May 24, 2020. I Samuel 20:35-42

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DAWN DEPARTURE. I SAMUEL 20:35-42. 5/24/20 PM. #66.

1 Samuel 20:35-42 [New King James Version (NKJV)]

³⁵ And so it was, in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad was with him. ³⁶ Then he said to his lad, “Now run, find the arrows which I shoot.” As the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. ³⁷ When the lad had come to the place where the arrow was which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried out after the lad and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” ³⁸ And Jonathan cried out after the lad, “Make haste, hurry, do not delay!” So Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows and came back to his master. ³⁹ But the lad did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew of the matter. ⁴⁰ Then Jonathan gave his weapons to his lad, and said to him, “Go, carry them to  the city.” ⁴¹ As soon as the lad had gone, David arose from a place toward the south, fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times. And they kissed one another; and they wept together, but David more so. ⁴² Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’ ” So he arose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

• A gloomy dawn
  • Jonathan knows that Saul plans to kill David
    • He awakes the next morning with task of telling David
    • Jonathan and his servant boy go to field near Ezel Rock  
  • The boy believes that Jonathan simply wants to shoot some arrows
    • Jonathan shoots arrows beyond the running boy
    • The “beyond you” signal is given to David so he knows all
  • David could not have been surprised at the revelation
    • Jonathan had all night to ponder the situation
    • By morning Jonathan is resigned to the finality of the situation
  • After the boy retrieves the arrows, Jonathan sends him “back to town” with his bow, arrows, and quiver (Jonathan knows what needed to be done)
• Last Call
  • David emerges from behind Ezel Rock
    • He is distraught and grieving
    • David knows that he must say goodbye and run for his life
  • David approaches Jonathan, stopping @ intervals to bow prostate on the ground three times
    • Homage to the prince and show of gratitude to his friend
    • Acknowledging and submitting to Jonathan’s superior position
    • Genesis 33:3-4 Jacob bowed 7 times to Esau @ Gilead
    • As Jacob was destined to supersede Esau, so David is destined to greatly supersede Jonathon
    • The homage is a sign of David’s respect and friendship
  • David’s grief exceeds Jonathan’s grief
    • Jonathan is resigned to both the parting and his future fate
    • His grief is as real as David’s but tempered by resignation
    • Resignation to reality allows us to move forward with our lives while still grieving (still much left to do)
    • Jonathan’s main concern is David’s safety (he can’t afford to focus on his grief while David is in harm’s way)
  • David’s grief ran deeper due to many more concerns
    • Separation from his friend, Jonathan
    • Separation from his family
    • A fugitive with a death sentence from the king
    • David will be hunted as long as Saul lived
    • Separation from his wife
    • Loss of palace life, prestige, and command of troops
  • They weep and grieve, and prepare to separate before discovered
• The new normal
  • Jonathan has to prepare David for the new reality
    • David must focus on survival and not his grief
    • After a loss we can’t be neutralized (must still live)
    • Focus on living must override temptation to quit and stew
  • Self-pity and bitterness insure a slow agonizing death + harm to others
  • Grief must be turned to determination to live triumphantly in Lord
  • David and Jonathan renew vows of perpetual friendship
    • Ongoing friendship between the two families
    • Affirms that God is a witness between and guardian over ea.
    • Jonathan as prince sends David away in peace and safety
  • To occupy until the Lord comes (Luke 19:13) means to continue to do the Lord’s work until our task is done no matter the obstacles and pain
    • Elijah leaves Elijah, Moses leaves Joshua, Jesus leaves disciples, Paul leaves Timothy…
    • Grief is a heartache that only faithful living can console
  • Jonathan “goes back to town” to finish his course for God as David leaves