ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Monite Tisema 20, 2021

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David

na‘e fai ‘e Sonatane ha fuakava mo e fale ‘o Tēvita

 

1 Samiuela 20 (1 Samuel 20)

(v. 14-17) Pea kapau te u mo‘ui atu, te ke fai kiate au ‘a e ‘ofa ‘a Sihova; pea kapau te u mate, ‘e ‘ikai te u tu‘usi ho‘o ‘ofa mei hoku fale, ‘o ta‘engata: neongo kuo tu‘usi ‘e Sihova ‘a e ngaahi fili ‘o Tēvita mei he funga ‘o māmani, ‘o fakafo‘itangata. Ko ia, na‘e fai ‘e Sonatane ha fuakava mo e fale ‘o Tēvita, he‘ene pehē, Ke ‘eke ia ‘e Sihova mei he nima ‘o e ngaahi fili ‘o Tēvita. Pea toe fakafuakava ‘e Sonatane ‘a Tēvita, ‘i he‘ene ‘ofa kiate ia; he na‘a ne ‘ofa kiate ia ‘o hangē ko ‘ene mo‘ui ‘a‘ana.

(v. 14-17) And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die; but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “Let the Lord require it at the hand of David’s enemies.” Now Jonathan again caused David to vow, because he loved him; for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Saul’s enmity toward David grew, while the friendship between Jonathan and David increased. Saul did all in his power to set both Jonathan and the people against David. He even went so far as to charge them to slay David.

For a while he was persuaded by Jonathan to cease his unholy persecution of David. However, the underlying enmity quickly broke out again, and this time in a direct attempt on David's life.

These were indeed days of bitter testing for the young man anointed to the kingly office, and it was perfectly natural that in the stress and strain of such experiences he should flee to Samuel.

Here he was protected by direct divine intervention of the most remarkable kind. Three companies of Saul's messengers, and at last Sad himself, journeying with the express purpose of capturing David, were taken possession of by the Spirit of God and compelled to prophesy.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for 1 Samuel 20

David returned to Jonathan, and there follows an interesting and beautiful account of a time in which these two friends took counsel together about David's peril.

Every incident of the story is full of arresting beauty; Jonathan's deep concern and all he did to help his friend reveal a man of the finest type.

As we have suggested, the whole attitude of Jonathan becomes the more wonderful when we remember that he was the heir apparent to the throne. Moreover, we see not merely his love for David, but his willing co- operation with what he knew to be the will of God. He was aware that God had chosen his friend to be king, and, evidently without any pang of regret, he acquiesced in that divine appointment and remained true to David, loving him more rather than less because he saw in him the anointed of Jehovah.

On account of all this, Saul added to all his other sins his attempt on the life of his own son. He is revealed as rapidly becoming an irresponsible madman, while David is seen through all the painful discipline as being prepared for the work that lay before him.