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DAVID AND JONATHAN MADE PLANS TO COMMUNICATE
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30
1 Samuel 20

Psalm 1

 

“Blessed is the man
that walketh not in the

counsel of the ungodly…”

 

DAVID AND JONATHAN MADE PLANS TO COMMUNICATE
 
David and Jonathan went to the field and made plans on how they would converse. Jonathan prayed to the Lord God of Israel, and told David that he would seek to learn from his father how he would respond regarding David. He would then send word to David. He again invoked the name of the Lord in making his promise to David. He wished him the presence of the Lord. He also asked David to show Saul the kindness of the Lord while he still lived. Having said this, Jonathan caused David to swear again because he loved him as he loved his own soul. It was a solemn moment for them, and they were of the same mind.
 
David and Jonathan agreed to meet after three days by the stone Ezel. They devised and agreed on a coded message according to Jonathan’s plan. This was the message: “And I will shoot three arrows on the side thereof, as though I shot at a mark. And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the LORD liveth. But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the LORD hath sent thee away” (1 Sam 20:20-22). Jonathan stressed that only the Lord was between them in their covenant. Thereafter, David went his way and hid in the field.
 
Jonathan was a leader in his own right, and above this, he feared the Lord. His conduct in this matter revealed his heart. He was a man of war, and the use of coded messages in times of conflict was part of his training. He was also a principled person, so that he was able to defy his father in an important decision. Though it pleased the Lord to take the throne of the nation from him and give it to David, he was entirely satisfied with the Lord’s decision. He reacted wisely and took everything with a heart of humility.
 
THOUGHT: Godly leadership requires one to stand by the truth always.

PRAYER: Father, may my conduct be ever truthful and examplary.

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