Chapter 19 1 Sam. 19:1-6 Now Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David; but Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted greatly in David. 2 So Jonathan told David, saying, "My father Saul seeks to kill you. Therefore please be on your guard until morning, and stay in a secret place and hide. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. Then what I observe, I will tell you." 4 Thus Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father, and said to him, "Let not the king sin against his servant, against David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his works have been very good toward you. 5 For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?" 6 So Saul heeded the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed." 7 Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. So Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as in times past. Saul s deteriorating mental state is apparent from here on out. A man who began with such potential, anointed by the Holy Spirit, given such promises, and yet, because he didn t walk in obedience to God and didn t stand against evil influences, he fell so very far! He actually told his servants to kill David! Jonathan, as a loyal son, should always honor his father and obey him, but not when his father s wishes were so contrary to God s will. He was loyal to David, to God s anointed, rather than his own father, but he was right to be that way. We are all called to honor our parents and obey them, and to do the same for our bosses or our government. This is the clear will of God. But it only applies when those authorities order us to do what is in line with God s will. No authority figure on earth is allowed to order us to disobey the Highest Authority, God! 1 Sam. 19:8 And there was war again; and David went out and fought with the Philistines, and struck them with a mighty blow, and they fled from him. David continued to do his best to serve his king and country, and God gave him wisdom and led him to victory. He was a capable military officer. Unfortunately, his victories caused more problems for him personally! 1 Sam. 19:9-17 Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. 10 Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul's presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night. 11 Saul also sent messengers to David's house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed." 12 So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped. 13 And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats' hair for his head, and covered it with clothes. 14 So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." 15 Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, "Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him." 16 And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats' hair for his head. 17 Then Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?" And Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go! Why should I kill you?'" David was the anointed of God, but it would be years before he d be king, and many dark days ahead! He had already escaped being pinned to the wall twice. Now it happens all over again! Pleasant work environment, eh? He had to flee for his life, when he was a warrior who could ve fought Saul and defeated him. But he refused to do such a thing, knowing it simply wasn t right. He had to await God s timing. So he fled the palace, to his home, but Saul sent men to watch the house and kill him in the morning! Michal warned him and let him down through a window, the same way the apostle Paul would escape from Damascus centuries later. (Acts 9:23) She then put an image in the bed and made it look like him. I ve gotta ask, what were they doing with this image in 1
their home? It shows how common idolatry and sin were then, just as now. At first, Michal s claim that David was sick held the messengers off, but Saul finally ordered them to bring him even in the bed, so the ruse was discovered. Saul was angry at his daughter, and she lied, saying David had threatened her life. That got her out of trouble with her father, but certainly didn t help her husband s relationship with Saul! 1 Sam. 19:18-24 So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. 19 Now it was told Saul, saying, "Take note, David is at Naioth in Ramah!" 20 Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21 And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22 Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, "Where are Samuel and David?" And someone said, "Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah." 23 So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24 And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" NKJV David left Saul s hometown and fled to Samuel, the man of God who had anointed him. He didn t know where else to turn! Together, he and Samuel went to Naioth. This word apparently means dwellings, and seems to have been a place Samuel had built up either in or near his home in Ramah as a training ground for young prophets. Must ve been an interesting place, where men came to learn how to recognize the moving of the Spirit and how to hear from God, how to prophesy, etc. Apparently there were always some who had this calling in OT times, or thought they did. We see this in the times of Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2, 6) as well, where these men of God raised up schools of the prophets and trained them to recognize God s Spirit and receive His Word. The whole concept is fascinating! David apparently went there and dressed like these prophets as a way of hiding out. He took refuge with Samuel and others who sought the Lord. If you hang out with people who seek God, you re liable to have more experiences with God. God s Spirit moves where people recognize, seek, and invite Him. Nevertheless, what happened that day was very unusual, not something generally seen in the Bible or in our experience. Saul sent messengers there, and the Spirit came upon them! They were caught up in a sort of spiritual ecstasy, and unable to carry out their mission of arresting David. The Spirit protected David and Samuel by neutralizing this group of messengers. When Saul heard about it, he sent another group, and then a third group, but the same thing happened to all of them! (a similar episode occurred in Elijah s ministry, 2 Ki. 1) Finally, Saul decided to go himself. The Spirit even came upon him and he also prophesied. (This could have been praise and other inspired speech.) In fact, he stripped off his clothes and lay there naked all night, completely under the power of the Spirit, unable to do what he d planned to do. Now God does not usually force His way on people as in this episode. There are only a very few instances in the Bible where the Spirit did something to people without their will or against their will. When the Jews came to arrest Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, He asked who they were seeking. They said Jesus of Nazareth, and He answered them, I am He, and they all fell down or were slain in the Spirit, as we call it today. (Jn. 18:6) These were hostile men, coming to arrest Jesus, yet the Spirit of God knocked them down. I think in both cases, the purpose of this was probably similar. God was demonstrating His ability to overpower or overwhelm anyone He chooses by the power of His Spirit. He protected David and Samuel by this, and He showed those who came to arrest Jesus that He was more than capable of delivering His Son if He had wanted to. God is able at any time to do such things; He just chooses not to most of the time! By the way, when it says Saul was naked, it probably just means he took off his royal robes and outer garments, but still had a tunic on underneath. Similarly, the KJV says when Jesus appeared to Peter and a few other 2
