1 Samuel 19:1

In the previous chapter Saul had used roundabout ways to rid himself of the Lord's anointed; here he sets up a real conspiracy against him: "Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David." Jonathan preaches grace to his father by setting before him what David was, what David had done for him at the risk of his own life, and by reminding him that he himself, Saul, had at first rejoiced when he saw these things.

First there was corruption, then violence — equally useless. Saul was now bold enough to tell Jonathan and all the rest "that they should kill David." The liar and murderer was at his usual work. "But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David." In such a sad picture of king Saul, is it not refreshing to see this? The Holy Spirit worked everything that was of God at that time, and afterwards sketched the history for us. He has also shown us that God does not leave Himself without witness of His grace. He who pulls back the veil from Saul's most secret wickedness lets us see the devotion of Jonathan. He tells the story of what God works in love, and what Satan works in murderous hatred and pride. Jonathan then only clings to David the more because of his father's hostility.

The love will soon be tested and will prove true. "And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David." Will the son obey his father's command? He knew David "in the Lord," that is, on the ground of a "most holy faith," and "strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." Nothing could make him lift a hand against one who was his closest friend and the Lord's anointed. He would serve him, whatever it cost; but murder him! The very thought was disgusting to him.

The contrast between Saul's attitude to David and Jonathan's was very great. The poor jealous king was now often troubled by an evil spirit. He hated David and wanted to destroy him. He even told Jonathan, as well as his servants, to kill David. Jonathan, for his part, "delighted much in David." This was the rock on which father and son split, and the break could not be undone. In the same way today every person's eternal destiny is settled by the attitude of his soul toward the Son of God.

Jonathan should have gone out to David. If he had, he would have suffered loss and shame from Saul, but he would have had David's company, and later high honour in David's kingdom. He did well in delighting much in David. He was right to speak about David to his father Saul. But he lacked one thing. He drew back from the path of separation with David. He was not with David in the mountains and woods of his rejection. Perhaps he thought he could "do more good," as people say, by staying in Saul's house.