1 Samuel 20:39
But the boy did not know anything; only Jonathan and David knew the arrangement.
Sermons
A Friendly Prince a Princely FriendH. E. Stone.1 Samuel 20:1-42
David and JonathanW. G. Blaikie, D. D.1 Samuel 20:1-42
David's Friend, JonathanMonday Club Sermons1 Samuel 20:32-42
An Obedient LadB. Dale 1 Samuel 20:35-40














1 Samuel 20:35-40. (THE STONE EZEL.)
(A word to the young.) Prince Jonathan went out into the country, by the stone Ezel, to practise archery of his famous bow (2 Samuel 1:18, 22), and took with him a lad, "a little lad" (ver. 35), to carry his arrows and gather them up after they had been shot at the mark. This lad -

1. Had learnt a great lesson, the first and most important lesson of life - obedience. He was a young soldier, and had learnt a soldier's chief duty. "Children, obey your parents" (Ephesians 6:1). "Servants, obey your masters" (Colossians 3:22). "Obey" your teachers (Hebrews 13:17). "Obey magistrates" (Titus 3:1).

2. Had learnt his lesson well. He did what he was told to do willingly, cheerfully, quickly ("make speed, haste, stay not"), fully, "without asking any questions."

3. Was very useful to his master. Though but a little lad, he could be of service to a prince and great hero.

4. Did a greater service than he was aware of. He was seen by David from his hiding place in the rock, and was useful to him as well as to Jonathan. "And the lad knew not anything" (ver. 39). In doing our duty One sees us whom we see not, and regards it as done to him.

5. Did not go unrewarded. He pleased his master, and would be more highly valued for this service and promoted to a higher position, for which it helped to prepare him.

6. Set a pattern of the kind of service we should render to God. "We ought to obey God" (Acts 5:29) above all. "Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth." - D.

And Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger.
I propose to enquire into the moral meaning of this incident; to see whether there is anything in it that applies to our own circumstances. I think it impossible to read this story without having the mind arrested as several points of unusual interest.

I. HERE IS THE SADDEST OF ALL SIGHTS — MAN ARRAYED AGAINST MAN. Not man against a savage beast; but man against his own kind.

II. HERE WE HAVE THE RUPTURE OF THE MOST SACRED BONDS. Who is it that is offended in this case? It is not a stranger; it is the son that rose in fierce anger, being grieved for David and ashamed of his own father. When fathers occupy their right positions, sons, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, will be likely to occupy theirs. A good example is never lost.

III. Here, too, is THE ASSERTION OF THE HIGHEST INSTINCT. What is it that asserts itself in this case? It is the spirit of right. Men that get up from dinner tables and say, "Not I am ashamed of your evil doing; and I will not taste your bread!" We, poor hounds, tarry at the trough and satisfy our appetites, and slake our thirst, but the man that is going out will save the world!

IV. HERE WE HAVE A DISPROOF OF A FAMILIAR PROVERB. The familiar proverb is, "Blood is thicker than water." Jonathan says, "Right is thicker than blood."

V. Here we have THE ESPOUSAL ON A NOBLE POLICY. What was the policy of Jonathan? He espoused the cause of right against might. David had no resources.

(J. Parker, D. D.)

People
Abner, David, Jesse, Jonathan, Saul
Places
Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Naioth, Ramah
Topics
Anything, Aware, Boy, David, Didn't, Idea, Jonathan, Lad, Matter, Nothing, Youth
Outline
1. David consults with Jonathan for his safety
11. Jonathan and David renew their covenant by oath
18. Jonathan's token to David
23. Saul, missing David, seeks to kill Jonathan
35. Jonathan affectionately takes his leave of David

Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Samuel 20:1-42

     5086   David, rise of

Library
Jonathan, the Pattern of Friendship
'And David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said before Jonathan, What have I done? what is mine iniquity? and what is my sin before thy father, that he seeketh my life? 2. And he said unto him, God forbid; thou shalt not die: behold, my father will do nothing either great or small, but that he will shew it me: and why should my father hide this thing from me? it is not so. 3. And David sware moreover, and said, Thy father certainly knoweth that I have found grace in thine eyes; and he saith,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Word for the Persecuted
Remember that this supposition is a very likely one. There are a few Christians so favourably circumstanced that all their friends accompany them in the pilgrimage to heaven. What advances they ought to make in the sacred journey! What excellent Christians they ought to be! They are like plants in a conservatory--they ought to grow and bring forth the loveliest Bowers of divine grace. But there are not very many who are altogether in that case. The large proportion of Christians find themselves opposed
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 20: 1874

How to Make Use of Christ for Steadfastness, in a Time when Truth is Oppressed and Borne Down.
When enemies are prevailing, and the way of truth is evil spoken of, many faint, and many turn aside, and do not plead for truth, nor stand up for the interest of Christ, in their hour and power of darkness: many are overcome with base fear, and either side with the workers of iniquity, or are not valiant for the truth, but being faint-hearted, turn back. Now the thoughts of this may put some who desire to stand fast, and to own him and his cause in a day of trial, to enquire how they shall make
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Samuel
Alike from the literary and the historical point of view, the book[1] of Samuel stands midway between the book of Judges and the book of Kings. As we have already seen, the Deuteronomic book of Judges in all probability ran into Samuel and ended in ch. xii.; while the story of David, begun in Samuel, embraces the first two chapters of the first book of Kings. The book of Samuel is not very happily named, as much of it is devoted to Saul and the greater part to David; yet it is not altogether inappropriate,
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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