disciples after the resurrection, he girt his tunic around him, for he was naked. (Jn. 21:7 KJV) This just means without all the robes and such most people wore, or especially, the royal robes Saul wore. It s not likely that the Spirit of God wanted the man to be naked! This was possibly a way by which God humbled Saul. It s interesting that Saul was anointed by the Holy Spirit when he was first chosen as king, and here he is again mightily touched by Him. The Spirit kept him from harming David, but the supernatural experience sure didn t work any sort of permanent change in his heart or character. He didn t repent because of this experience and stop fighting against God. Instead, as we ll see, in no time at all, he was right back to his old ways. Chapter 20 1 Sam. 20:1-3 Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and went and said to Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity, and what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?" 2 So Jonathan said to him, "By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!" 3 Then David took an oath again, and said, "Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.' But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death." David had this inside contact with Saul s son, a person he could trust to tell him what was really going on. He asked Jonathan, and Jonathan said there was no danger. But David knew differently. He knew Saul probably would keep his plans from his son, knowing how Jonathan loved David. Still, Jonathan could find out what his father s plans were. 1 Sam. 20:4-9 So Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you." 5 And David said to Jonathan, "Indeed tomorrow is the New Moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king to eat. But let me go, that I may hide in the field until the third day at evening. 6 If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked permission of me that he might run over to Bethlehem, his city, for there is a yearly sacrifice there for all the family.' 7 If he says thus: 'It is well,' your servant will be safe. But if he is very angry, be sure that evil is determined by him. 8 Therefore you shall deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you. Nevertheless, if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father?" 9 But Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! For if I knew certainly that evil was determined by my father to come upon you, then would I not tell you?" David came up with a plan to sound out Saul s intentions. He ll not show up for the normal meal with the king. If Saul asks why, Jonathan is to tell him David s gone to Bethlehem for a family event. Then Jonathan can watch how his father reacts. If calmly, then all is well. But if Saul reacts angrily, that will be the proof that he intends harm to David. David asks Jonathan to make it known to him, but if there s any sin in David, he asks that Jonathan kill him himself! None of us is able to really assess our own sinfulness completely. But David is such a man of integrity and sincerity that he is willing to be killed if there s anything wrong in him. Jonathan promises to tell David whatever he discovers about his father s intentions. 1 Sam. 20:10-17 Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me, or what if your father answers you roughly?" 11 And Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So both of them went out into the field. 12 Then Jonathan said to David: "The Lord God of Israel is witness! When I have sounded out my father sometime tomorrow, or the third day, and indeed there is good toward David, and I do not send to you and tell you, 13 may the Lord do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. And the Lord be with you as He has been with my father. 14 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die; 15 but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of 3
David from the face of the earth." 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "Let the Lord require it at the hand of David's enemies." 17 Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul. David wants to know how Jonathan intends to get word to him about Saul. They go into the field and Jonathan promises to get word to him there and help him get away safely. Then Jonathan says something remarkable. He knows God has anointed David to be king instead of his father (which also means Jonathan won t be king). Instead of resenting it or being jealous or envious, Jonathan expresses his wish that God might be with David as He has been with Saul. Amazing magnanimity! Not only this, but Jonathan also asks that David not kill him when he comes to power, and that he show kindness to his entire household. So Jonathan recognizes David s right to rule, and asks him to take care of his family. In this he was like Rahab, who recognized that God was with Israel, and asked for the salvation of her family. The wise person does not fight against God or try to force things to go his own way. Instead, a wise person submits to God s will, and puts him or herself into right relationship with His anointed. In this case, the anointed was David. In our case today, the Anointed is David s Greater Son, the Lord Jesus. We must learn to submit to His will, and be sure we re in right relationship with Him. That is the key to our salvation! Jonathan loved David, and asked him to promise this, to vow it. Likewise, we live in confidence because of God s promises to us in the New Covenant, wherein He promises forgiveness of sin, deliverance from Satan s power and eternal life to those who trust in Him. 1 Sam. 20:18-23 18 Then Jonathan said to David, "Tomorrow is the New Moon; and you will be missed, because your seat will be empty. 