The Son is Not Like the Father
1 Samuel: The Promise of the True King • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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1 David fled from Naioth (Naw- VEETH) in Ramah and came to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What did I do wrong? How have I sinned against your father so that he wants to take my life?” 2 Jonathan said to him, “No, you won’t die. Listen, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without telling me. So why would he hide this matter from me? This can’t be true.” 3 But David said, “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor with you. He has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or else he will be grieved.’ ” David also swore, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”
David has undergone 4 attempts on his life in one day and this doesn’t even count the 4 other times Saul tried before.
David had no reason to doubt Saul’s determination to kill him.
To escape the king’s attacks David would have to abandon the two most significant people in his life, his best friend and the wife of his youth.
Even if David could escape what would life be like. Instead of running, David sought out Jonathan.
David asks if there was anything he could have done to deserve the kings anger.
Jonathan apparently is not kept in the loop in the king’s house. The last time Jonathan dealt with this situation his father swore and other on the life of Yahweh to not kill David so he cannot believe Saul is trying to kill David still.
Jonathan’s statement that his “father doesn’t do anything great or small, without telling” him is kind of laughable. One of the first times we see the clash of Saul and Jonathan is when Saul made an edict to not eat and Jonathan had no idea which almost cost him his life.
Jonathan couldn’t see it but David was clear on the circumstances of his current situation - It is often easier to see issues in others than in our own life.
Again David shows the level of wisdom he has because of the Lord’s presence - he knows Saul is determined to kill and that Saul is not telling Jonathan because Jonathan would be upset with his father and possibly try and stop him again - David is so sure that Saul is after him the he says he is one step away from death - in other words, one wrong move on David’s behalf and its over.
4 Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” 5 So David told him, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon, and I’m supposed to sit down and eat with the king. Instead, let me go, and I’ll hide in the countryside for the next two nights. 6 If your father misses me at all, say, ‘David urgently requested my permission to go quickly to his hometown, Bethlehem, for an annual sacrifice there involving the whole clan.’ 7 If he says, ‘Good,’ then your servant is safe, but if he becomes angry, you will know he has evil intentions. 8 Deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I have done anything wrong, then kill me yourself; why take me to your father?” 9 “No!” Jonathan responded. “If I ever find out my father has evil intentions against you, wouldn’t I tell you about it?” 10 So David asked Jonathan, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” 11 He answered David, “Come on, let’s go out to the countryside.” So both of them went out to the countryside.
Jonathan had much to lose if the accusations against Saul proved true; he could lose his best friend and experience alienation from his father.
I would imagine Jonathan sought to prove David wrong but to do so he would have to cooperate with David to investigate David’s accusations. So whatever David suggested, Jonathan agreed to follow.
David is described more frequently than any other in the OT as possessing success-inducing wisdom and this plan is no different. David would get Saul to reveal his true intentions toward David.
First, David is going to stay hidden in the countryside. This would keep David safe and would prevent the need for using any force (both against David or to stop Saul).
Interesting moral discussion - Jonathan would have to lie - are there times it is okay to lie? The first thing to remember is that David was not perfect, he was a flawed human and the scripture shows us several occasions where David sinned. So the fact that he asked Jonathan to tell what we would consider a lie doesn’t make it okay. The next question in this case would be, is this considered a lie by biblical definition? That is a question I am not going to answer but it would seem, at least in this case, that the misdirection would be justified. This goes back to the heart of the lie - a lie is typically told out of selfish reasons, either to protect ones self or to do harm to another but here the story is agreed upon by both parties and is intended to preserve innocent life. This is a prepared story for the purpose of testing the intentions of the king.
David suggested that at the New Moon festival Numbers 10:10 - that he would stay hidden instead of eating with the king like he was supposed to..
10 You are to sound the trumpets over your burnt offerings and your fellowship sacrifices and on your joyous occasions, your appointed festivals, and the beginning of each of your months. They will serve as a reminder for you before your God: I am the Lord your God.”
All Jonathan had to do was watch his father and wait for his reaction to David’s absence. If the king didn’t even notice we don’t know what he would have done but if the kings asks Jonathan is to tell him the agreed upon ruse and if the king didn’t care then David was safe but if the king got angry then Jonathan would know that Saul intended Dave harm.
David gives Jonathan an out by calling on their covenant together - If David has actually done something wrong to the king then he wants Jonathan to kill him but Jonathan would have not of it.
The final detail was to work out how Jonathan would covertly let David know of the kings intentions.
12 “By the Lord, the God of Israel, I will sound out my father by this time tomorrow or the next day. If I find out that he is favorable toward you, will I not send for you and tell you? 13 If my father intends to bring evil on you, may the Lord punish Jonathan and do so severely if I do not tell you and send you away so you may leave safely. May the Lord be with you, just as he was with my father. 14 If I continue to live, show me kindness from the Lord, but if I die, 15 don’t ever withdraw your kindness from my household—not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” 16 Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord hold David’s enemies accountable.” 17 Jonathan once again swore to David in his love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
Jonathan swears 3 oaths before the Lord - first, he will find out what the kings intentions are and second, if all is well he will get him and if the king intends to kill David then Jonathan will send him away to safety.
Since Jonathan came up with the plan and swore the oaths it negates any claim that David duped or coerced others into participation in his flight from the king.
