July 17, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in 1 Samuel and Mark? Here’s today’s reading:
1 Samuel 20 (NIV)
David and Jonathan
1 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?”
2“Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know.…..Continue Reading
1 Samuel 20
There is quite a bit of intrigue in this chapter but the irrational anger of Saul and the love and covenant between Jonathan and David are highlighted. What a fine question that David asks at the beginning, what have I done wrong? Let’s make sure we don’t hold on to things that are unaddressed or aren’t based in behavior. Our own perception can be a dangerous thing in a case like that. And yet in the presence of that, David and Jonathan must make a plan to see what Saul’s mindset is to David. David’s willingness to give Saul a chance to act differently is noble on his part and Jonathan is brave to ask his father why he is mad at David. There is a lot of courage in confrontation especially when someone is unreasonable. We should make it easy for people to confront us and always be open to correction. Something Saul is not! But people like him just become consumed by their anger and jealousy. Jesus desires to free us from needing to be that way. How glorious His principles are in helping us manage ourselves and relationships!!
Saul’s anger toward David continues even though there is no clear reason he is holding on to this desire to see David dead other than his own selfish pride. Jonathan and David certainly have a special friendship and the lengths Jonathan is going for his friend is admirable.
1 Samuel 19 & 20
1 Samuel 20; Romans 13-14
1Samuel20
David and Jonathan were very good friends so Jonathan risked his life to save him from the one who intended to kill him. It must have been very difficult for him to choose giving loyalty to his father or loyalty to his friend. But Jonathan was kind, caring and wise. He wanted to do what was right, so he verified David’s accusation against his father and supported him when he found it to be true.
”For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.”“
I Samuel 20:31 NKJV
This is the crux of the matter, if David lives, Jonathan will never be king. Saul thinks he can change God’s will and plan. Samuel anointed David in Saul’s place at Gods direction. Makes me think of the verses that say God establishes kings and dethrones them. Looking through history we see man’s/satan’s plan to thwart God’s plan, but in the end satan fails and God wins.
1 Samuel 20
Saul could not stand that his son was faithful to David and tried to shame him. Jonathan stayed true to David. David was sent away ,unharmed!