1Sa 19:4 | KingComments | STEP | We see in Saul and Jonathan a great contrast between two people in their attitude toward David. This speaks of the relationship that every human being has with Christ. It is for or against Him. The relationship to Christ is all-determining for the present and the future. The division this causes runs through families ( ). Saul speaks openly for the first time about killing David ( ). It is not now during an outburst of anger, but deliberate. He tells Jonathan and all his servants about his intention. In this company David has only one friend: Jonathan. The servants seem to symbolize the silent majority. They are neither for David nor against him. They do not have their own opinion but go along with the party that offers them the most benefits. There is a certain esteem with them for David, of which Saul is also aware ( ), but they do not speak openly for him, like Jonathan. Jonathan is “greatly delighted in David”. Saul seems to have forgotten this. He will think that Jonathan is as afraid of his position as he is and will therefore benefit from killing David. But Jonathan informs David of the intentions of his father and urges him to exercise caution. He also informs him that he will let him know what his father really intends to do. He does not urge David to flee but seeks an opportunity to have him return to his father’s court. Despite all the difficulties there still is David’s place. In what Jonathan says in of David, we can almost hear the Christian speak of a fellow believer and of Christ. It is good to be a friend who speaks well of a friend. Above all, it is good to speak well of the Lord Jesus before the ears of the world. The first thing Jonathan says is that Saul, as king, should not be tempted to sin against David. He may only kill David if sin is found in him. But, Jonathan testifies, David has not sinned against the king. On the contrary, he has done what has been “very beneficial” for him. Jonathan reminds his father of David’s victory over Goliath, taking his life in his hand (cf. ). That victory the LORD has given and has been beneficial to all Israel. Saul saw it himself and rejoiced. Jonathan’s testimony to Saul shows how much David is a servant of the LORD and not just of Saul. David is hated without cause, as was and is the case with the Lord Jesus. The natural man can sometimes admire the Lord Jesus for His deeds. But if he does not choose Him, he hates Him and also all who are in connection with Him. Jonathan concludes his plea with an appeal to Saul’s common sense. There is no reason to kill David, he is innocent. Therefore, Saul must refrain from killing David, otherwise he will shed innocent blood. The heart of Saul is getting soft and he reinstates David, just as before. It characterizes David that he returns to the court of Saul. This can only be done by someone who lives with and for the LORD and not for the eyes of men. There is no resentment or revenge on his part. Despite all the injustice done to him and the permanent threat of death, David returns to perform his humble service with an intractable king. Each time we find such moments of the becoming soft of the heart of Saul ( ). Each time it turns out to be only a transient condition and not the conviction of his heart. His jealousy for David remains and with it his hatred and his attempts to kill him. David remains for him the competitor of his throne, from which he does not want to renounce. David escapes being killed by Saul four times in this chapter alone. First through the intervention of Jonathan. Next time by his own speed to dodge the spear Saul throws at him ( ). The third time by the help of Michal ( ) and the fourth time by the protection of Samuel ( ).

‏ 1 Samuel 19:4

Jonathan Pleads for David

We see in Saul and Jonathan a great contrast between two people in their attitude toward David. This speaks of the relationship that every human being has with Christ. It is for or against Him. The relationship to Christ is all-determining for the present and the future. The division this causes runs through families (Lk 12:51-53).

Saul speaks openly for the first time about killing David (1Sam 19:1). It is not now during an outburst of anger, but deliberate. He tells Jonathan and all his servants about his intention. In this company David has only one friend: Jonathan. The servants seem to symbolize the silent majority. They are neither for David nor against him. They do not have their own opinion but go along with the party that offers them the most benefits. There is a certain esteem with them for David, of which Saul is also aware (1Sam 18:5 ; 22), but they do not speak openly for him, like Jonathan.

Jonathan is “greatly delighted in David”. Saul seems to have forgotten this. He will think that Jonathan is as afraid of his position as he is and will therefore benefit from killing David. But Jonathan informs David of the intentions of his father and urges him to exercise caution. He also informs him that he will let him know what his father really intends to do. He does not urge David to flee but seeks an opportunity to have him return to his father’s court. Despite all the difficulties there still is David’s place.

In what Jonathan says in 1Sam 19:4-5 of David, we can almost hear the Christian speak of a fellow believer and of Christ. It is good to be a friend who speaks well of a friend. Above all, it is good to speak well of the Lord Jesus before the ears of the world.

The first thing Jonathan says is that Saul, as king, should not be tempted to sin against David. He may only kill David if sin is found in him. But, Jonathan testifies, David has not sinned against the king. On the contrary, he has done what has been “very beneficial” for him. Jonathan reminds his father of David’s victory over Goliath, taking his life in his hand (cf. Jdg 12:3). That victory the LORD has given and has been beneficial to all Israel. Saul saw it himself and rejoiced.

Jonathan’s testimony to Saul shows how much David is a servant of the LORD and not just of Saul. David is hated without cause, as was and is the case with the Lord Jesus. The natural man can sometimes admire the Lord Jesus for His deeds. But if he does not choose Him, he hates Him and also all who are in connection with Him.

Jonathan concludes his plea with an appeal to Saul’s common sense. There is no reason to kill David, he is innocent. Therefore, Saul must refrain from killing David, otherwise he will shed innocent blood.

The heart of Saul is getting soft and he reinstates David, just as before. It characterizes David that he returns to the court of Saul. This can only be done by someone who lives with and for the LORD and not for the eyes of men. There is no resentment or revenge on his part. Despite all the injustice done to him and the permanent threat of death, David returns to perform his humble service with an intractable king.

Each time we find such moments of the becoming soft of the heart of Saul (1Sam 24:7 ; 1Sam 26:21). Each time it turns out to be only a transient condition and not the conviction of his heart. His jealousy for David remains and with it his hatred and his attempts to kill him. David remains for him the competitor of his throne, from which he does not want to renounce.

David escapes being killed by Saul four times in this chapter alone. First through the intervention of Jonathan. Next time by his own speed to dodge the spear Saul throws at him (1Sam 19:10). The third time by the help of Michal (1Sam 19:12) and the fourth time by the protection of Samuel (1Sam 19:23).