1 Samuel 20 The One Who Delivers

Introduction

Today, as we study Chapter 20, I want us to think about three questions:

1. When it comes to God’s King, are we more like Saul or Jonathan?

2. What must we give up to follow King Jesus?

3. How does Jonathan’s example encourage us to be a true Follower of Jesus?

In our true story from God’s Word, David found himself in dire circumstances Saul, the king, wanted him dead- and he is afraid. So, David appealed to his friend Jonathan, the king’s son, for help. Jonathan, who had a covenant bond with David, chose to support David, God’s king, despite the implications this had for his own relationship with his father and his future prospects as king.

So, in Chapter 20 we see:

David’s Fear (and Jonathan’s Faithfulness)

Saul’s Anger (and Jonathan’s Choice)

Jonathan’s Example (A Faithful Friend and True Disciple)

The covenant bond between David and Jonathan points us to an even greater covenant: God’s steadfast love for His People. And, like Jonathan, we too must consider our position toward the True King, Jesus.

Today, we are called to choose Jesus as our King, trust in His covenant love, and give up everything to follow Him. We do this because we know that whatever we give up is not worth comparing with what we will gain- the love of God and an eternal home with Him.

Let’s begin, then, with… David’s Fear

What do you fear?

Fear motivates many things we do. And fear not necessarily a bad thing. For example, it is a smart thing to fear a hungry shark or a blazing fire. Fear can be a valuable human experience. But there can also be unhealthy fears. For example, fear of exams makes us unable to do our best.

What do you fear?

David feared Saul. And who could blame him? Saul was the king- the most powerful man in the land. And Saul wanted David dead- he saw David as a threat and wanted him out of his life forever.

In the first half of 1 Samuel 20 we listen to a conversation between David and Jonathan, the son of Saul. Here we see David’s fear of Saul. After all that has happened in Chapters 18 and 19, David understands Saul’s attitude to him is hardening and it may well be unsafe for him to stay around.

In verse 1 we read:

Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?”

David speaks to the king’s son about the king’s threats to his life.

In verses 2 and 3 it seems that, initially, Jonathan is blind to the extent of his father’s hatred. Jonathan speaks words of reassurance to David. He is obviously unaware that Saul has made three attempts on David’s life in Chapter 19.

David believes his very existence is under threat from Saul and it was very important for David to persuade Jonathan of that fact. And so, in verse 3, David swears an oath to emphasise just how serious the situation is- there is ‘…only a step…’ between him and death.

So, in verses 4 to 7, David and Jonathan come up with a plan to reveal Saul’s intentions. The new moon festival was a key festival, and members of the royal court were expected to attend. Despite recent tensions, David was still Saul’s son-in-law and an respected warrior and would be expected to join the king at his table.

So they agree that David should intentionally be absent. If Saul accepts his absence, then that will show that David is still safe in Saul’s presence. But if Saul gets angry, then the threat to David will be confirmed.

In concocting the story to explain his absenceDavid was well aware of what he was asking of Jonathan, the king’s son. To lie to Saul for David was another big step in putting his relationship to David above his relationship to Saul.

The only basis that could justify such a request was Jonathan’s commitment to David. To this David appealed. In verse 8 David reaffirms his innocence. He had done nothing to deserve Saul’s hostility. Therefore, based on the commitment between them, David asked Jonathan to ‘…show kindness…’ to him.

In verse 9 Jonathan responded by asserting his commitment to keep no secrets. In effect Jonathan said: If I was forced to choose my loyalty to you, David, would take priority over my loyalty to my father.

 

In verse 10 David pleads for a specific assurance that Jonathan would not abandon David but would inform him. In verse 11 Jonathan doesn’t give this assurance immediately. Instead, the two men go out into a field, perhaps to escape being overheard- Saul’s spear and Saul’s assassins had come too close for comfort, too often.

We have seen David in need of Jonathan’s kindness in these circumstances. In verses 12 to 17 we hear what Jonathan needs from David.

