Old Testament: 1Sa 20.2–4

To read the Bible in a year, read First Samuel 19–21 on April 16, In the year of our Lord Christ 2023

By Don Ruhl 

Jonathan was the son of the king of Israel. Therefore, David should have served him, but listen to this exchange between the two and see Jonathan’s willingness to serve David: 

So Jonathan said to him, “By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!” Then David took an oath again, and said, “Your father certainly knows that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” So Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you.”

– 1 Samuel 20.2–4 

David gets the attention in the story, but Jonathan helped his friend whom he knew would become king one day. Jonathan was a humble man, always in support of his good friend David. 

Questions: 

• Why did David believe that Saul was keeping his plans from Jonathan? 
• For what people are you willing to do anything? 

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