Saul is Angry with Jonathan

I Samuel 20:24–42
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Things happened just as David had predicted as Saul became violently angry when David did not show for the feast of the New Moon. Jonathan tried to reason with his father as he had done a few weeks before (vv. 24-31). Saul, however, hurled his spear, narrowly missing his son. Jonathan knew now that David would never again be safe in Saul’s presence. He left the room in anger because of the way his mother and his best friend had been treated by Saul.

Jonathan fasted in grief over the treatment of David (vv. 32-34). The next morning under the pretext of practicing archery Jonathan went out into the field to keep his appointment with David. A little lad accompanied him. Jonathan carried out the prearranged signal with David because he feared that he might be watched. After the danger signal had been given, however, Jonathan threw caution to the wind. He gave his bow and quiver to the lad and sent him back to the city. David then came out of hiding. Both friends thought that this would be the last time they would ever see one another. David expressed gratitude to Jonathan by bowing three times to the ground. In eastern style the friends kissed one another and wept.

Then David and Jonathan went their separate ways (vv. 35-42). As far as can be determined, David was a young man of no more than 20 when all of this happened. He was forced to leave Saul’s palace and was driven to the wilderness of Judah. It appears that he spent approximately 10 years in this “Robin Hood” type of existence. Historians give this time frame because David was 30 when he began to rule over Judah (II Sam. 5:4), immediately after Saul’s death (II Sam. 2:10,11). During the days he was running from Saul he learned many lessons that would be useful as he became the king. All things were working together to prepare David to be the kind of leader who would glorify God and inspire His people (Rom. 8:28).

Application

What are some things that have been hard for me to go through in my life but have perhaps been preparing me to better serve God?  What is my reaction when I have to rely solely upon the Lord, rather than on the schemes of men? Have I thanked Him for these times? And how, am I putting these principles into practice for His glory?