20:1-2 David quietly leaves Ramah to meet with Jonathan. At this point, David is reasonably convinced that Saul wants to kill him but he does not understand why. But when David asks Jonathan what the reason is, Jonathan does not know. Jonathan does not want to believe that his father is trying to kill David; he is baffled and terrified at the prospect. As his eldest son and leader in his army, Saul confides all intelligence and plans to Jonathan, or so Jonathan thinks.
20:3 David explains that Saul has kept his attempts at David's life from Jonathan because of their friendship. Saul knows that Jonathan would never agree or allow David to be killed. The possibility that his own father would ever kill his best friend never crossed Jonathan's mind, but David, having survived attempted murder no longer has any doubts.
20:4 Jonathan remains loyal to David, he promises to help him in any way that he can.
20:5-7 David devises a plan: he will skip the feast he is supposed to attend with Saul. He tells Jonathan to explain to his father that David is absent because he wished to present the yearly sacrifice with his family. If Saul's reaction is peaceful acceptance, David's suspicions are wrong. But if Saul reacts with anger, it will reveal is malignant intentions - for is David is absent, Saul's plot to kill him will have been thwarted.
20:8 David tells Jonathan frankly: If I am guilty of anything, kill me yourself. David is willing to accept a fair accusation but he knows that he is innocent. He wants Jonathan to understand that he is not abusing the friendship by asking absolution from guilt.
20:9 Jonathan is already confident that David is innocent. They have served and fought together. They have grown together. They know each other and each other's love for God. Jonathan does not doubt that David is innocent but he does doubt that his father is evil. This plan will reveal the truth of the latter.
20:10-13 Jonathan promises to get the truth out of his father and report back to David.
20:14-16 His wish though, is that should Saul truly hate David, there not be animosity between David's family and Jonathan. Jonathan knows that God is with David and therefore knows that God is against David's enemies.
20:17 It is not out of self-preservation but true friendship that Jonathan wishes to remain in good graces with his David. Jonathan loves David as God wishes us all to love each other: selflessly, honorably, righteously. David is innocent and no flesh-alliances will deter him from preserving and protecting David's character and life.
20:18-22 Jonathan explains to David that he will send signal by arrows. If David finds three arrows in the target, it is true that Saul wishes to kill him and he should flee.
20:23 Before parting, Jonathan prays that God will remain between them forever. If Jonathan finds his father to be dastardly after all, Jonathan does not want to lose his friend because of it. Jonathan has always loved God and knows that if there is any hope for the preservation of their friendship, it will come from God.
20:24-27 The first day of the feast, Saul notices David's absence but says nothing, assuming that David will come the next day. On the second day, David is still absent and Saul inquires after him.
20:28-29 Following the plan, Jonathan tells Saul that David wished to be with his family during the feast.
20:30-31 Saul's anger explodes against Jonathan! He insults him, accuses him of betrayal and takes away his inheritance. Moreover, he declares his intention to kill David and commands that David be brought to him.
Saul's grip on power and honor is tenuous. He can see his influence and kingdom being taken away. Greed and paranoia consume Saul. He orders an innocent man to be killed... but more than that, a man who has done much for Saul and always honorably.
20:32-33 Jonathan asks his father why he wants to kill David, pointing out that David is innocent... even asking what David could have possibly done. In response, Saul attempts to kill Jonathan. Suddenly it becomes very clear to Jonathan that his father has become unhinged and David's life is indeed at risk.
Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11 explains to us that these events were written for us to learn from. Saul abandoned his humility and righteousness. Saul decided that instead of serving God, he would rather serve his greed. Humans are vulnerable; our bodies, minds and spirits are vulnerable enslavement. God offers to take control, to protect us from the reign and thumb of violent men and corrupt ideologies. But if we will not submit to God, we become the victims of such noxious men and ideologies. Saul has chosen to be a slave to his desire. He's paranoid of losing it. He has no contentment because material wealth and control never bring it.
So it's up to each of us to ask ourselves: who is the master of my life? Because if it's not God, it's something/someone who is harmful to you. What we serve reveals our heart, the condition of our path and the destination of our lives. We must never follow anything that disallows us to see natural and spiritual wonder, understand purpose or experience God's love.
How do we uncover what it is that we serve? Well, we ask ourselves: What do I spent most of my time doing? What are my intentions? What do I pursue? Do my actions align with the advice written in these pages?
Moreover Saul evidences the truth of God's warnings - a man king would corrupt his subjects. Saul is ordering men to capture and kill an innocent man, a man they have served with and liked, and it is their duty to obey. God, as leader of the children of Israel, never commanded them to do any harm against innocents.
The world knows nothing but kings and leaders and presidents and prime ministers and so forth now. But God was once our only king, has always been the True King and offers to rule again over each life. He inevitably will again rule over each life. Above all else, pursue Him. Serve Him. Let intentions and motivations be aligned with His purpose. And spend a lifetime learning from and listening to Him.
20:34 Jonathan loses his appetite and leaves in anger. He will not partake with his father, for his father does not offer anything nutritious. Symbolically, Jonathan will not dine with unrighteousness. If it is not righteous, he chooses to abstain. That is dedication and commitment to God. To David. To loyalty.
20:35-40 Jonathan communicates to David that Saul indeed seeks to kill him.
20:-41-42 David and Jonathan weep at the circumstances. Evil has always caused so much unnecessary pain. Greed and vengeance, spawn of evil, create disasters. In the middle of one, Jonathan and David say goodbye to each other. David must flee. First though, the reiterate their trust in God.