19 And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel. (departure, to go away, to disappear) 20 Then I will shoot three arrows to the side, as though I shot at a target; 21 and there I will send a lad, saying, 'Go, find the arrows.' If I expressly say to the lad, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them and come' then, as the Lord lives, there is safety for you and no harm. 22 But if I say thus to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you' go your way, for the Lord has sent you away. 23 And as for the matter which you and I have spoken of, indeed the Lord be between you and me forever." NKJV Jonathan comes up with a plan for secret communication with his friend. David will hide out in this field, and Jonathan will come out there as if for some target practice. He ll shoot three arrows and have his boy helper go fetch them. If he shouts out that the arrows are closer in, that means David is safe. But if he shouts that the arrows are farther away, that means God has not given favor to David before Saul, but is sending him away. That will be the signal, and Jonathan again reminds David of the vow he s made to protect Jonathan s family, and asks that the Lord might be between them forever and a witness and sustainer of their pact. 1 Sam. 20:24-34 24 Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast. 25 Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul's side, but David's place was empty. 26 Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, "Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean." 27 And it happened the next day, the second day of the month, that David's place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat, either yesterday or today?" 28 So Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem. 29 And he said, 'Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. And now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me get away and see my brothers.' Therefore he has not come to the king's table." 30 Then Saul's anger was aroused against Jonathan, and he said to him, "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? 31 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." 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, "Why 4
should he be killed? What has he done?" 33 Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. 34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had treated him shamefully. They worked their plan. David didn t come to the meal. The first night, Saul said nothing, but he noticed. The second night, he asked Jonathan about it, and Jonathan told him what he d agreed to with David. Saul was furious! He not only called him a really bad name, but spoke against his mother (Saul s own wife) as well! He was angry that Jonathan was aligned with David instead of his father. But Jonathan was aligned with God instead. He didn t want to be king and establish a dynasty, because he knew that wasn t God s will. Saul on the other hand, desperately wanted it for himself, and was very angry that his son wouldn t cooperate. Saul wanted Jonathan to bring David, so he could be killed. Jonathan asked what David had done to deserve such, and what did he get for asking? A spear thrown at him, just as David had experienced several times! By that act, Jonathan knew that his dad was really against David. No, really? Ya think? He was very angry at his father, and grieved for David, knowing he was being treated unjustly and shamefully. He left the table and fasted that day out of grief. Saul s evil character made life hard for everyone around him! 1 Sam. 20:35-42 35 And so it was, in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad was with him. 36 Then he said to his lad, "Now run, find the arrows which I shoot." As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. 37 When the lad had come to the place where the arrow was which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried out after the lad and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?" 38 And Jonathan cried out after the lad, "Make haste, hurry, do not delay!" So Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows and came back to his master. 39 But the lad did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew of the matter. 40 Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, "Go, carry them to the city." 41 As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, "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.'" So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. NKJV The next day, as per their agreement, Jonathan went out into the field with a young boy, as if to do some target practice. He fired some arrows off, and told the boy to go fetch em. Jonathan yelled out that the arrows were beyond the boy, the agreed-upon signal that all was not well for David with Saul. David was hiding out there, and heard it all. The verdict was in, and it was not in David s favor. I can imagine his face fell as he heard the news and realized what difficulties now lay in front of him. He would be a fugitive for years to come! Jonathan sent the boy back into town, and David came out of hiding. Evidently they d set up this plan, in case people were watching. But no one was around, so they could talk together openly. David fell on his face and bowed before Jonathan, thankful he d been told the truth. They were both very sad at the terrible news. They actually cried together as they realized David was going to have to go on the run, escaping for his life. Finally, they parted ways, reminding each other of the pact they d made. Jonathan told David to go in peace, knowing God would be with him. They would only see each other one more time before J s death. What a sad story! Through many trials, toils, and snares, through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22) David was anointed and chosen by God, and the Spirit of God was with him. But that didn t mean his life was easy. The path to God s will for him was long and hard, with much danger and uncertainty. Reading about it is short and easy. Going through it is an entirely different matter! Life can seem so uncertain and can often feel as if God has abandoned us. His promises seem like they will never come to pass. This chapter ends with a To Be Continued sign. Life is an on-going challenge this side of heaven! 5
But David surely will come into the kingship. He will find God to be absolutely faithful to all His promises. And God will be faithful to every promise He s made to us as well. We must trust that! And like Jonathan and David, we must encourage one another to believe it as well, and to continue on God s path for our lives. Some Interesting facts: Cain was the first son born, and he persecuted and killed Abel, the godly one Ishmael was the first son born to Abraham, and he persecuted Isaac, the chosen one Esau was born before Jacob, but he was the worldly one, and Jacob was the chosen one Judaism was the first Covenant, the first true religion, but the Jews (for the most part) persecuted Jesus, the Messenger of the New Covenant, and His disciples. Even so, Saul was the first king. He was chosen by God at the peoples insistence, but he fell away and persecuted David, the man after God s own heart, who was truly God s chosen king. 6