Written by: Paul Morley

1 Samuel 20 v 1-4
Then David ran away from Naioth in Ramah. He went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How did I sin against your father? Why is he trying to kill me?”
Jonathan answered, “No! You won’t die! See, my father doesn’t do anything great or small without first telling me. Why would he keep this from me? It’s not true!”
But David took an oath, saying, “Your father knows very well that you like me. He says to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know about it, or he will tell David.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I am only a step away from death!”
Jonathan said to David, “I’ll do anything you want me to do.”

Notes 
David was in trouble! The king, Saul, wanted him dead! 

Saul was aware that God did not look upon him or his reign with favour because of his own arrogance, pride and disobedience. Favour from heaven was upon David. His victory over Goliath and in the war with the Philistines, Israel’s enemy, had made that obvious.

David was on the run, a hunted man with a price on his head.

Jonathan, the king’s son and David’s best friend, had a hard time believing what his dad was up to but agreed to find out the truth. David asked him the question, which could be summed up: “What have I done to deserve this?”

Have you ever asked these questions in the middle of troubles and difficulties: “Why me, God? What have I done? This isn’t fair!”

In tough times, it is important to ask yourself if there is anything you have done (or not done) that has made the troubled situation. David hadn’t done anything wrong. There are times when people will have a dislike for you because of your faith. In today’s world anyone who makes a stand for Jesus gets noticed. If you live by a biblical pattern, avoiding coarse joking, heavy drinking, etc, you will be noticed. You will be called names, given the tough job and things will be made hard for you - but remember that Jesus said that would happen to those that followed Him.

Look for the true friends that arrive in tough times, those you can trust and will be a help to you. Above all, stay focused on Jesus, pray for those who try to cause trouble for you and watch for what God will do though you.

Prayer:
Lord, help me today, in the troubles I face, to stay focused upon you and to remain confident that you will lead me through them in victory. Amen

1 Samuel 20 v 5-8
So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon festival. I am supposed to eat with the king, but let me hide in the field until the third evening. If your father notices I am gone, tell him, ‘David begged me to let him go to his home town of Bethlehem. Every year at this time his family group offers a sacrifice.’ If your father says, ‘Fine,’ I am safe. But if he becomes angry, you will know that he wants to hurt me. Jonathan, be loyal to me, your servant. You have made an agreement with me before the LORD. If I am guilty, you may kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?”

Notes 
Festivals were an important part of life for the Israelites, like Christmas or Thanksgiving are for us today. At the beginning of each month there was a sacrifice and celebration, and David was supposed to be there and enjoy himself with the king – the king who wanted him dead!

David was wise enough to keep out of situations that could prove harmful and even fatal! Are you putting yourself in dangerous situations that are harming your spiritual health? Are you going to places that compromise your Christian faith? Then it’s time to recognise the danger.

Remember, Saul was out to kill David, even though he was going through with a religious celebration.

Sometimes, those who are religious are more trouble to those who have a relationship with Jesus than people of no faith are. In Jonathan, David had found a true friend, one who would put himself in danger to find out what his dad, the king, was up to.

David had survived twelve attempts on his life so far and was growing more in confidence, a confidence that God would keep him safe. Attitude is also important when in tough times. David remained true to his servant spirit. He didn’t criticise those who were after him. Even knowing he had been anointed as king, he referred to himself as Jonathan’s servant. He wanted still to do his best. 

If someone is giving you a tough time, what is coming out of you? Moans? Grumbles? A “poor me” attitude? Don’t let the circumstances sour your spirit – stay sweet.

Prayer:
Lord, help me have a positive encouraging attitude whatever comes at me this day – that others would see Jesus in me. Amen

1 Samuel 20 v 9-10
Jonathan answered, “No, never! If I learn that my father plans to hurt you, I will warn you!”
David asked, “Who will let me know if your father answers you unkindly?”

Notes
David was innocent but was prepared to die at Jonathan’s hand if it was found he was guilty of a crime.

Jonathan agreed to help David and let him know what his dad was going to do. If this friendship with David was discovered Jonathan could also be killed, but his friendship with David was greater than his family ties.

