I spent much of my time with the other servants of Jonathan when I was not in his company. During that time, I would question the other servants about their knowledge of David. After talking to many of the servants, I discovered the most likely place David would have gone was to seek refuge with the prophet Samuel at Naioth in Ramah. I went immediately to my king and reported, "Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah."
Right away King Saul sent a company of messengers to capture David. I never heard what happened to those servants of my king; I assumed that they must have found and captured David. But the next day, while I was waiting on Jonathan, David appeared before Jonathan in his house! David questioned Jonathan with concern, "What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life? Truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.”
Jonathan, who did not seem at all surprised at David's coming, but was distressed by his anger, lovingly answered him, "Far from it! If I knew that it was determined by my father that harm should come to you, would I not tell you? Whatever you say, I will do for you!" Then Jonathan looked at me and said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field."
I followed at a distance keeping myself hidden from his sight. He went out of the city toward the fields. I could not get close enough without being seen to hear what they said.
As I sat there watching Jonathan and David talking, I recognized what I just witnessed was an amazing act of Yahweh. Remembering all the things Jonathan had told me about the character of David, I recalled what I heard with bitterness a few weeks before. Jonathan had told me that Yahweh had rejected Saul and his line as kings because of Saul's disobedience to Yahweh and chosen someone else to be king over His people. That person was David. I know now that Yahweh was using Jonathan's trust in Him to protect His anointed one. I realized my foolishness in trying to destroy this man's life.
I turned and went back to the city; no longer could I report to King Saul to disclose to him what I knew about David. Now I could not bring information to the king so that he could harm the one Yahweh had chosen. As I went about my duties the rest of the day I thought of the selflessness and humility of Jonathan. He had seen Yahweh's choice and did not oppose it but rather submitted to Yahweh by loyally dedicating his life to his friend, Yahweh's chosen king, David.
The next day was the feast of the new moon. I was terrified again, as I was when I plotted against David with Saul. But I was not terrified because of my guilt; I was terrified for David's sake. Saul would surely try to kill him; I knew the king's character. To my relief, when I came in to attend Jonathan, David was not there. I rejoiced that the king would have no chance to harm David today. But the feast was three days long. Surely David would be there the next night. If David was not at the feast, the king would suspect something. The king said nothing about David during the feast. The next day, I again entered terrified; David was not there again. I now feared for Jonathan, blame would come on him. King Saul inquired of Jonathan why David was not there. Jonathan explained that David had requested leave because of a certain sacrifice his clan held at this time. I could see the murderous anger of King Saul about to burst forth.
Jonathan could too, so he asked his father, "Why should David be put to death? What has he done?" I saw the king reaching for something but could not tell what. Then I saw the swift flight of a spear flying toward Jonathan. The spear missed him and struck firm into the wall. Jonathan rose. I could see the pain in his eyes; he saw the pride of his father, pursuing a kingdom he was no longer called to be king over—Saul, rejected by Yahweh and refusing His authority. Jonathan turned and left the banquet hall. I could not stay in the hall hearing the anger of the king against his son and against the chosen one of Yahweh.
I followed Jonathan. When he saw me, he called me to himself and asked me to come gather his arrows while he practiced his archery. Why did he need to practice his archery now? I thought perhaps he just needed to do something to calm his outrage. We went out of the city toward the stone heap in the fields where he and David had met only two days earlier. He shot toward it, but I did not see where his arrows landed. I went out to look for them and he directed me. "Look! They are beyond you. Find them then go back to the city." I was surprised at this, that he would send me away so soon, but I could see he was upset and thought he needed time to calm his anger. I found the arrows and returned to Jonathan to collect his bow and quiver from him and then returned to the city as he commanded.
From that time on King Saul was in constant pursuit of David whom he had heard fled to the wilderness. Being in the service of Jonathan I never went on the raids. I am grateful that I am no longer in the service of one who would force me to go on raids against the one whom Yahweh had chosen.
Since that feast we have only had one opportunity to assist David. David was camped in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh when Jonathan went to encourage David. Jonathan reassured David, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father will not find you. You will be king over Israel.” Because the king was coming to attack David, we could only spend a short time strengthening David and his men. Jonathan is still loyally devoted to serving Yahweh's chosen.
It has been years since I entered service with King Saul and Jonathan. Years since I saw Yahweh's plan for Israel's king. We only have heard rumors that David lives among the Philistines. And today we are encamped on at Mount Gilboa. The battle lines are drawn against the Philistines. Only Yahweh knows what the outcome of this battle will be. Whether we will win the battle or not, I don't know. But I must write this record of how Yahweh has used Jonathan to teach me obedience, trust, selflessness, and humility.
Based on the biblical account in 1 Samuel 18-31.