Jonathan asks David to make a covenant with him. Jonathan first reassures David by committing to doing all he has promised, and to protecting David. In verses 12 and 13 Jonathan’s words express a confidence that David will be king- God’s king.

Then Jonathan asks David to commit to him with ‘…unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness…’. The word ‘kindness’ means love and compassion, but it also has the sense of loyalty and faithfulness, so it is often translated ‘steadfast love’. This is a love grounded in covenant commitment- a special promise with God at the heart of it all.

So, in verses 16 and 17 Jonathan declared himself to be not only for David, but also against David’s enemies. Whether he knew it or not, this set him against his father. But this could not be avoided. On the other hand, David swore that when he became king, he would honour Jonathan’s petitions and spare Jonathan’s descendants.

Then, in verses 18 to 23, they work out the details of how Jonathan will get word to David, through a complicated archery routine.

It is good to pause here a moment and consider our story so far.

 

David is on the run from Saul- he is afraid for his life- but the first place he goes to is the home of Saul’s son, Jonathan. Jonathan and David are bonded together by covenant. So Jonathan, a faithful friend and covenant keep, reassured David and willingly commits to helping him.

Throughout God’s Word we learn that in fearful circumstances we have a Faithful Friend who willingly loves us and looks after us. Jonathan was faithful to his promises to David. But in an even greater way God has been faithful to His promises by sending Jesus to love us and look after us in the most important way- by defeating sin and death. In Jesus we have the truest Friend who truly loves us and does what is best for us.

David can trust Jonathan because of their covenant and Jonathan’s faithfulness. In an even better way, we can trust God because of His steadfast love and sovereign plans.

Throughout the rest of the chapter, Jonathan recognises that it is God’s will that David will become king. It would come in the Lord’s time, in the Lord’s way. What was required of David and Jonathan in the meantime was faithfulness to the commitments they had made to each other in the light of that future.

This would not be easy because next we see… Saul’s Anger

David had proposed, and Jonathan had accepted, a scheme to determine Saul’s intentions toward David. We take up the story at the point where the plan was being put in place.

In verse 24 the new moon came, and king Saul sat down to eat. We can picture the table setting. The king’s seat was by the wall as usual. Opposite him was Jonathan. On one side of Saul was Abner, the army commander. But the place set for David was empty.

This, of course, was the first part of the plan. Jonathan knew where David was (and so do we). He was hiding, as agreed, out in the field.

Saul sees David’s empty place but thinks nothing of it. He assumes David must be ceremonially unclean- according to verses 25 and 26. But when David is absent on the second day of the festival this provokes questions.

In verse 27 Saul asks Jonathan why David is missing. As agreed, Jonathan tells his father that David has asked permission to attend a family sacrifice.

David had prepared a reply that Jonathan was to give at this point. However, Jonathan went a little ‘off script’. Adding in the bit about obeying his brother’s command was perhaps Jonathan’s attempt to make the excuse look as good as possible.

We know, of course, that this was a lie. David was hiding in the field, waiting for news of Saul’s reaction to his absence.

And it was quite the reaction- we might even say an overreaction. In verses 30 and 31 we read:

Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!”

Saul twice refers to David as ‘…the son of Jesse…’, a phrase intended to demean him. He cannot bring himself to say David’s name and implies instead that he is the son of a nobody.

Jonathan received the full blast of Saul’s fury. The abuse was extreme, verging on the obscene.In his anger, he calls Jonathan a ‘…son of a perverse and rebellious woman…’. The irony, of course, is that Jonathan is actually the son of a perverse and rebellious man.

And Saul’s mind about David is made up- he must die! Why? Because Saul knows that as long as David lives, Jonathan will not reign.

This is a key moment in the story. This is the point where Jonathan must make a choice: David, his friend, or his father, the king.

In verse 32 Jonathan chooses David. In verse 33 Saul responds by hurling his spear at Jonathan, just as he has done twice to David. The message is clear: Jonathan is with David, and so Saul treats Jonathan like he treats David.

