Monday, February 17, 2014

Let us go out into the field

(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 20:9–23, “And Jonathan said, Far be it from thee: for if I knew certainly that evil were determined by my father to come upon thee, then would not I tell it thee? Then said David to Jonathan, Who shall tell me? or what if thy father answer thee roughly? And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. And Jonathan said unto David, O LORD God of Israel, when I have sounded my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; The LORD do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the LORD be with thee, as he hath been with my father. And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the LORD, that I die not: But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty. And when thou hast stayed three days, then thou shalt go down quickly, and come to the place where thou didst hide thyself when the business was in hand, and shalt remain by the stone Ezel. And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth. But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away. And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the LORD be between thee and me for ever.”

Jonathan was a loyal and godly many, he would never betray his friendship with David by seeking to ambush and kill his friend. He told David that king Saul would certainly have discussed any plan to kill David with him. David wanted to know if Jonathan could find out the king’s attitude to him. Jonathan didn’t want to discuss the issue with David in the palace or any other place where spies might hear their conversation so he suggested that they both go outside into the open fields. Jonathan promised David that he would sound his father out and find out the king’s attitude towards David and then he would come and let his friend know what was happening. Jonathan also knew that the Lord was with David and had left Saul so he asked David to promise him that their friendship would remain forever even if something happened to king Saul. David agreed with Jonathan that their friendship and care for each other should continue no matter what happened to either of them. These two men devised a plan whereby Jonathan could find out Saul’s attitude to David and then he could let David know in such a way as David would not be betrayed if anyone was secretly following him when the met again later.

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