We also see the establishment between the house of David and the house of Jonathan that would later lead David to defy conventional wisdom regarding the elimination of potential rivals to the throne. Not only would Jonathan being spared but so would his descendants (which we will see in 2 Samuel between David and Jonathan’s son).
Jonathan’s words, “when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth” and “may the Lord hold David’s enemies accountable” was prophetic and condemnatory of his father, who had only recently called David his “enemy” (when he asked Michal why she send his enemy away 19:17).
18 Then Jonathan said to him, “Tomorrow is the New Moon; you’ll be missed because your seat will be empty. 19 The following day hurry down and go to the place where you hid on the day this incident began and stay beside the rock Ezel. 20 I will shoot three arrows beside it as if I’m aiming at a target. 21 Then I will send a servant and say, ‘Go and find the arrows!’ Now, if I expressly say to the servant, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you—get them,’ then come, because as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no problem. 22 But if I say this to the youth, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you!’ then go, for the Lord is sending you away. 23 As for the matter you and I have spoken about, the Lord will be a witness between you and me forever.”
Jonathan comes up with a signal.
Once the festival is over he would go out for target practice and shoot 3 arrows.
Depending on what Jonathan told the servant would be the sign David needed - if the arrows are on the side then all is well - if the arrows are beyond then David has to flee.
Jonathan confirms that he would not lead David to return unless he knew for sure that there is no danger.
24 So David hid in the countryside. At the New Moon, the king sat down to eat the meal. 25 He sat at his usual place on the seat by the wall. Jonathan sat facing him and Abner took his place beside Saul, but David’s place was empty. 26 Saul did not say anything that day because he thought, “Something unexpected has happened; he must be ceremonially unclean—yes, that’s it, he is unclean.” 27 However, the day after the New Moon, the second day, David’s place was still empty, and Saul asked his son Jonathan, “Why didn’t Jesse’s son come to the meal either yesterday or today?” 28 Jonathan answered, “David asked for my permission to go to Bethlehem. 29 He said, ‘Please let me go because our clan is holding a sacrifice in the town, and my brother has told me to be there. So now, if I have found favor with you, let me go so I can see my brothers.’ That’s why he didn’t come to the king’s table.” 30 Then Saul became angry with Jonathan and shouted, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you are siding with Jesse’s son to your own shame and to the disgrace of your mother? 31 Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me—he must die!” 32 Jonathan answered his father back, “Why is he to be killed? What has he done?” 33 Then Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, so he knew that his father was determined to kill David. 34 He got up from the table fiercely angry and did not eat any food that second day of the New Moon, for he was grieved because of his father’s shameful behavior toward David.
David hid like they planned.
The first night came and Saul noticed David’s absence but did not say anything because he figured something had happened to make David ceremonially unclean. This points to David’s devotion of the Lord and His law.
The second night and Saul knows David would not have missed both nights so he asks - interesting to note that Saul calls him “Jesse’s son” instead of David. It is easier to kill when you dehumanize of do not have a personal connection to (this is why you don’t name farm animals you are planning of eating). Using the name David would make him too personal.
Jonathan however, continues to use the name David especially when he give the excuse for David’s absence.
Well Saul lost it! He is cursing his son and and his mother, he calls him a disgrace then demanded to bring “Jesse’s son” to him so he can be killed and preserves Jonathan’s right to the throne.
Jonathan asked a legitimate question - “what did he do to deserve death” - if Saul could have given a legit answer it might have been a game changer.
Saul’s reaction to the question was a definite confirmation of David’s allegation - Saul thew a spear at his son (you’d think someone would hide the spears) intending to kill him - the irony here is that Saul’s claim was that David is a threat to Jonathan’s future as king but her tries to kill him.
His father’s actions angered Jonathan so he left the meal and did not eat - Jonathan was grieved not because of how his father treated him but because of his father’s “shameful behavior” toward David.
35 In the morning Jonathan went out to the countryside for the appointed meeting with David. A young servant was with him. 36 He said to the servant, “Run and find the arrows I’m shooting.” As the servant ran, Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him. 37 He came to the location of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, but Jonathan called to him and said, “The arrow is beyond you, isn’t it?” 38 Then Jonathan called to him, “Hurry up and don’t stop!” Jonathan’s servant picked up the arrow and returned to his master. 39 He did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement. 40 Then Jonathan gave his equipment to the servant who was with him and said, “Go, take it back to the city.” 41 When the servant had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone Ezel, fell facedown to the ground, and paid homage three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept with each other, though David wept more. 42 Jonathan then said to David, “Go in the assurance the two of us pledged in the name of the Lord when we said, ‘The Lord will be a witness between you and me and between my offspring and your offspring forever.’ ” Then David left, and Jonathan went into the city.
Jonathan follows through on his promise - he shot the arrows and gave the sign to run because David’s life was in danger.
As soon as he sent the servant away David came out of hiding. David bowed 3 times honoring Jonathan and his faithfulness to their friendship and the covenant made between them.
The two met together - the kissing has nothing to do with romance but was a customary method of saying both hello and goodbye - they wept together over saying goodbye, the reality of the king’s issues, and I’m sure David felt even deeper for his friend at what Jonathan had lost.
Jonathan assures David once again that he would abide by the pledge they have made to one another before the Lord.
Though David and Jonathan would be physically separated from one another, they would remain inseparably joined by the oath they swore in the Lord’s name. Furthermore, their commitment would be intergenerational continuing between their “descendants forever.”
The two friends left each others’ presence for the next-to-last time…
