David and Jonathan’s Covenant to each other

Topic: Friendship
Passage: 1 Samuel 20:1–23

September 10, 2022

Commentary

Here is the story of a friendship that transcends personal ambition, family differences and even the circumstances of war. After leaving Ramah, David returned to Jonathan, his closest friend and brother-in-law, for help and advice (vv. 1-4). Knowing of Saul’s hostility toward him, David sought to learn from Jonathan what the real problem was and if there might be a reconciliation. The test would be David’s absence from the New Moon feast (v.5) which was soon to be held. If Saul became upset about David’s absence, then David would know that there was no hope of patching things up. If the king was not angry then there was hope for reconciliation (vv.6-8). It was worked out that Jonathan would approach his father on the matter and communicate the results to David by signaling with arrows (vv. 9-13). The next morning Jonathan went to the field for target practice and signaled to David that Saul was angry.
The Feast of the New Moon was held at the beginning of each month. While this was primarily a time of enjoyment, it was also a way to dedicate the next month to God. In this agreement between Jonathan and David, it was promised that David would treat Jonathan’s children kindly in the future (vv. 14-17). As a result, David took great pains years later to fulfill this promise as he invited Mephibosheth into his palace to live (II Sam.9).
Jonathan will give David notice how his father feels towards him. He will notify David if he is missed the first day, or at least the second day, of the new moon, and is enquired after (v. 18). On the third day when David returns from Bethlehem, he will be at such a place (v. 19), and Jonathan will come towards that place with his bow and arrows to shoot for information (v. 20). He will send a lad to fetch his arrows, and, if they are shot short of the lad, David must take it for a signal of safety, and not be afraid to show his head (v. 21); but, if he shoots beyond the lad, it will be a signal of danger, and he must run for his safety, v. 22. This will take place if he does not have the opportunity of talking with David, and making the report by word of mouth. Jonathan says this is a covenant that you and I are making that will be in effect between us all of our days (v. 23).

Application

Friendship is a two way street. “A man that has friends must show himself friendly.” (Prov. 18:24)  Lord help me to be more friendly to people and not just interested in my thing.

1 Samuel 20:1– 23 (NET)

1 David fled from Naioth in Ramah. He came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my offense? How have I sinned before your father, that he is seeking my life?”

2 Jonathan said to him, “By no means are you going to die! My father does nothing large or small without making me aware of it. Why would my father hide this matter from me? It just won’t happen!”

3 Taking an oath, David again said, “Your father is very much aware of the fact that I have found favor with you, and he has thought, ‘Don’t let Jonathan know about this, or he will be upset.’ But as surely as the Lord lives and you live, there is about one step between me and death!” 4 Jonathan replied to David, “Tell me what I can do for you.”

5 David said to Jonathan, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and I am certainly expected to join the king for a meal. You must send me away so I can hide in the field until the third evening from now. 6 If your father happens to miss me, you should say, ‘David urgently requested me to let him go to his town Bethlehem, for there is an annual sacrifice there for his entire family.’ 7 If he should then say, ‘That’s fine,’ then your servant is safe. But if he becomes very angry, be assured that he has decided to harm me. 8 You must be loyal to your servant, for you have made a covenant with your servant in the Lord’s name. If I am guilty, you yourself kill me! Why bother taking me to your father?”

9 Jonathan said, “Far be it from you to suggest this! If I were at all aware that my father had decided to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?” 10 David said to Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” 11 Jonathan said to David, “Come on. Let’s go out to the field.”

12 Jonathan said to David, “The Lord God of Israel is my witness! I will feel out my father about this time the day after tomorrow. If he is favorably inclined toward David, will I not then send word to you and let you know? 13 But if my father intends to do you harm, may the Lord do all this and more to Jonathan, if I don’t let you know and send word to you, so you can go safely on your way. May the Lord be with you, as he was with my father. 14 While I am still alive, extend to me the loyalty of the Lord, or else I will die. 15 Don’t ever cut off your loyalty to my family, not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth 16 and called David’s enemies to account.” So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David. 17 Jonathan once again took an oath with David, because he loved him. In fact Jonathan loved him as much as he did his own life. 18 Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed, for your seat will be empty. 19 On the third day you should go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself the day this all started. Stay near the stone Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows near it, as though I were shooting at a target. 21 When I send a boy after them, I will say, ‘Go and find the arrows.’ If I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them,’ then come back. For as surely as the Lord lives, you will be safe and there will be no problem. 22 But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are on the other side of you,’ then get away. For in that case the Lord has sent you away. 23 With regard to the matter that you and I discussed, the Lord is the witness between us forever.”

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