1 SAMUEL LESSON 22
We will begin this lesson in I Samuel 20:1 "And David fled from
Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done?
what [is] mine iniquity? and what [is] my sin before thy father, that
he seeketh my life?"
We remember, from the previous lesson, that Saul was under the
influence of the Spirit of God and lay naked 24 hours before Samuel
there. David wanted to be a member of Saul's family. David was close
friends with Jonathan, and was married to the daughter of Saul. David
inquires of Jonathan, if he knows anything he has done to cause Saul
to hate him?
I Samuel 20:2 "And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not
die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that
he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me?
it [is] not [so]."
Jonathan speaks in horror. His worst imaginations would not allow
him to believe that Saul would kill David. Jonathan believes that Saul
will surely tell him before, he attacks David. It would appear that,
Saul's experience before Samuel at Ramah, would have calmed him down,
so he would not want to kill David. Jonathan could not believe that
Saul had broken his oath he had made before the LORD.
I Samuel 20:3 "And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father
certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith,
Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly [as] the
LORD liveth, and [as] thy soul liveth, [there is] but a step between
me and death."
David speaks the truth to Jonathan about his father, Saul. David
reminds Jonathan that Saul knows of their friendship. Saul would not
tell Jonathan, for fear he would do as Michal had. Saul kept it from
Jonathan, to keep from grieving his own son. He, also, did not tell
him for fear he would warn David.
I Samuel 20:4 "Then said Jonathan unto David, Whatsoever thy soul
desireth, I will even do [it] for thee."
Jonathan and David are best friends. Jonathan will help David any
way he can.
I Samuel 20:5 "And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow
[is] the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat:
but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third
[day] at even."
The new moon celebrations were accompanied by a burnt and a sin
offering. The trumpets were blown on the new moon, also. This was a
time of great festivity. David will hide during this time. He will
hide, until the third day. The festival will last two days. David was
expected to celebrate new moon with Saul, because he is Saul's son-in-
law.
I Samuel 20:6 "If thy father at all miss me, then say, David
earnestly asked [leave] of me that he might run to Beth-lehem his
city: for [there is] a yearly sacrifice there for all the family."
Saul is to believe, that David is missing from the celebration,
because he went to his own father's house for a yearly celebration.
I Samuel 20:7 "If he say thus, [It is] well; thy servant shall
have peace: but if he be very wroth, [then] be sure that evil is
determined by him."
If Saul is peaceable about the excuse that Jonathan gives for
David not being at the festival, it will mean that he no longer wants
to kill David. If it angers him, it will mean he still wants to kill
David.
I Samuel 20:8 "Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant;
for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the LORD with
thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself;
for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?"
David knows the only true friend he has is Jonathan. David
reminds Jonathan, that they had gone into covenant agreement to be
friends forever. David tells Jonathan, he will gladly let Jonathan
kill him, if he has sinned against Saul.
I Samuel 20:9 "And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I
knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon
thee, then would not I tell it thee?"
Jonathan repeats his loyalty to David. If he knows anything about
his father's plans for David, he will get word to him.
I Samuel 20:10 "Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me?
or what [if] thy father answer thee roughly?"
David is getting skeptical of even his best friend, Jonathan. He
knows that Jonathan would tell him, if it were anyone but Jonathan's
father. He thinks, perhaps, Jonathan will be too afraid of Saul, to
come and tell him.
I Samuel 20:11 "And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us
go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field."
Out in the field, there would be no ears to hear their
conversation. What they say will be for just their own ears.
I Samuel 20:12 "And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of
Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, [or]
the third [day], and, behold, [if there be] good toward David, and I
then send not unto thee, and shew it thee;"
The main thing we must note in this, is the fact that Jonathan
makes his promise to David with the LORD as witness between them.
David will know the sincerity of Jonathan, by it being sworn to in the
presence of the LORD God.
I Samuel 20:13 "The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if
it please my father [to do] thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and
send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with
thee, as he hath been with my father."
