our teacher instead of our demise-1 Samuel 20

 

Rembrandt. Departing of David and Jonathan. 1642. Oil on panel. 

The Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia

At this point, David is getting a bit fatigued with Saul's bipolar homicidal tendencies toward him 1 Samuel 20:1. Still Jonathan promises to continue in friendship and to protct David’s life 1 Samuel 20:2–4, 13–17, 23.

David and Jonathan were no ordinary young men. Their love of God influenced their friendship 1 Samuel 20:23.Every relationship, friendship, marriage, parent/child, and so on, is enriched if we place loyalty to God first in our lives.  It is then that we are true friends wanting the best for those we love--we encourage them and help them to be their best. If friends or relations ask us to do things that are wrong, we refuse.  Regardless of the social consequences, we try to influence those we love to make righteous choices.

This part of the story is a little odd. If they could visit in the wilderness without the danger of being seen before and after the arrow incident. Why was it necessary? Anyway David learned it was not safe to go back to Saul’s court 1 Samuel 20:5–7, 18–22.  King Saul's response further shows how his revenge had driven him crazy, when he wondered if the reason for David’s absence was some sin that made him unclean. Of course it wasn't that--David feared for his life. Then Saul went into a big rant and threw a javelin at Jonathan 1 Samuel 20:24–33. As planned Jonathan shot the theatrical arrows to warn David--then he talked to him face to face. But the real message here is that Jonathan again warned David of the threat to his life 1 Samuel 20:35–42.

Jonathan had much more to gain in worldly wealth and honor by allowing his father to kill David. Jonathan knew that these honors and such were nothing to eternal friendship. To liken this scripture unto ourselves, we might ask some questions. What was the last kind thing I did for someone? What do I do when I hear someone saying unkind things about another person? What have I done to help my friends and family be better people?

Another important message of 1 Samuel 20 is loyalty to God in the face of adversity. “David’s distress must, in the nature of things, be the greatest . Besides his friend Jonathan, whom he was now about to lose for ever, he lost his wife, relatives, country; and, what was most afflictive, the altars of his God, and the ordinances of religion.” (Clarke, Bible Commentary, 2:277.) Sometimes we are tempted to think we made wrong decisions or blame God if things go badly. David neither chose wrongly or acted sinfully, yet he was persecuted by Saul and lost everything he loved most. He could have forsaken God at this point but did not. Instead he remained faithful. These trials made his stronger. We can use the example of David at this point in times of trial in our lives. We can remain strong in the faith. We can refrain from cursing God. We can allow adversity to be our teacher instead of our demise.