1 Samuel - Odessa, Missouri Community of Christ

82 Dr. Constable's Notes on 1 Samuel 2007 Editionwould fail to achieve the purpose for which he had been born, in Saul's way of thinking(v. 31). Saul perceived David as a threat to his continuing dynasty, not just to his personalrule. Clearly Saul was rejecting and opposing God's will that his reign and his dynastywould not endure. Saul said he would kill David so David could not do what God hadsaid He would do.Jonathan's ambitions were not the same as Saul's. He wanted God's will to succeed morethan he wanted to become Israel's king. Therefore he interceded for David again (v. 32;cf. 19:4). Saul, exasperated by what he interpreted as Jonathan's selfless folly, tried toexecute David's advocate as he had formerly tried to kill David himself (v. 33; cf. 18:11;19:10). This brush with death finally convinced Jonathan that David had been right aboutSaul's intentions after all (cf. v. 3). It also convinced him to get out of the king's presence.Jonathan departed in hot anger because of Saul's attitude toward David and because ofSaul's attitude toward himself. Saul had said David would not allow Jonathan to rule, butSaul himself almost prevented that from happening by attacking the crown prince.Jonathan's departure from Saul's table symbolized his departure from his father'sfellowship.David's final departure from Gibeah 20:35-42The next morning Jonathan proceeded to communicate Saul's intentions to David in theway they had previously planned. Jonathan probably used a very young boy as his arrowretriever so the lad would not ask embarrassing questions or figure out what washappening. God permitted David and Jonathan to say good-bye face to face. They hadanticipated that such a parting might be impossible. David gave proper respect toJonathan as the king's son even though they were best friends (v. 41). Saul's rebellionagainst God's will had made their companionship impossible. They parted remindingthemselves of the commitments they had made to each other and to their descendants (v.42; cf. vv. 16, 23; 2 Sam. 9). David and Jonathan decided not to see each other again fortheir mutual protection (but cf. 23:16-18).This chapter reveals that both Saul and Jonathan realized that David was the Lord'sanointed who would one day replace Saul. However, their responses to this situation wereopposite because their desires were opposite. Saul wanted to see his own plans fulfilled,but Jonathan wanted to see God's will done. Jonathan ended up choosing David, hisnatural rival, in preference over Saul, his natural father. His sister Michal had made thesame choice. David later kept his covenant with Jonathan (2 Sam. 9:1) showing that hewas a covenant-keeping individual similar to Yahweh. This is another evidence thatDavid was a man after God's own heart (13:14).The main character in this pericope is Jonathan. His attitude to God's will contrastspositively with Saul's attitude. Rather than opposing God's will and His anointed, as Sauldid, Jonathan humbled himself before God's will and supported the Lord's anointed,David. Jonathan faced a terrible tension since Saul's attitude divided Jonathan's loyalty.He solved this problem by putting God's will first. He submitted to the domestic authorityof his father and to the civil authority of his king by obeying Saul except when obedienceto Saul conflicted with obedience to God (cf. 1 Pet. 2:13-17).