David escaped from Prophets Village. Then he ran to see Jonathan and asked, "Why does your father Saul want to kill me? What have I done wrong?" “My father can't be trying to kill you! He never does anything without telling me about it. Why would he hide this from me? It can't be true!" “Jonathan, I swear it's true! But your father knows how much you like me, and he didn't want to break your heart. That's why he didn't tell you. I swear by the living LORD and by your own life that I'm only one step ahead of death."  Then Jonathan said, "Tell me what to do, and I'll do it."  David answered: Tomorrow is the New Moon Festival, and I'm supposed to eat dinner with your father. But instead, I'll hide in a field until the evening of the next day.  If Saul wonders where I am, tell him, "David asked me to let him go to his hometown of Bethlehem, so he could take part in a sacrifice his family makes there every year." If your father says it's all right, then I'm safe. But if he gets angry, you'll know he wants to harm me.  Be kind to me. After all, it was your idea to promise the LORD that we would always be loyal friends. If I've done anything wrong, kill me yourself, but don't hand me over to your father.  “Don't worry," Jonathan said. "If I find out that my father wants to kill you, I'll certainly let you know." (I Sa. 20:1-9-CEV)

 

As I read the previous chapter of I Samuel to get an understanding of the content, I began to understand the desire that Jonathan had in his heart for David. In the previous chapter, Jonathan pleaded with his father Saul to allow David to come back and fellowship with them because he had done nothing wrong, he had only killed the Philistine which was necessary. Saul did agree and allowed David to come back and sit among them.

 

He further stated; So Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, “As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed.” (1 Sam: 19: 6-NLT) In my desire to find out what changed that, I read; But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the LORD suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall, he fled and escaped into the night (1Sam: 19: 9-10-NLT) Now, I still wrestle with that verse, simply because it is my belief that evil spirits do not come from the Lord.  However, this spirit possessed Saul so much that he once again wanted David killed. 

 

As we read in the above scriptures, Jonathan wanted David to live, so it is again my belief that God had to give Jonathan that desire to spare the life of his friend, even from his own father.  What desires are in our heart from the Lord that we are not willing to fulfill?  Regardless of the opposition that we may encounter from family, friends or loved ones, we must fulfill the desires that God has given us.  If we take a look at the verse “My father can't be trying to kill you! He never does anything without telling me about it. Why would he hide this from me? It can't be true!" 1Sam: 20: 2-CEV)

Jonathan is in disbelief that his father would once again desire to kill David and not tell him about it.  Sometimes the desires that God will allow will not always make sense to others. Jonathan heard his father when he made the statement not to kill David, yet now his friend is telling him that he is seeking his life.  I can only imagine the struggle that Jonathan felt in his spirit as he wrestled with the positive and negative of the circumstance he was facing.  Who should he believe?  Saul was his father and David his friend.  There was before him a choice to be made that only God could give him the right direction.  Finally, David came up with a plan and Jonathan asked: Then Jonathan said, "Tell me what to do, and I'll do it." (1 Sam: 20:4 – CEV)

That decision can only come from God for you and me so we can trust what our friend says about our father and risk our relationship, rather than to take our father’s word. 

 

Only Christ can give us the desire to stand against whatever wrong our mother’s and father’s or family members when they are coming against the will of God.  It is a difficult situation to have to turn your back on family, friends and loved one for the truth and what is right in the eyesight of God.  However, God can, will and does give us the desire, direction and anointing to do so, just as he did for David.  It is up to us to make the wisest choices.

 

Each of us must remember, only what we do for Christ will last.  Sometimes, our choices will not make sense to others, however, our desires should always be to please our Savior.