1 Samuel 19:7-20:37And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan showed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past. 8And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him. 9And the evil spirit from the Lord was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand. 10And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 11Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. 12So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped. 13And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth. 14And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, He is sick. 15And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him. 16And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster. 17And Saul said unto Michal, Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul, He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee? 18So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth. 19And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah. 20And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. 21And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. 22Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah. 23And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. 24And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? 1And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will show it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. 3And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith, Let not Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved: but truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, there is but a step between me and death. (1 Samuel 19:7‑20:3).
Jonathan, as we have remarked before, figures to us a true Christian who loves the Lord, but does not want to follow the Lord in His rejection. Such a person tries to speak well of the Lord before the world, and for a time the world may listen, as Saul here, but sooner or later their enmity comes out. It cannot be hidden. Then the test comes as to whether we are prepared to go out “unto Him,... bearing His reproach.” This test was soon to come for Jonathan.
No sooner had David returned to Saul’s court, than war broke out again with the Philistines and David slew a great number of them. This stirred Saul’s envy and hatred again, and David had to flee for his life. In spite of the world’s fair promises, they are at enmity with God. They hate Christ, and this is not just the Christian’s opinion—it is the Word of God. The Lord Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.” John 15:1818If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. (John 15:18). Michal, David’s wife, helped David to get away, but she was Saul’s daughter, and one fears she did not go with him in her heart.
David then fled to Samuel at Ramah and told him all that Saul had done. When Saul heard that David was with Samuel, he sent messengers to take him, but when the messengers came, the power of the Spirit of God came upon them and they prophesied. Saul sent messengers three times to take David, but in each case they prophesied and did not take David captive. At last Saul himself came down, and he too came under the power of the Spirit of God and prophesied, but alas, to his own shame and nakedness. Poor Saul, his course now was steadily downward in spite of all his pretensions and profession. His life is a sad example of one who has profession without reality. What an awful thing this is! One feels there is much of it today too. There will be a terrible awakening when the Lord comes and the door is shut forever upon these enlightened lands of Christendom.
After this David went to Jonathan and asked him why his father hated him so, but Jonathan still would not believe that his father really sought David’s life, and he tried to comfort David. He said that his father would not kill him without telling him (Jonathan) about his plans. David told Jonathan that his father knew of the friendship between them and therefore did not tell him of his plans. Jonathan again reminds us of a worldly Christian who does not believe the real enmity of the, world, but tries to keep on good terms with it, yet loving the Lord and wanting to enjoy His company too. This is an impossibility and only ends in dishonor to the Lord, for He has said, “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be.” John 12:2626If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor. (John 12:26). Happy privilege to be where He is, for no man can serve two masters!
David then asked Jonathan to find out exactly how Saul felt toward him. He knew, but he wanted Jonathan to see for himself. There is nothing like talking about the Lord Jesus Christ to others, to find out just where they stand. It soon comes out. The world will have the Christian’s company only if he does not talk of Christ. If he talks about Him, they soon let him alone. Christ is still the rejected One.
ML 10/31/1954