David and Jonathan’s Covenant Friendship
David and Jonathan: 20:1-42. Jonathan finally realizes that Saul is determined to kill David. In Gibeah, he angrily confronts his father. Then, Jonathan, a truly admirable individual, carries a promised warning to David. The two swear everlasting friendship in the Lord’s name, and each makes a commitment to care for the other’s descendants (42) whichever of them survives.
–> The covenant relationship described in this chapter applies to all types of our relationship with each other. The Lord be between thee and me forever, says Jonathan. Without having the Lord between us, our relationships get ruined even the relationship between a parent and a child like the one between Saul and Jonathan in contrast to the relationship between David and Jonathan.
11 And Jonathan said unto David, Come, and let us go out into the field. And they went out both of them into the field. 12 And Jonathan said unto David, O Lord God of Israel, when I have sounded [3] my father about to morrow any time, or the third day, and, behold, if there be good toward David, and I then send not unto thee, and shew it thee; 13 The Lord do so and much more to Jonathan: but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew [4] it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace: and the Lord be with thee, as he hath been with my father. 14 And thou shalt not only while yet I live shew me the kindness of the Lord, that I die not: 15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the Lord hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth. 16 So Jonathan made [5] a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David’s enemies. 17 And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul.
23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever.
42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.