Friendship has to be cultivated for it to grow strong. Someone once said that “a good friend is hard to find”. A comic once stated that “a friend in need is a pain in the neck!” How sad that is.

It is often when a need is there that you find out who your true friends are - and often they come in surprise packages. Real friendship is not dependent on “team colours” styles of clothing or even how much money you have. Friendship takes risks.

Jonathan was taking risks, putting himself out for no reward. He didn’t have a “What’s in it for me?” attitude. He was looking out for David. Rather than looking to see what friends you have, why not look around to see who needs you as a friend.

Maybe you know someone in your class, or place of work, who is left out because they don’t fit in with other people’s ideas of what it takes to fit in.

Take a chance, be a Jonathan – and offer help where it is needed, or just talk and get to know someone today that you didn’t know yesterday.

Who knows, you may find a real gem!

Prayer:
Lord, today let me be an encourager of those who need some – and a friend to those who have none. Amen

1 Samuel 20 v 11-16
Then Jonathan said, “Come, let’s go out into the field.” So the two of them went out into the field.
Jonathan said to David, “I promise this before the LORD, the God of Israel: at this same time the day after tomorrow, I will find out how my father feels. If he feels good towards you, I will send word to you and let you know. But if my father plans to hurt you, I will let you know and send you away safely. May the LORD punish me terribly if I don’t do this. And may the LORD be with you as he has been with my father. But show me the kindness of the LORD as long as I live so that I may not die. You must never stop showing your kindness to my family, even when the LORD has destroyed all your enemies from the earth.”
So Jonathan made an agreement with David. He said, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies responsible.” 

Notes
Things were serious. It wasn’t just David’s life that was on the line but the future of the Kingdom of Israel. Promises were being made - Jonathan to David, and David to Jonathan. Jonathan could kill David as a threat to the king and for standing in the way of his accent to the throne. David could kill Jonathan, as a threat from the opposition to his rule and reign.

It could have been like a “War of the Roses” that cost England a lot of lives over rivalry to the monarchy – but not so here. Both had a view of the bigger picture. Their agenda was God’s and personal preference didn’t get in the way. Jonathan would help David and made his vow to God, and David agreed to help Jonathan’s family.

Both kept their promises. David later sought out and looked after one of Jonathan’s crippled sons, who even betrayed David, but David received him back. David was a promise keeper. 

The days we live in are days of broken promises. People often don’t do what they say they will.

God is also a promise keeper. The Bible says that all the promises of God are “Yes” and “Amen” in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1 v 20). His promises are for you to take and use. Take God at His word and trust it with your life, because what God says, He will do it. It’s down to trust. David was trusting Jonathan with his life. Why not today trust God’s word for yourself and see that the person who spoke it is totally trustworthy.

Prayer:
Lord, help me to trust you today, more than yesterday. Show me areas where I need to trust you more. Amen

1 Samuel 20 v 17-23
And Jonathan asked David to repeat his promise of love for him, because he loved David as much as he loved himself.
Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon festival. Your seat will be empty, so my father will miss you. On the third day go to the place where you hid when this trouble began. Wait by the rock Ezel. On the third day I will shoot three arrows to the side of the rock as if I am shooting at a target. Then I will send a boy to find the arrows. If I say to him, ‘The arrows are near you; bring them here,’ you may come out of hiding. You are safe. As the LORD lives, there is no danger. But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ you must go, because the LORD is sending you away. Remember what we talked about. The LORD is a witness between you and me for ever.”

Notes
The Bible has much to say on the subject of love, because God is a God of Love. God does not just have feelings of love towards those He has created, He is LOVE.

Love is the attribute that should be demonstrated by those who are followers of Jesus Christ. Notice that word “demonstrated”. It means it should be lived out and shown through actions.

Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself. What did it mean? It meant he placed the same value on David’s life as he did on his own life. He would look out for David just as he would look out for himself. There was the absence of selfishness. Jonathan hatched a signal to let David know if it was safe or not for David to return to the king.

