1 Samuel 20:1-11
1 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and he came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?”
2 He said to him, “Far from it, you shall not die! Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without informing me. So why would my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!”
3 Yet David vowed again, saying, “Your father is well aware that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Jonathan is not to know this, otherwise he will be worried.’ But indeed as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is just a step between me and death.”
4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
5 So David said to Jonathan, “Behold, tomorrow is the new moon, and I am obligated to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go so that I may hide myself in the field until the third evening.”
6 If your father misses me at all, then say, ‘David earnestly requested leave of me to run to Bethlehem, his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for the whole family.’
7 If he says, ‘That is good,’ your servant will be safe; but if he is very angry, be aware that he has decided on evil.
8 So deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. But if I am guilty of wrongdoing, kill me yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?”
9 Jonathan said, “Far be it from you! For if I in fact learn that my father has decided to inflict harm on you, would I not inform you?”
10 Then David said to Jonathan, “Who will inform me if your father answers you harshly?”
11 Jonathan said to David, “Come, and let’s go out to the field.” So both of them went out to the field.
David Visiting Jonathan
Living side by side with death
While Saul lay naked on the ground, David fled from Naioth in Ramah and went to Jonathan. (1) Jonathan misunderstood that his father Saul had already abandoned his murderous intent towards David. (2) As a matter of fact, Saul was well aware of Jonathan and David’s friendship, so he kept his plans to assassinate David secret from Jonathan. (3) David expressed his dire situation, saying, “There is just a step between me and death.” Even in our lives, there will come moments when we are on the brink of death. However, just as it was with David, we will not die until our appointed time comes, because God’s protective hand is upon us. No matter how dangerous it may seem from a human perspective, walking in the Lord’s will is the safest path.
Jonathan’s friendship
David then makes a suggestion. The New Moon festival, which lasts for two days, was approaching. (1) David plans to absent himself from the celebration without permission. If Saul criticizes this absence, it will serve as evidence of his murderous intent towards David. (2) David and Jonathan had a covenant of friendship. This was a covenant initiated by Jonathan. So, David says that if he is guilty of wrongdoing that is deserving death, he would rather die by the hand of his beloved Jonathan than by Saul’s. (3) Jonathan agrees to ascertain his father’s intentions and promises to report back to David with the findings. (4) David worries that if Saul answers harshly, the messenger who brings the news might also display hostility towards him. Therefore, he inquires who will come as the messenger. (5) Jonathan, seeking a secret conversation, suggests they go outside the city. Jonathan shows true friendship to David. This we can see in Jesus Christ as well. Jesus tells us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matt. 7:7). Let’s bring our requests to Jesus, our true friend.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, I have been given a Savior, Lord, and true friend in Jesus Christ. Please guide me to the path of righteousness. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.