1 Samuel 20:12-23
12 Then Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, is my witness! When I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow or the third day, behold, if he has a good feeling toward you, shall I not then send word to you and inform you?
13 If it pleases my father to do you harm, may the Lord do so to me and more so, if I fail to inform you and send you away, so that you may go in safety. And may the Lord be with you as He has been with my father.
14 And if I am still alive, will you not show me the faithfulness of the Lord, so that I do not die?
15 And you shall never cut off your loyalty to my house, not even when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.”
16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord demand it from the hands of David’s enemies.”
17 And Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life.
18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the new moon, and you will be missed since your seat will be empty.
19 When you have stayed for three days, you shall go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself on that eventful day, and you shall remain beside the stone Ezel.
20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target.
21 Then behold, I will send the boy, telling him, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I specifically say to the boy, ‘Behold, the arrows are on this side of you, get them,’ then come, because it is safe for you and there is nothing to harm you, as the Lord lives.
22 But if I say to the youth, ‘Behold, the arrows are beyond you,’ go, because the Lord has sent you away.
23 As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.”
Renewal of Covenant
Jonathan’s wish
David and Jonathan had made a covenant of friendship, but in today’s passage, that covenant is renewed in an expanded form. (1) Jonathan promises to ascertain his father Saul’s intentions, and if Saul should have any intention of killing David, he will certainly help David escape. (2) Unlike his father Saul, Jonathan believed and accepted that David was the one chosen to be the next king. (3) Therefore, Jonathan implores that, even if he should die, lovingkindness should be shown to his family. (4) At this time, Jonathan is renewing his covenant with David. Moreover, this covenant is not with David as an individual, but with the house of David. (5) David would later honor the covenant with Jonathan and show lovingkindness to his family (in 2 Sam. 9, Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth receives David’s favor).
Signal with arrows
Jonathan tells David to wait near the stone of Ezel, where he had previously hidden himself, until he could ascertain his father’s true intentions (19:2). (1) Jonathan promises to shoot three arrows as a signal after he has determined his father’s intentions. (2) If the arrows land short of the boy he brings with him, it is a sign that David can be at ease. (3) If the arrows land beyond the boy, it is a sign of danger. (4) Jonathan says, “As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever.” This means that if either of them breaks the covenant, it would be just for them to receive the Lord’s punishment. Let’s pay attention to Jonathan’s wisdom. If one is to make a covenant, it should be made with someone who is on God’s side. He believed David to be a person of truth and rich in love. If Jonathan could place such trust in David, how much more should we place our full trust in the Lord Jesus, who is the son of David? The Lord Jesus said, “for this is My blood of the covenant, which is being poured out for many for forgiveness of sins” (Matt. 26:28). Let’s continue to follow the Lord Jesus, who loved us by pouring out His own life.
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father, You are the God of covenant. When I believed in the Lord Jesus, I entered into an eternal covenant with You. Please lead me to the eternal home. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.