WWUTT 324 David and Jonathan?

Psalm 59 and the Opening Theme of God’s Steadfast Love

In Psalm 59 we read, For you have been to me a fortress, O God, and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love, when we understand the text.

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Here's our host, Pastor Gabe.

David and Jonathan’s Covenant Friendship

Thank you, Becky. Old Testament study today, and we continue our study of the book of 1 Samuel, chapters 18, 19, and 20. This is right after David's duel with Goliath, which we looked at last week. Chapters 16 and 17.

Would encourage you to go back and listen to that exposition if you missed it. Here we'll see a growing conflict between David and Saul, but also a growing love between David and Saul's son, Jonathan.

And that's the way we pick up the beginning of this chapter here, talking about David and Jonathan. This is right after David came and spoke with Saul after beating Goliath. He said, I am the son of your servant, Jesse, the Bethlehemite.

And so here in verse 1, as soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house.

Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David and his armor and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul sent him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. Now, before we continue here, this growing love is being talked about between David and Jonathan in today's age in the United States of America.

Surely you have heard it said that David and Jonathan's love for one another was sexual, but that is not implied in the scripture whatsoever. And it really is quite heartbreaking that we live in an age where two men cannot just be good friends without it being implied somehow that there must be some kind of sexual undertone.

One of the verses that is often used to imply that there's something more intimate going on there between David and Jonathan is out of 2 Samuel 1. This is right after Saul and Jonathan have died, and David is mourning over the death of Saul, the anointed king of Israel, God's anointed, and also Jonathan, who was David's very best friend.

And in verse 26 of 2 Samuel 1, it says, Jonathan lies slain on your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant have you been to me. Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.

And because of that verse, there are people that will try to say that there was something sexual that was going on between David and Jonathan. Clearly it was even more intimate to him than the love that he even had for a woman.

But that's misunderstanding what David was implying. Jonathan was the son of Saul, which meant that he was an heir to the throne. But Jonathan loved God and loved David. And because David was the next anointed king, Jonathan was not going to claim his right to the throne.

He was going to give it up to David. So Jonathan was making a greater sacrifice to David than any woman had ever done for him. So there is a love displayed from Jonathan to David that David did not know from any other living person.

It wasn't sexual. It was not any kind of romantic interest whatsoever. It was two loving friends. And that is this love that we see growing between these two men at the start of chapter 18. And so Jonathan is going to play a key role in protecting David from Jonathan's own father's wrathful hand.

As we'll go on here, verse six, as they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of the cities of Israel, singing and dancing to meet King Saul with tambourines, with songs of joy and with musical instruments.

And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, Saul has struck his thousands and David his ten thousands. And Saul was very angry. And this saying displeased him. He said, they have ascribed to David ten thousands.

And to me, they have ascribed thousands. And what more can he have but the kingdom? And Saul eyed David from that day on. Now, what what what can Saul expect? He was the one that was supposed to go out and fight Goliath, but he didn't want to do it and allowed the shepherd boy to go out and do it for him.

And then he becomes the talk of the entire kingdom. Verse 10, the next day, a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he raved within his house while David was playing the liar, as he did day by day.

Saul had his spear in his hand and Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, I will pin David to the wall. But David evaded him twice. Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him, but had departed from Saul.

So Saul removed him from his presence and made him a commander of a thousand. And he went out and came in before the people. And David had success in all his undertaking, for the Lord was with him. And when Saul saw that he had great success, he stood in fearful awe of him.

But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them. We actually see the same kind of jealousy brewing between Saul toward David that Cain had for Abel. Same sort of a thing going on there.

And Cain thinking, my offerings to God are not pleasing. If I were to take Abel out of the picture, then I would have a pleasing sacrifice unto the Lord. And Saul kind of had that very jealousy within his heart.

Rather than repenting of his sin before God and asking for forgiveness, he thinks, if I can get David out of the picture, I will be God's favorite again. God's presence will be with me instead of with David.

So you have that same sort of a jealousy brewing that Cain had for Abel. So verse 17, then Saul said to David, here is my elder daughter Merib. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord's battles.

For Saul thought, let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him. Because Saul's knowing, hey, if I do something to harm David, then there's no way that I am going to have the peace of my kingdom, the support of my kingdom behind me.

And plus there may have also been somewhat of a fear of God, but not necessarily the reverent fear of God. It would have been the fear of judgment that Saul had. Therefore Saul said to David a second time, you shall now be my son-in-law.

And Saul commanded his servants, speak to David in private and say, behold, the king is delighting you and all his servants love you. Now then become the king's son-in-law. And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David.

And David said, does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law since I am a poor man and have no reputation? And the servants of Saul told him thus, and so did David speak. And Saul said, thus shall you say to David, the king desires no bride price except a hundred four skins of the Philistines, that he may be avenged on the king's enemies.

Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son-in-law. Before the time had expired, David arose and went along with his men and killed 200 of the Philistines.

And David brought their four skins, which were given in full number to the king that he might become the king's son-in-law. And Saul gave him his daughter Michal for a wife. What a prize. What a, what a dowry to pay, right?

