Deeper Reflection
JONATHAN CARRIED OUT David’s plan to test if Saul was indeed seeking for his life as David believed (vv.5-8, 24-34). The test situation was the monthly royal dinner which Saul expected David to be present. On the first day, Saul noticed David’s absence. But he surmised that David was ritually unclean and therefore unfit to partake (vv.24-26). When David was absent on the second day, Saul asked of Jonathan the whereabouts of David (v.27). Jonathan passed on to Saul David’s excuse, as David had requested, which incurred Saul’s “anger” (vv.28-30). Jonathan’s covenant commitment to David to defend and protect him for his future kingship was costly. It was costly in three ways. Firstly, Jonathan’s prospect of becoming king, which Saul knew that it was Jonathan’s choice – “you are choosing the son of Jesse” (vv.30-31). Jonathan’s “stupidity” is but the wisdom and power of God – the way of the cross (1 Cor 1:23-24) –
which “the rulers of this age” cannot understand (1 Cor 2:8). Secondly, the great humiliation from his father for his “stupid” choice: “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!” (v.30). Thirdly, Jonathan narrowly missed death from his father’s spear (v.33). True love is marked by giving up one’s life for another (Jn 15:13). God’s love is “loved and gave up” (Jn 3:16; Gal 2:20; Eph 5:2, 25). When David was “dishonoured” by Saul, Jonathan was “grieved” in righteous “fierce anger” (v.34).