Saul sent three contingents of soldiers to Naioth in Ramah to capture David but each time these men were overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and could not say or do anything against David. At last Saul went himself but he was unable to lift a finger against David for he also was overcome by the influence of the Holy Spirit and lay facedown on the floor for a whole day and night in the presence of Samuel, helpless to even get to his feet, much less to arrest or execute David. While Saul is thus incapacitated, David is able to slip out of Naioth and return to the city of Saul's residence to tell his best friend Jonathan what has been happening. David wants to know why Saul has such unreasonable, unprovoked hatred for him and what charges Saul thinks he can legitimately bring against him.
"Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, 'What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?'" (1 Samuel 20:1) David has the right to know what he's being accused of. Only certain types of crimes were capital crimes in ancient Israel and even then there had to be at least two eyewitnesses who could give testimony at trial. No charges have been read to David. No witnesses have been brought against him. No trial has been held. Even if he had committed a crime worthy of death, the proper procedures are not being observed and Saul is in violation of the Lord's laws.
Jonathan is reluctant to accept that his father has broken the oath he made to him in the name of the Lord. He doesn't want to believe Saul is capable of such blasphemy and treachery. "'Never!' Jonathan replied. 'Look, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn't so!'" (1 Samuel 20:2)
Jonathan, as Saul's eldest son, is the heir apparent to the throne to everyone except those in the know about David's anointing as the future king. Saul and his officials treat Jonathan as the crown prince of Israel and as such he is privy to everything that goes on in Saul's government---or so he thinks! After Jonathan intervened on David's behalf in Chapter 19, Saul realized that his son has become a close friend of David's. It became clear to Saul that Jonathan is willing to oppose his own father in order to defend David. This is why Saul kept his trip to Ramah a secret from his son.
David understands why Jonathan is loathe to believe Saul has broken his word. He is sympathetic that Jonathan doesn't want to accept that Saul is a wicked man. I am sure David hates to be the bearer of such news but it's imperative for his own life and safety that Jonathan sees the situation for what it really is. So there will be no doubt he's telling the truth, David makes his own oath in the name of the Lord. Jonathan knows David would never use the Lord's name in vain. If David swears by the Lord that Saul is still out to get him, it has to be true. "But David took an oath and said, 'Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.'" (1 Samuel 20:3)
Jonathan is convinced. I think it breaks his heart to accept the truth about his father but he pledges his loyalty to his friend. "Jonathan said to David, 'Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you.'" (1 Samuel 20:4) Jonathan has to make a choice and he makes the right choice. It can't be easy to side against his father but his father is in the wrong. I am sure Jonathan loves his father but that doesn't mean he condones his sin or is willing to be a part of it.
This is an example of why our relationship with the Lord has to be the most important relationship of all. If we don't put Him first, we can be enticed into doing wrong by people we love who are not living for the Lord. Jonathan loves his father and it's hard for him to oppose him, especially since one of the ten commandments is to honor one's father and mother. But the first and most important commandment is to love the Lord with all one's heart, soul, mind, and strength. This commandment supersedes all others. Jonathan puts the Lord first and refuses to join in with his father's wickedness, even though that means disobeying his father.
In tomorrow's passage we'll find Jonathan helping his friend to remain safe from the man who wants to shed innocent blood. Jonathan puts his relationship with the Lord ahead of his relationship with his father, and rightly so. Saul will put something ahead of his relationship with Jonathan: his obsession with taking David's life. Saul will be so angry with Jonathan for siding with David that he will try to kill his eldest son and heir.
Jonathan is convinced.
No comments:
Post a Comment