200 four skins that he would give to the king. Double what it was that Saul asked for. And who's going to count that exactly? You know what? I'm going to take your word for it. There's a, there's 204 skins and they're here.

Have my daughter, oh boy, Bible times. What can we say? All right. So then verse, verse 28, but when, but when Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David and that Michal, Saul's daughter loved him, Saul was even more afraid of David.

So Saul was David's enemy continually. Then the commanders of the Philistines came out to the battle. And as often as they came out, David had more success than all the servants of Saul so that his name was highly esteemed.

Saul’s Attempts to Kill David and Jonathan’s Defense of Him

Chapter 19, and Saul spoke to Jonathan, his son and to all his servants that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, Saul, my father seeks to kill you.

Therefore, be on your guard in the morning, stay in a secret place and hide yourself. And I will go out and stand, stand beside my father in the field where you are. And I will speak to my father about you.

And if I learn anything, I will tell you. Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul, his father, and said to him, let not the king sin against his servant, David, because he has not sinned against you. And because his deeds have brought good to you.

For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine. And the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?

And here, once again, we have that conquering of Goliath, David striking down Goliath, being described as a salvation for Israel. So this goes back to what we were talking about yesterday, David being a representative of Christ.

We don't put ourselves in the place of David. David is a type of Christ. Christ who would come along would be the greater David, just as he's described in Hebrews as the greater Moses. So Christ is our salvation as David was for Israel by striking down the Philistine.

Verse six, Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan and Saul swore as the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death. And Jonathan called David and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul and he was in his presence as before.

There was war again and David went out and fought with the Philistines and struck them with a great blow so that they fled before him. Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand and David was playing the liar.

And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with a spear, but he eluded him so that he struck the spear into the wall and David fled and escaped that night. Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him that he might kill him in the morning.

But Macau, David's wife told him, if you do not escape with your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed. So Macau let David down through the window and he fled away and escaped. Macau took an image and laid it on the bed and put a pillow of goat's hair at its head and covered it with the clothes.

And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, he is sick. Then Saul sent the messengers to see David saying, bring him up to me in the bed that I may kill him. And when the messengers came in, behold, the image was in the bed with the pillow of goat's hair at its head.

See that's where Ferris Bueller got that idea from right there. First Samuel chapter 19, Saul said to Macau, why have you deceived me thus and let my enemy go so that he has escaped? And Macau answered Saul, he said to me, let me go.

Why should I kill you? So Macau lies, I mean, she says that David threatens her life and that's why she let him go. But it's likely because she feared her own father. She thought that Saul would kill her and she was right to assume that because as we're going to see as the story goes on, Saul will even try to kill his own son to get after David.

Saul’s Defeat Before the Prophets at Ramah

Verse 18, now David fled and escaped and he came to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and lived at Naoth and it was told Saul, behold, David is at Naoth in Ramah.

Then Saul sent messengers to take David and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as head over them, the spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul and they also prophesied.

When it was told to Saul, he sent other messengers and they also prophesied. And Saul sent messengers again the third time and they also prophesied. Then he himself went to Ramah and came to the great well that is in Sikku.

So it's kind of like Saul's doing if you want, he's going, if you want something done right, you got to do it yourself. And he asked, where are Samuel and David? And one said, behold, they're at Naoth and Ramah.

And he went there to Naoth and Ramah and the spirit of God came upon him also. And as he went, he prophesied until he came to Naoth and Ramah and he too stripped off his clothes and he too prophesied before Samuel and lay naked all that day and all that night.

Thus it is said, is Saul also among the prophets? So if the presence of God is no longer with Saul, then what is it that's happening here exactly? How is it that he is able to prophesy like this? Well, there's something symbolic that is happening as in the first time that Saul prophesied, which was back in chapter 10, that was to authenticate that he was the anointed king of Israel, that he would prophesy in this way.

So the Lord's presence was with him here. It is verifying that he's still the king of Israel. So there is something meaningful to the fact that Saul is able to prophesy. He is still God's anointed king of Israel.

But God's will is triumphing over Saul's will. He is still the king because it is God's will for him to be the king. Saul has come there to kill David, but he can't do anything because God's will is stronger than Saul's to the point where Saul strips himself of his garments and he falls down before Samuel naked and he laid that way all night long, showing that Saul's kingdom was gradually being taken from him and given instead to David.

All of this had meaning to it and why it comes about in the story in this way. And so that the people would see it also and it would be spoken about in Israel and God would be the one who is glorified because God's will is stronger than Saul's.

Jonathan and David’s Covenant in Chapter 20

So we continue on here in chapter 20. Then David fled from Naoth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, what have I done? What is my guilt and what is my sin before your father that he seeks my life?

And he said to him, far from it, you shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so. But David vowed again, saying, your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes.

And he thinks, 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. Then Jonathan said to David, whatever you say, I will do for you.

And David said to Jonathan, behold, tomorrow is the new moon and I should not fail to sit at table with the king. But let me go that I may hide myself in the field till the third day at evening. If your father misses me at all, then say David earnestly asked leave of me to run to Bethlehem, his city, for there's a yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.

