The last chapter closed with Saul personally pursuing David to Naioth but his plot
to kill David was prevented by the Spirit of God. He was overwhelmed by the
Spirit of God and prophesied. The question was asked if Saul was also a prophet.
His wicked intention was thwarted by God Himself. In this new chapter, David
had left Naioth of Ramah and came to Jonathan. This shows us that their
friendship was a genuine one. If not, he would not have come to Jonathan and
poured out his soul. We must not forget that he was speaking to the son of the
person who was seeking his life. Logically, for him to be fearful would be
natural. Yet his friendship with Jonathan was revealed through the tough times
he was facing. Our crisis has a way of showing who your true friends are.
Jonathan was indeed a friend born out of afflictions. One whom David could be honest
and not fear being betrayed. Do we have such a friend? More importantly, can we
be such a friend?
In
the account, we can detect that David was fearful of Saul. The latter had pursued
him so relentlessly. And David was not about to sit there quietly and allow him
to do whatever he wished. So here in his meet-up with Jonathan, he had some
hard questions for him. “What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my
sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?” David wasn’t seeking
answers, he was protesting to Jonathan. After he had done so much for the king,
the people and the country, and then to be treated like an arch enemy was
repulsive. Here we see David vehemently insisted on his innocence,
something that Jonathan himself knew very well. Remember in the conversation
Jonathan had with his father, recorded in 1 Samuel 19:5, Saul had pledged not
to harm David. But now he was breaking it without any just
cause. Apparently, Jonathan was not fully apprised of all that Saul
had done since his last conversation with David. This was seen in how he
responded to David, his good friend.
His response shows us how much he knew his father. So he assured David that his
father would not do anything without telling him. But David knew better. He was
at the brunt of all that Saul had done. So he said to him “Your
father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Do
not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’” David felt as if he was so
close to death. He protested his innocence and swore to the danger he was now
in. What David told Jonathan reveals how astutely he could read the
situation. He knew Jonathan had no part in this father’s wicked plan. He also
knew he could trust his friend to be reasonable. So here he was soliciting
Jonathan's assistance to help him deal with his father’s
scheme.
Frankness
and open conversation are the marks of true friends. There is no fear or pretense
in true friendship. How blessed it is for one to find such a friend. Such a
friendship takes time to cultivate. We should find a few and keep them. They
will help you in times of need. True friends are born out of afflictions. We
can identify them when we are facing a crisis. More than seeking a good friend,
let us be one ourselves.
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