Jonathan not only swears to his loyalty to get the proper word to
David, but he also speaks a blessing on his good friend. Jonathan
says, God can punish him severly, if he does not do what he promises
here.
I Samuel 20:14 "And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me
the kindness of the LORD, that I die not:" I Samuel 20:15 "But [also]
thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not
when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the
face of the earth."
Jonathan wants a promise from David, that he will be kind to
Jonathan and his descendents, when he is in power. Jonathan believes
that David will overcome all of these problems with Saul, and will
reign in the stead of Saul. This is a great show of confidence in the
relationship David has with the LORD. Jonathan knows his friend well.
He truly believes David will reign in Saul's place.
I Samuel 20:16 "So Jonathan made [a covenant] with the house of
David, [saying], Let the LORD even require [it] at the hand of David's
enemies." I Samuel 20:17 "And Jonathan caused David to swear again,
because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul."
These two friends have renewed their covenant agreement with each
other, in the presence of the LORD. They will be loyal to each other,
regardless of the circumstances.
I Samuel 20:18 "Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow [is] the
new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty."
David will stay away from the house of Saul as planned. The very
next day will be the new moon, when they generally celebrate together.
I Samuel 20:19 "And [when] thou hast stayed three days, [then]
thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst
hide thyself when the business was [in hand], and shalt remain by the
stone Ezel."
It appears that, David had hidden once before in this place.
Both, David and Jonathan, knew where it was. David would stay as long
as he could away from the house of Saul. At the last minute, he could
slip down to the meeting place for the signal of whether it was safe
to come in, or not.
I Samuel 20:20 "And I will shoot three arrows on the side
[thereof], as though I shot at a mark."
Many people target practiced, so it would not be unusual for
Jonathan to shoot three arrows. Anyone looking on would think he was
just sharpening up his aim.
I Samuel 20:21 "And, behold, I will send a lad, [saying], Go,
find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the
arrows [are] on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for
[there is] peace to thee, and no hurt; [as] the LORD liveth."
The servant boy of Jonathan was to go and pick up the arrows.
David would be in hearing distance. Jonathan would cry out loudly to
the boy, the direction the arrows were in. If Jonathan cries out to
the servant boy, that the arrows are on this side of the stone Ezel,
that is a signal that all is well and David can come in.
I Samuel 20:22 "But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the
arrows [are] beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee
away."
In the case that Saul is still angry with David, Jonathan will
cry out to the servant boy, that the arrows are on the other side of
the rock. If this happens, David must flee quickly. This will be as a
sign from the LORD. The two men and the LORD are working together on
this. In the next lesson, we will see the outcome of this.
1 Samuel 22 Questions
1. Where did David go, when he left Ramah?
2. What questions did David ask Jonathan?
3. How does Jonathan answer David?
4. Jonathan still believes what about his father, Saul?
5. What should have calmed Saul down?
6. What was so unbelievable to Jonathan about Saul?
7. Why does David say, that Saul did not tell Jonathan of his
intentions?
8. In verse 4, Jonathan offers to do what?
9. What was special about the next day?
10. What was this celebration accompanied by?
11. How long will David hide in the field?
12. Why would David be expected to be at the feast?
13. What was Jonathan to tell his father about David?
14. If Saul accepts David's excuse, then all is _______.
15. Who is the only true friend David has?
16. If David has sinned, he will let Jonathan _______ him.
17. Why does David believe that Jonathan might not tell him of Saul's
intentions?
18. Why did Jonathan and David go out in the field to talk?
19. Who is a witness to the promise Jonathan makes David?
20. What does Jonathan do for David, besides swear he will help him?
21. What does David promise Jonathan?
22. Why does Jonathan want this agreement?
23. Why will David be missed at the new moon celebration?
24. After 3 days, where shall David go to hear from Jonathan?
25. Why will the people not realize that this is a signal?
26. How will David know whether to come in, or not?
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