Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Carry them to the city

(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
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1 Samuel 20:35–42, “And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. But the lad knew not any thing: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city. And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed himself three times: and they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded. And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.”

After Jonathan discovered his father’s true intentions, he chose to be loyal to David rather than Saul. He went out into the countryside and followed the plan that he had made with David. Because Jonathan was a senior leader in the army he had a young boy to come with him and look after his equipment. Jonathan was also an archer so he wanted to test his bow and the arrows. Each arrow that was used in practice had to be retrieved and kept for future use so Jonathan shot at the target he had in mind and then sent the boy to get the arrows. When the boy returned with the arrows, Jonathan gave the boy his bow and told him to return to the city. David understood the meaning of Jonathan signal so he came out of hiding to meet Jonathan and say his farewell. These men had developed a very strong relationship of mutual admiration from the times that they had fought in battle together so this goodbye was very difficult. They renewed the promise they had made to respect and keep each other and their families for as long as they both lived.

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