1 Samuel 20 - The Rock that Shows the Way

Previously in 1 Samuel, we saw Saul step up his efforts to kill David, even going as far as having David brought to him sick in his bed. David fled to Naioth to spend time with Samuel. When Saul found out David was there, he went to Naioth also, and when he got there, he began to prophesy along with the other prophets. Saul was touched by the Spirit of God, and he responded to the Lord, at least for the time.

After this, David fled from Naioth to go speak to Jonathan. He told him, “What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” Jonathan said that he would by no means die, for his father would not do anything unless he had told him first. Jonathan was thinking optimistically here. Perhaps after hearing of what happened to his father at Naioth, he believed there was a true change that had taken place. After all, who wants to believe their own father is a murderer? However, at this point it would have been naive of David to blindly trust Saul. He had his life directly threatened three times with shows of repentance in between, so he had good reason to be concerned. This brings up an important point: there is a difference between forgiveness and trust. Forgiveness does not seek to hold onto past faults, but trust has to be earned, especially if the person has had a pattern of sinful behavior.

David responded that Saul knew he and Jonathan were friends, so he was keeping it from Jonathan so he would not be grieved. Jonathan said, “Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you.”

Each month at the new moon, special sacrifices were offered to the Lord, and it was customary for David to eat at the king’s table. David proposed that he not be there, but told Jonathan that if Saul asked where he was, to tell him he had asked leave to attend a yearly sacrifice with his family. David needed to know if Saul had actually changed. He stated that if Saul stated that it was well, then he would be safe. However, if Saul became very angry, then he would know for sure that his life would be in danger. David reminded Jonathan of the covenant the two of them had entered into, and stated if there was iniquity in him, he should just kill him himself rather than taking him to his father. It seems like David wanted to be reassured of Jonathan’s loyalty as well. Saul was his father, and Jonathan would have been next in line to be king. Jonathan reassured David that he would tell him if Saul determined evil upon him.

They agreed that David would hide in the field during the feast while Jonathan waited to see what his father’s reaction would be. David was expected to be there, so his empty seat would not go unnoticed. After three days, they would meet at the stone Ezel (the rock that shows the way). Jonathan would shoot three arrows for a boy to get, and if Jonathan expressly tells the boy the arrows are within reach, then David would know it was well. However, if he told the boy the arrows were beyond him, David would know he would have to flee. They then entered into another covenant that Jonathan would help David against his father’s threats, and that David would deal well with Jonathan’s house when he was made king.

On the day of the new moon, Saul sat down to eat the feast, and Jonathan sat down across from him. Saul noticed that David was not there, but he did not say anything, presuming that David was ceremonially unclean. The next day, David’s seat was empty again, and Saul asked Jonathan where he was. If one were ceremonially unclean, it would only last a day. Jonathan replied that David had earnestly asked if he could go to Bethlehem where they were having a family sacrifice. Then Saul became angry with Jonathan, and said, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” Saul is now moved against his own family members, his own wife and son. Notice also how Saul refers to David as the son of Jesse rather than his own son-in-law. To Saul, David was just the lowly shepherd boy of his father in Bethlehem. Jonathan replied, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?” Then, Saul threw a spear at Jonathan to kill him, and by this, he knew Saul intended to kill David. Jonathan left the table very angry for David’s sake, and for being shamefully treated by his own father. Saul’s hatred for David was so bad that he was willing to kill his son for siding with him. As one commentator put it, “What Saul has done is so bad that he forces his son against him if his son wants to do what is right.” Sometimes, the actions of those we love will be so bad that we do have to distance ourselves from them and even stand against them if we want to please the Lord. The tendency in these situations is to back off due to their fierce response, but it’s important to stand strong for the right cause, even if we have spears thrown at us. The Lord told Jeremiah, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” (Jer 1:7-8) The Lord also told Ezekiel, “Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.” (Ezek 3:8-9) The Lord will give us the boldness we need to stand for what is right, and he will deliver us from the spears that are thrown at us.

The next day, Jonathan went out to the field at the time he and David had agreed, and he brought a young boy with him. He shot arrows for the boy to go get, and when the boy went to get them, he told him that the arrow was beyond him. This was the cue David was waiting for to let him know that Saul had evil determined against him. David’s suspicions had been correct. After the boy had left to return to the city with Jonathan’s weapons, David and Jonathan met one another and wept. Jonathan said, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’” David then departed, and Jonathan went back to the city.

David was leaving a lot behind: he was leaving his wife, the royal household, and the popularity of the people. He would spend the next several years in hiding, running from Saul who sought to hunt him down and kill him. However, as I previously stated, the Lord was allowing David to be in this position to teach him to rely on the Lord. Jesus is the rock that shows the way. David was learning to lean on this rock, and so should we. He is our only true hope in turbulent times. In the next chapter we will see David make a stop along the way before heading into Philistine country.