At this point we should consider our second question: What must we give up to follow King Jesus?

Jonathan knew that David was God’s chosen king and so he was willing to give up everything to follow him. In choosing David, Jonathan sacrificed his future as king and his relationship with his father.

Jesus is God’s Chosen King who has come to establish God’s Kingdom. And so, we must follow Him no matter the cost.

This will mean making choices about the company we keep; how we spend our time; what our priorities will be; who and what will be most precious to us. In fact, every single aspect of life must be surrendered to God for His perfect purposes.

To choose Jesus will mean difficult decisions.And so, we should consider the final verses and….Jonathan’s Example

Remember our third question: How does Jonathan’s example encourage us to be a true Follower of Jesus? Let’s consider this as we come to our final section.

So, Saul ‘knew’ that Jonathan had chosen David. Now Jonathan ‘knew’, by the spear that had just missed him, that Saul was determined to destroy David.

Jonathan was still in a position to choose. His father’s threats and the clear risks of supporting David could have led him to abandon his loyalty to David. But, as we see in verse 34, that is not what happened. Jonathan’s loyalty was now with David completely- no matter the cost.

The rest of the chapter tells us how Jonathan delivered the news of Saul’s reaction to David and David’s subsequent departure.In verses 35 to 40, as promised, Jonathan goes through his archery routine to let David know he is in danger.

In verses 41 and 42 we see an emotional farewell. The chapter ends with Jonathan saying to David:

… ‘Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’…

There is peace between Jonathan and David. But it has come at a price. David chooses loyalty to David- the one he knew to be God’s chosen king- and this will mean hostility with Saul, his father.

There was no alternative. There could be no neutrality when it comes to the Lord’s anointed.

The relationship between David and Jonathan is often taken as a model of friendship. But it is really a model of discipleship.

Jonathan loves David as a brother. But he also (and more importantly) recognises him as God’s true king. And throughout 1 Samuel we see Jonathan display loyalty to David and humble submission to God’s plans. Jonathan bonds himself to David by covenant and gives up his right to be king- an action which potentially threatens his family’s future.

Jonathan recognised that David was God’s anointed one- the next king. Jonathan gave up the throne to honour God and His true king. Jonathan gave up the throne so David, God’s chosen king, could become King.

But here is the wonderful irony: by giving up his throne and bonding himself to David, Jonathan gains a future for his family under the protection of David. David promises to preserve the family of Jonathan and, as the book of 2 Samuel recounts, this is what happens.

So, Jonathan teaches us how to be a real follower, a true disciple. Like Jonathan, we are to give up everything. We are to welcome David’s descendant Jesus as our Christ, as God’s King. We are to bind our future to His; to give up control to Him. But in doing this we gain a better future. In Mark 8 Jesus says:

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Jonathan’s choice to sacrifice for God’s appointed king, secured his descendants’ safety. For Jonathan, this would have been a greater blessing than a throne that was never meant to be his.

 

Like Jonathan, we will be called to sacrifice for the King of Kings. And like Jonathan we will find that when we sacrifice for Him it will be worth it. On this side of eternity we will know the blessings of obedience. And it will be infinitely worth it when we enter our eternal blessings.

 

Conclusion

In Chapter 20 we see a contrast in the attitudes of Saul and Jonathan to David. Saul saw him as a threat to his throne and was determined to cling to power. Jonathan, on the other hand, will give up everything for God’s chosen king.

And so, we must ponder this question: When it comes to God’s King, are we more like Saul or Jonathan?

Jesus Christ is God’s King, the True King. And so, we must decide: will we give up everything for Him and find fullness of life in following Him?

Jonathan chooses to follow God’s true king and God honoured his sacrifice. Jonathan gave up his future but gained a better future.

When we choose to follow Jesus- the True King- we may have to sacrifice many things- friends, family, and our future. But we will gain a true friend in Christ, the truest family in the Church, and a truly wonderful future in eternity. Today, we choose Christ and live.