Are your relationships with family or friends selfish or selfless? Do you treat things as if they were yours, or do you demonstrate an “I can’t be bothered” attitude? How about other people – do you put yourself out for others, or do you “want waiting on hand and foot”?

The Bible tells us we should have the same attitude as that of Jesus (Philippians 2 v 5). Read Ephesians chapter 5 today and see what areas there are for you to imitate the Lord Jesus.

The friendship between David and Jonathan was a special one. Think of how special it is to be a friend of God. That’s exactly what a Christian is: a friend of God. 

How is your friendship doing?

Prayer:
Lord, thanks that I can be your friend. Help me to put you first and grow in my love of you in every way. Amen

1 Samuel 20 v 24-26
So David hid in the field. When the New Moon festival came, the king sat down to eat. He sat where he always sat, near the wall. Jonathan sat across from him, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty. That day Saul said nothing. He thought, “Maybe something has happened to David so that he is unclean.” 

Notes 
David hid in the field. David was keeping his head down – or his head would be lost! 

Saul noticed David’s absence but thought David was ceremonially unclean and not able to attend the feast or sit in the king’s presence. David knew that to go before the king would mean death. 

How we should rejoice in the truth that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, has made it possible for you to go before him without fear.

Every one of us has been unclean because of the sin we commit. We have all had wrong thoughts, spoken wrong words and committed wrong deeds. Just one wrong thing excludes us from the presence of God. Yet God created us for fellowship with Him, and to bring you and me into that place, Jesus took the punishment due to you and me.

Forgiveness came at a great cost - the pain and shame endured by Jesus because of His great love for us. The benefits are that we need no longer to be hiding away from the King of Love. Now we can approach Him, knowing His love and forgiveness are available to all who ask and receive. 

The passage today says, “David’s place was empty”! What about your place in heaven? Is it empty, or does it have a “reserved” sign on it because it’s your place? All you have to do is take it. 

Later David would write in Psalm 23: “You prepare a meal for me … and I will live in the house of the Lord for ever” (Psalm 23 v 5-6). What a statement of confidence. Can you make the same?

Prayer:
Lord, today open my eyes to see how great and good you are, and open my heart to realise afresh how much you enjoy my company. Amen

1 Samuel 20 v 27-29
But the next day was the second day of the month, and David’s place was still empty. So Saul said to Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the feast yesterday or today?”
Jonathan answered, “David begged me to let him go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Let me go, because our family has a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has ordered me to be there. Now if I am your friend, please let me go to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.”

Notes
Saul was not amused! How could David not come to the festival? Jonathan, David’s best friend, covered for him: “I gave him permission to have the week off to see his family and celebrate there.” David could have had time to go to Bethlehem to see his family as the arrangement was to meet Jonathan in three days. Saul would be furious - he had been outsmarted and David was safe.

It is important for us to realise that, whatever the enemy Satan attempts to do to hinder us will never catch God by surprise. Enemies of your faith in Jesus never win in the end. Those who would try to discourage you will themselves be frustrated. “The Lord Reigns” over all situations and, in the end, victory comes to those who walk in righteousness. 

Later in his life, David had many opportunities to kill Saul but never did. He knew it was not his place to get even, nor to score one over his enemy. Those who cause you difficulties, pray for them and see what God will do.

Bethlehem means “house of bread” - where Jesus, the “Bread of Life”, would be born, descended from David’s line. Even here, Satan was trying to stop God’s “Great King” Jesus from coming by trying to kill David.

Later, another king, Herod, tried to get to the baby Jesus that the Magi told him about, but again God outsmarted the plan. 

The Bible says this: “Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3 v 5). Today, how do you need Him to lead you? God’s plan for your life is as bright as His promises – so go on, trust Him.

Prayer:
Lord, teach me to trust in you with all my heart and show me how to lean on your understanding and not my own – so that your plan for my life can become my reality. Amen


word-on-the-web uses the Scripture text taken from the Youth Bible, New Century Version (Anglicised Edition) copyright 1993 by Word Publishing Milton Keynes