If he says good, then it will be well with your servant. But if he is angry, then know that harm is determined by him. Therefore, deal kindly with your servant, for you have brought your servant into a covenant of the Lord with you.

But if there is guilt in me, kill me yourself, for why should you bring me to your father? And Jonathan said, far be it from you. If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, why would I not tell you?

Then David said to Jonathan, who will tell me if your father answers you roughly? And Jonathan said to David, come, let us go out into the field. So they both went out into the field. And Jonathan said to David, the Lord, the God of Israel, be witness when I have sounded out my father about this time tomorrow or the third day.

Behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? But should it please my father to do you harm? The Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away that you may go in safety.

May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord that I may not die and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever. When the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.

And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, may the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies. And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Now, this covenant that David and Jonathan are making with one another comes back into the story again in Second Samuel, chapter nine, when David shows kindness to Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth. Mephibosheth, who is crippled and has been crippled since infancy, earns a seat at the table with David to eat with the king.

And a person who was who was crippled in this way, who was considered unclean, could not sit at the table with the king. Yet David showed this kindness to Mephibosheth, just as God has shown this kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We have been unclean. We are not fit to sit at the table with the king. And yet through Christ, who cleanses us and forgives us of our sins, we have become fellow heirs of the kingdom of God. So that's what we see even in this exchange between David and Jonathan, his faithfulness to that covenant and therefore welcomes Mephibosheth to the table of the king.

Now, that whole concept there of a person who is unclean cannot sit with the king that even comes up in the story here in chapter 20. So let's keep going. Verse 18. Then Jonathan said to him, Tomorrow is the new moon and you will be missed because your seat will be empty on the third day.

Go down quickly to the place where you hid yourself when the matter was in hand and remain beside the stone heap. And I will shoot three arrows on the side of it as though I shot at a mark. And behold, I will send the boy saying, Go find the arrows.

If I say to the boy, Look, the arrows are on this side of you. Take them. Then you are to come for as the Lord lives, it is safe for you and there is no danger. But if I say to the youth, Look, the arrows are beyond you, then go for the Lord has sent you away.

And as for the matter of which you and I have spoken, behold, the Lord is between you and me forever. So David hid himself in the field. And when the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. The king sat on his seat, just as at other times on the seat by the wall.

Jonathan sat opposite and Abner sat by Saul's side. But David's place was empty. Yet Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought something has happened to him. He is not clean. Surely he is not clean.

So there you see that come into the story. Saul, assuming that David wasn't clean, which was why he didn't come to sit at the table with the king. Verse 27. But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty.

And Saul said to Jonathan, his son, Why has not the son of Jesse come to the meal either yesterday or today? Jonathan answered Saul. David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem. He said, Let me go for our clan holds a sacrifice in the city.

And my brother has commanded me to come there. So now, if I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away and see my brothers. For this reason, he has not come to the king's table. Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan.

And he said to him, You son of a purse 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, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established.

Therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die. Then Jonathan answered Saul, his father. Why should he be put to death? What has he done? But Saul hurled his spear at him as to strike him.

So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. And Jonathan rose 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 disgraced him.

Jonathan vouched for Saul. And yet it turns out Saul truly wanted to kill David. In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David and with him a little boy. And he said to his boy, Run and find the arrows that I shoot.

As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, It's not the arrow beyond you. And Jonathan called after the boy, Hurry, be quick, do not stay.

So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said to him, Go and carry them to the city.

And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most.

Then Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord shall be between me and you and between my offspring and your offspring forever. And he rose and departed.

David’s Prayer for Deliverance in Psalm 59

And Jonathan went into the city. It is recorded that Psalm 59 was a psalm that David wrote when Saul was out to kill him. When Saul sent servants to the house of David to watch him so that Saul could kill him, this was the psalm that David wrote.

Deliver me from my enemies. Oh, my God, protect me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from those who will work evil and save me from bloodthirsty men. For behold, they lie in wait for my life.

Fierce men stir up strife against me for no transgression or sin of mine. Oh, Lord, for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me and see you, Lord God of hosts, our God of Israel.

Rouse yourself to punish all the nations. Spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Each evening they come back howling like dogs and prowling about the city. There they are, bellowing with their mouths, with swords in their lips for who they think will hear us.

But you, oh, Lord, laugh at them. You hold all the nations in derision. Oh, my strength, I will watch for you. For you, oh, God, are my fortress. My God and his steadfast love will meet me. God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

Kill them not, lest my people forget. Make them totter by your power and bring them down. Oh, Lord, our shield for the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips. Let them be trapped in their pride for the cursing and lies that they utter.

Consume them in wrath. Consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob to the ends of the earth. Selah. Each evening they come back howling like dogs and prowling about the city.

They wander about for food. They growl if they do not get their fill. But I will sing of your strength. I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

Oh, my strength, I will sing praises to you. For you, oh, God, are my fortress. The God who shows me steadfast love. Amen.

Thank you for listening to When We Understand the Text. Pastor Gabe is the author of the book 40 of the Most Popular Bible Verses and What They Really Mean. Available in paperback or for your Kindle found at our website at www .tt .com.

Join us again tomorrow as we grow together in the study of God's word when we understand the text.