Bible Verse Synopsis 6-4-25

1st Samuel 20:

David flees Ramah and runs into Jonathan. David is confused as to what he has done wrong. As we have read, David acted wisely in his behavior. Jonathan seems to have confidence that whatever ailed his father could be corrected. The battle of the flesh versus the spirit rages on. Saul will not give up the chase and David understands this even if Jonathan does not. David understands that with one wrong move, "there is but a step between me and death." - Verse 3. What side of this battle have you chosen to belong to? There is still time to walk across the barren valley and join the Lord. That time will not last forever, are you ready to choose?

Jonathan chose David and protecting Him. David gives Jonathan a test to give Saul. David will hide in the fields and Jonathan will tell Saul that he relieved him of his duties to return to Beth-lehem, his city, for a yearly sacrifice. Saul's reaction will tell Jonathan whether or not David would be safe to return. This seems dangerous, maybe even perilous to me. Saul was not a man to be tempted and tried. We have read that he has thrown 2 javelins into the wall trying to harpoon David. Is Jonathan the next target? David also sensed this potential problem and another. Would Jonathan be able to tell if there were evil in his father. Jonathan answers confidently that he would know. David continues his doubt; "Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if your father answered you roughly?" - Verse 10. It is natural for man to be overconfident in his abilities. The spirit is not sure how much he can trust the flesh. When the spirit can trust the spirit, and the flesh can not have its say, we are much better off. Which of the flesh or the spirit is talking to you? Have you even distinguished which is the voice you hear?

Verses 12-15 are a prayer of Jonathan to God. He proclaims that David would be King of Israel and asks for kindness to his family. He also asks for discernment in dealing with his father in this test. We see Jonathan reach out to the spirit and leave his flesh behind. He relies on God to do the task for him! While this is a very important job that Jonathan has, we are called to take big and small things before the Lord. Are you ready to let the spirit lead and turn it over to Him? He's ready for you.

Jonathan and David make another covenant about this. "Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul." - Verse 17. Jonathan love David as he loved himself. The true love we all seek is this kind of love. The same love God seeks from us. Have you given God this love?

Jonathan would signal to David the disposition of Saul towards David with arrows. The arrows would be shot from a bow as if towards a mark. If they were on a certain side, it would tell of his safety or peril based on how the servant boy proceeded. David was to do the same. If the boy returned to Jonathan, as would David. If the boy walked onward, freed, so David must also leave. What a nifty plan. Nothing super obvious, but plain to see and understand. How often do we overcomplicate things? There is little to worry about. Let God have control and our problems, even the big ones, will succumb to the will of God.

The first day with no David at the table, Saul thinks little of it. Things happen. The 2nd day Saul asks Jonathan, "Wherefore comes not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday or to day." - Verse 27. Jonathan tells Saul of the tale David asked him to tell. Verse 30 - "Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he sad unto him, You so of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to you own confusion, and unto the confusion of your mother's nakedness?" Saul had extreme anger to lash out and insult Jonathan in this manner. Insulting his mother was a direct slight at Jonathan. Saul sees that Jonathan has chosen David over himself. I'm sure this did wonders to quell Saul's anger. If anything it only made it more severe! Saul throws a javelin at Jonathan after Jonathan asks a simple question. "Wherefore shall he be slain" what has he done?" - Verse 32. Jonathan leaves the table upset for his father brought shame to his families table. Do we see the issue of the flesh here? Saul allows his anger to be unleashed over a request to go see a man's family. This does not warrant this level of response. The spirit is dead in Saul and that is what David needed to find out. Will we let the flesh blind our judgement or will we ask God to do that for us?

Jonathan took a boy to the stone of Ezel and began to shoot arrows past the boy. The boy recovered them and brought them back. Jonathan was shooting the arrows away from the boy he was not to return them. This was the sign for David, but the boy knew not what was going on. Jonathan in his grief did not give good enough instructions. So he tries again and again the boy returns with the arrows. Instead of trying a third time Jonathan sends the boy to the city with the bow and arrows. Anything to give David a true sign. "As soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another and wept one with another, until David exceeded." David broke down and cried. He succumbed to the flesh himself, but in a manner that was allowed by the spirit. Grief is something we all must conquer. Give our grief to God and our pain will be less. Jonathan and David are held by the Covenant they made. Now their seeds with be apart for ever. Faith led these men here and will lead them forward. Are you ready to let faith lead you?