Study the Bible
with Pastor Gregory

1. The Problem of One’s Mixed Devotion – v. 1
   
   
1. King Saul had not softened in his resentment of David – as well as his suspicion that he was the one that had been chosen by God to replace him.
2. As a consequence, he had plotted to rid himself of David by using marriage to his daughter as an occasion to imperil David’s life.
3. As David’s reputation and respectability continued to rise, Saul became so frustrated that he decides to cast restrained and subterfuge aside and issue a decree that David be killed – "Now Saul told Jonathan his son and all his servants to put David to death."
4. This threw Jonathan into an extremely difficult situation – wanting to remain loyal to his father while at the same time possessing a best friendship with the object of his father’s hatred – "But Jonathan, Saul’s son, greatly delighted in David."
5. Regardless of the difficulty of his situation, Jonathan was the perfect person to be used of God to bring reconciliation between Saul and David – he possessed a love for each.
6. It is odd since Saul must have been aware of the close relationship that existed between his son and David – but must also have concluded that his son was just as covetous of the throne as Saul himself was.
7. Jonathan’s dilemma is intensified according to the depth of devotion that he possessed for both men – something that we have to remember: the friction that exists between individuals is most grueling on those who possess a love for both parties embroiled in the torment.
   
   
2. The Priority of One’s Moral Duty – vv. 2-3
   
   
1. However, Jonathan didn’t excuse himself claiming that he had a conflict of interest – instead, he applied himself to attempting to see a solution – cp. Matthew 5:9.
2. Ultimately, Jonathan was of such character that he recognized the impropriety of his father’s rage and actually demonstrates love for both David and his father by attempting to warn David – "So Jonathan told David saying, ‘Saul my father is seeking to put you to death’."
3. He encourages David to "be on guard in the morning, and stay in a secret place and hide yourself:" – knowing that if Saul, or any of his servants, found David, his father would commit a great travesty against David and ultimately the nation David was anointed to serve.
4. He indicates that he will interceded on behalf of David to King Saul – "I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you."
5. He essentially dismisses his family connection, personal aspiration of glory and power, peer pressure and pride to appeal to his father to change his mind about David.
6. His loyalty in the middle of the fracas was to remain true to the will and glory of God – stating that he would report to David – "… if I find out anything, then I shall tell you."
   
   

1. The Appeal to the Issue of Innocence – v. 4
   
   
1. Jonathan took great pains to approach his father properly, respectfully – despite the insanity of the present proposal that they kill David.
2. In the midst of Saul’s scathing hatred for David, Jonathan imperils himself by approaching his father with an appeal: "Then Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, ‘Do not let the king sin against his servant David …’."
3. In interceding for David, Jonathan expresses his concern that his father remain innocent as well.
4. He then appeals to the innocence of David – "since he has not sinned against you, and since his deeds have been very beneficial to you."
5. As a peace-maker, Jonathan attempted to find the common ground whereon genuine reconciliation could be based.
   
   
2. The Acknowledgement of the Indications of Integrity – v. 5
   
   
1. As proof of David’s loyalty, Jonathan highlights some of the ways that David’s integrity can be proven – the deeds that he had done.
2. He appeals to his willingness to face Goliath – "For he took his life in his hand and struck the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great deliverance for all Israel; you saw it and rejoiced."
3. He could have appealed to a number of other deeds done by David that were intensely loyal – the killing of the 200 Philistines, the various campaigns in which David fought and excelled.
4. Jonathan essentially called on his father to acknowledge the fact that David has not given him any indication that he is disloyal – "Why then will you sin against innocent blood by putting David to death without a cause?"
   
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1. The Mediation of Conciliation – vv. 6-7
   
   
1. Jonathan essentially calls on his father to recognize the guilt he would accrue should he persist in calling for David’s death.
2. Apparently, God caused this appeal to hit home as "Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul vowed, ‘As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death’."
3. God inclined the heart of Saul to hear Jonathan – something that a peacemaker has to leave in the hands of God; they cannot prejudice their own minds against God’s sovereign involvement by presuming that the person "will not listen" to me.
4. Even though Jonathan was an "inferior" to Saul, he possessed a "moral authority" that carries a tremendous amount of weight.
5. As a result, "Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these words. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as formerly."
6. Jonathan appealed to Saul, reported to David, brought David and restored them together – a wonderful job of making peace between two people who were at odds but loved by him.
   
   
2. The Menace to Camaraderie – vv. 8-10
   
   
1. However, the prevailing reason Jonathan had used was no match for the depth of Saul’s spiritual instability.
2. When David fought again against the Philistines in tremendous loyalty to both Saul and Israel, it caused Saul’s inferiority and jealousy of David to be fanned once again into flame – "When there was war again, David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with great slaughter, so that they fled before him."
3. After David’s victory, as they were back at the palace, Saul became vexed once again because of his tremendous jealousy of David – "Now there was an evil spirit from the Lord on Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, and David was playing the harp with his hand."
1. Saul’s pride was eating at him and he lost his ability to control his own passion.
2. David, however, had humbled himself to return to doing exactly what he had done earlier – minister to Saul through his music.
4. However, God continues to protect David – "Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away out of Saul’s presence, so that he stick the spear into the wall."
5. David once again found himself willing to loyally serve Saul, but Saul was so corrupted by jealousy that he couldn’t stand David – but God protected him – "And David fled and escaped that night."
   
   

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