Day 1177: Covenant peace - 1 Samuel 20 vs 30 - 42

30-31 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32-34 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” But Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

35-40 In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy. And he said to his boy, “Run and find the arrows that I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, “Is not the arrow beyond you?” And Jonathan called after the boy, “Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!” So Jonathan’s boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master. But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, “Go and carry them to the city.”

41 And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. 42 Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city. 1 Samuel 20:30-42 English Standard Version

Times have not changed! People say things today that are similar to what Saul said in blaming a woman, even a mother. Bible versions differ on what he actually said. The Contemporary English Version says: “Saul was furious with Jonathan and yelled, 'You're no son of mine, you traitor! I know you've chosen to be loyal to that son of Jesse. You should be ashamed of yourself! And your own mother should be ashamed that you were ever born.'” The New English Translation has: “You stupid traitor! Don’t I realize that to your own disgrace and to the disgrace of your mother’s nakedness you have chosen this son of Jesse?”

Both of those try to minimise what Saul really said. Most translations, however, put it as Saul calling Jonathan's mother 'a rebellious and perverse' woman. The New Living Translation says: “Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. 'You stupid son of a whore!' he swore at him. 'Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother?'” So times have not changed. When men get angry, as Saul did, they often use derogatory words to speak of the mother of the one they are angry with. And such language should never be on the lips of Christians.

Saul's rage is seen further in that, when Jonathan tried to defend David, Saul threw his spear at him! Fortunately, he doesn't appear to have been too accurate at throwing a spear! But his words had already pierced his son. Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him. Saul's hatred for David was blinding him to the feelings of his family.

And so Jonathan goes off to pass on the news to David by means of the plan they'd devised, and the young lad knew nothing of the secret message that was sent. What a sorrowful scene followed when the two men wept with one another, with David's tears flowing the most. But midst this trial, Jonathan's heart found rest in the covenant they had made. “Go in peace”, he said, “because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’”

And do we not, as followers of Christ, have the assurance of His covenant love as the basis for our eternal hope. Let us therefore go in peace into the future, whatever might be in store.