SCRIPTURE: 1 SAMUEL 20
DAVID AND JONATHAN (vs. 1-42)
During the New Moon Festival, David was supposed to join with Saul and Jonathan. Before the day arrived, Jonathan met David and David told him that he was not going to attend the festival. In case Saul would asked about him, David said: “Tell him That David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan” (v.5-6) If he ways, “Very well,” then I am safe. But he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me” (v. 7) So Jonathan and David went to the field to agree on a sign of whether Saul will kill David or not. They made a covenant and reaffirm their oaths because they loved each other very much.
This was what they will do. David will hide and wait by the stone Ezel. Jonathan will shoot 3 arrows and send a boy and said: Go find the arrows”. If Jonathan said to him: “Look the arrows are on his side of you, bring them here. That means you are safe. But if Jonathan said to the boy: “Look the arrows are beyond you, then David must go.
When the New Moon festival came, David’s place was empty for 3 days. So Saul asked Jonathan and Jonathan told him that he granted him the permission to observe a sacrifice in his hometown. Upon hearing, Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan for siding with David. The following morning, Jonathan went out to the field to meet David. And he said to the boy: “The arrow is beyond you./ Hurry go quickly. Don’t stop” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. David got up and bowed down before Jonathan three times. They kissed each other and wept together. Then Jonathan told David t: “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” (v. 42). Then David left and Jonathan went back to the town.
THOUGHTS:
The friendship between Jonathan and David was worth emulating. Jonathan could have sided with his father and killed David so that he can become the next king. But he by-passed tis opportunity because of his love for both God and David. David also kept his vow to Jonathan by treading his Jonathan’s descendants very well.