1 Samuel 20:24 says, So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat. While Saul was sitting down to eat the feast, David was hidden in the field. Verse twenty-five adds, And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon a seat by the wall: and Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, and David’s place was empty. Jonathan and Abner were seated with Saul where they should have been, but David's seat was noticeably empty. I am sure that Saul wasn't the only one to notice this since people are often looking for reasons to gossip. We may not even realize it, but people are watching us as Christians today, both our fellow Christians and the lost people of the world. Too often both groups are watching us to see if they can find something to discredit us with. Verse twenty-six continues, Nevertheless Saul spake not any thing that day: for he thought, Something hath befallen him, he is not clean; surely he is not clean. Saul didn't say anything that David, believing that something had befallen David that prevented him from being there, such as doing something that would have made him spiritually unclean. This was a religious feast, so being spiritually unclean would have been a legitimate reason for David not to be there. If we are not at church functions today, we need to make certain that it is for spiritual reasons and not personal ones. Verse twenty-seven states, And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? The next day when David wasn't there, Saul asked Jonathan, who was David’s good friend, why the son of Jesse wasn't there. I don't know if Saul did not use David’s name to imply that they weren't that close or what, but the implication is there that this may have been the point. We can be certain that when people of the world are attempting to discredit Christians today they are going to attempt to make us seem as unimportant possible. To make a big deal of who we are would imply that what we think and who we are in relationship to God is important. Verse twenty-eight adds, And Jonathan answered Saul, David earnestly asked leave of me to go to Bethlehem: Jonathan then lied to his father who was also the king. He said David had earnestly asked permission to go to Bethlehem. I am not sure that we should ever lie to others about what our fellow believers may be up to, but if it is to keep them from being persecuted or killed, it might be justified. We would need to pray about this though instead of just doing it. In this case, it was a part of Jonathan's plan to find out Saul’s intentions toward David, so I believe it was justified. Verse twenty-nine continues, And he said, Let me go, I pray thee; for our family hath a sacrifice in the city; and my brother, he hath commanded me to be there: and now, if I have found favour in thine eyes, let me get away, I pray thee, and see my brethren. Therefore he cometh not unto the king’s table. Jonathan then continued with his story, saying David had asked him for permission to go to Bethlehem because his brother had asked him to come to a family sacrifice, and that David had ask to be allowed to go there if he had found favor in Jonathan's eyes. Of course, we might wonder why David was asking Jonathan instead of Saul for permission. Verse thirty says, Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness? Saul then became angry with Jonathan and unleashed a torrent of abuse on him. Saul called Jonathan an illigimant child who was rebellious because he had his mother's nature and not Saul's. Saul said Jonathan being more devoted to David than to Saul himself reflected badly to the world, even though Jonathan had been obedient to his father. We should not be surprised if at times people of the world lash out at Christians with a torrent of verbal abuse. Verse thirty-one adds, For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die. Saul then revealed his true feelings about David. He said as long as the son of Jesse, still not calling David by name even though he was his son-in-law, was alive that Jonathan would never inherit the kingdom. He then demanded that David be brought to him so he could be killed. I believe that if someone wishes to harm Christians today that eventually this intention will be revealed to those who are watching what is going on. Of course, if we are watching under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, it should become apparent more quickly. Verse thirty-two states, And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? Jonathan asked Saul what David had done to deserve to be destroyed, and we might ask the same question of those out to destroy Christians today. If we a truly living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then we will not be trying to destroy the lost people of the world but to reach them with the gospel. Verse thirty-three adds, And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David. In reply to Jonathan's question, Saul threw a javelin at him attempting to kill him as he had earlier attempted to kill David. Jonathan then knew that it was true that his father was attempting to kill David. Jonathan may not have believed David when he told him that Saul was trying to kill him, but he was willing to find out for himself, and he now had the proof. I don't know if Jonathan realized how much danger he was putting himself in, but I believe he would have still carried out his plan even if he did. When we stand up for a fellow Christian, we may not realize how much danger we are putting ourself in, but we still need to be willing to do it no matter what. Verse thirty-four continues, So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. Jonathan left the table without eating because he was grieved for David because his father had acted shamefully toward David. Sometimes, we may have to move away from our family because they are acting shamefully toward other Christians or even toward God Himself. Of course, if we do, we still need to be in prayer for them that they will come to a right relationship with God. Then, if they do, we can have a restored relationship with them.
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