I Samuel 20:34-42

So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter.And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city. (KJV)

This will not be the last meeting between David and Jonathan, it probably was the most emotional meeting that they will have. Jonathan was grieved because of the shame Saul had placed on David. The conversation about David absence between Saul and Jonathan at the new moon feast, probably happened in front of all the top officials of Saul’s kingdom. A lot of these officials probably had a very high respect for David and his leadership as a military leader. This conversation reveals Saul’s true intent to kill David, because he viewed David as a threat to take over the throne of the kingdom. David now becomes an enemy of the state. Jonathan knew that this was not the truth and realized that David supported his father probably more than anyone else, even to the point of endangering his life in all the battles he had fought for the nation and Saul. In fierce anger was the words that described Jonathan’s feeling at this time.

After Jonathan shot the arrows and his message to the little lad let David know it was not safe to return. After the lad left and it was safe David came out of hiding and meet and wept with Jonathan. After this meeting Jonathan told David to go in peace and to remember the oath that had sworn to each other “The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever.”

Jonathan is one of those characters in the Bible that God has given to us as an example of a hero that had to make a great sacrifice in his life. Even as the king’s son who should be the next king, he realized that it was David who God had chosen to be the next king. As we read in these verses after he send David away, he went back to serve his father, even when he knew he was wrong. Sometimes God places us in situations in which we are not comfortable to be in; however, we must stand up for the truth even as Jonathan did in the presence of his father. Jonathan is a great example of Romans 12:17-19 “Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” One of the advantages of old age is that you can look by on the past and see examples of when you took a situation into our hands verses when you turned that situation over to God to handle. I will be the first to tell anyone that God handles situations a lot better than I ever did. Both David and Jonathan were great examples of turning over situations to God. Jonathan was one of those gifts that God gave David to protect him from Saul. Jonathan higher calling was to his God and his nation which meant serving his father. We all must make sure we are following God’s calling and not the calling we desire.

Saul chose to be king of his kingdom, not God’s kingdom. Jonathan chose to serve the king that God had put in place, which at this time was Saul his father. But he knew that the future king was to be David. Just as Israel realized in I Samuel 12:19-24 that they had sin by asking for a king, Jonathan probably realized the truth of this mistake. However, Saul was king and Jonathan as his son must serve him. But Jonathan also fears the Lord and serve him in truth with all his heart and this was why he protected David.