. Little did he know it would be worse than he anticipated!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible

Jonathan Warns David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 20:12-18

12 And Jonathan said to David, “The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you?
13 But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father.
14 If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die;
15 and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”
16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD take vengeance on David’s enemies.”
17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty.

On the eve of informing King Saul of David’s absence, Jonathon and David continue to work out their plan to safeguard David’s life. In an earlier post, we spoke of Jonathon’s plan, of informing Saul of David’s absence during the new moon festival and based on Saul’s reaction, informing David if he is safe or in danger of his life.

We will address how Jonathon will inform David of his situation in our next post, but for this part of the story, there are some other items worth considering.

May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father.

As Jonathon is developing the plan and speaking of the possible outcomes, he hopes and prays that the Lord is with David as He is with his father, King Saul. Obviously Jonathon is speaking of Saul’s past experience of walking with the Lord. and experiencing the blessing of God. Or might he be hanging on to a delusion, thinking the Lord is still working in Saul’s life for Saul’s benefit.

It is obvious that Saul is experiencing two different conditions, one of a harmful spirit from the Lord, where his actions are manipulative, angry, sullen and murderous. Surely Jonathon is not referencing this experience.

Saul has also experienced the Spirit of God, but in a restrictive sense, where the Lord does not allow Saul to fulfil his desire to harm David.

Both are not situations that are enviable, and that makes me think that Jonathon is hearkening back to the early days of Saul’s kingdom, when Samuel was with him, and Saul was experiencing peace with God.

There is one more option. Might it be that Jonathon was a bit self deluded, and couldn’t come to grips with the actual status of his father before God. This is very likely in my estimation, for I know I want to think the best of those I care for, that things are better than they might be.

the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth

Jonathon continues with a declaration, a statement that David’s enemies will be vanquished. Every one of David’s enemies will be defeated, cut off from the face of the earth.

This is a bold statement, for the result of the test tomorrow may reveal Saul as belonging to this group who will be defeated. Nevertheless, Jonathon speaks the truth, even though it may cost him family and friends, believing that David was destined for the throne.

May the LORD take vengeance on David’s enemies

Jonathon now enters into a request to the Lord, asking the Lord to take vengeance on David’s enemies. The earlier statement could be considered a simple truth statement, whereas in this clause, Jonathon enters into the will of God, denying his own will, that is the safety of his own family.

With these three clauses considered, let us not leave this passage forgetting that Jonathon is seeking to continue the covenant with David, and not only with him personally, but with his progeny. Verse 14 & 15 speaks of Jonathon’s request to continue in the covenant with the future king, and that his children would not be impacted negatively by the new sovereign of Israel.

1 Samuel 12: 14-25 …show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die; and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever

Not only that his progeny not be affected negatively, but that they would experience the steadfast love of God on his house forever!

Jonathon had some hutzpah, and he sought the best for his future family. But I am sure he carried the burden of his current families decisions with a heavy heart!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

Come join us at Considering the Bible