David Escapes Saul and Goes to Samuel
Saul’s attempts to kill David have been
thwarted by David dodging his spear, and warning by Jonathan and by Michal, Saul's son and daughter. Saul’s fourth
attempt to kill David is thwarted by Samuel. David began his anointing with
Samuel. He will return to Samuel probably for advice, strengthening of his
faith, comfort, rest and prayer.
David reported
to Samuel what Saul had done to him.Three times, Saul sends his men to take
David. However, when Saul’s men saw a group of prophets with Samuel as the
leader prophesying, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul’s men and they too
prophesied. They forgot about their mission. God intervened! As Saul
intensified his pursuit of David, God intensified the power of His Spirit
against him. Finally, Saul himself went to get David, but the spirit of
prophecy fell upon him also.V23 Saul
“stripped off his robes and prophesied
in Samuel’s presence. He lay that way all that day and all that night.” V24 Saul stripped off his royal robes and lay
bare before God indicating humility and openness.
Saul’s jealousy of David escalated to
envy, then anger and then wanting to take David’s life.These sins of Saul
became his bondage and ultimately led to his death. “The
wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23
David Goes to Jonathan Again
Eventually,
David leaves Samuel’s place to go to Ramah to see Jonathan. David seeks counsel from those he trusts in the Lord. David asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How
have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?” 1 Samuel 20:1 David’s
humility is displayed once again. He wants to find out if there is anything he
has done to cause Saul’s desire to kill him. David trusted Jonathan. They have
a deep covenant bond because of their love of God and each other like spiritual
brothers. Proverbs 18:24: A man who has
friends, must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than
a brother.” Jesus
tells us who are His mother, sisters and
brothers in Mathew 12:48-49, “Whoever does the will of My
Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”
Jonathan doesn’t believe that his
father is still trying to kill David. Jonathan wants to believe the best about
his father. But David swears an oath to Jonathan that this is true. It was Saul’s
custom to not do anything without informing his son Jonathan. Jonathan is surprised by what David is
telling him. David tells Jonathan that the reason that Saul probably didn't tell his son is because he knows that
Jonathan is David’s friend and cares about him. Therefore, Saul didn’t want
Jonathan to know his plans because it would grieve Jonathan and Jonathan would probably warn David. Jonathan now believes David and tells him
that he will do whatever David wants him to do to help.
David has a
plan. David is to dine with Saul at the New Moon Festival. David will hide and
not show up until the evening of the day
after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him, “David earnestly
asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown because an annual
sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.” 20:5-6 If Saul says this
is okay then Jonathan will know David is safe. But if Saul loses his temper,
Jonathan will know that Saul is determined to harm David. David then tells
Jonathan to be honest with him because they made covenant with each other
before the Lord. V8 David goes on to
say to Jonathan, “If I am guilty, then
kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?” “Never!” Jonathan said. “If
I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I
tell you?” David asked, “Who will
tell me if your father answers you harshly?” Jonathan swears to God and
David that he will warn David either way. If he doesn’t, Jonathan said, “May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so
severely.”
Jonathan asks
that the Lord be with David and then wants David to promise that he will “show Jonathan unfailing kindness like that
of the Lord as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut
off your kindness from my family – not even when the Lord has cut off every one
of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” Jonathan made a covenant
with the house of David, saying, “May
the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” And Jonathan had David reaffirm his
oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. 20:14-17 Again,
Jonathan and David made a covenant oath to each other before God. David honored this oath with Mephibosheth. (see 2 Samuel 9:10)
The Law in Leviticus 19:18 said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” and Jesus said in Matthew 19:19; 23:29 and Mark 12:31, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In Mark, Jesus added, “There is no greater commandment than these.” When a “word” is spoken three times, it is established. (see Matthew 18:16) Jonathan and David lived this.The Law said that the Israelites should love their neighbor as themselves, but Jesus started with loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Then we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is in loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and learning of His pure, perfect love that enables us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
The Law in Leviticus 19:18 said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” and Jesus said in Matthew 19:19; 23:29 and Mark 12:31, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” In Mark, Jesus added, “There is no greater commandment than these.” When a “word” is spoken three times, it is established. (see Matthew 18:16) Jonathan and David lived this.The Law said that the Israelites should love their neighbor as themselves, but Jesus started with loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Then we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. It is in loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and learning of His pure, perfect love that enables us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
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