Jonathan Secures an Unstable Peace

Saul now dropped all pretenses and ordered his men to kill David.

More than ever, he was convinced David was the man who would replace him on the throne, for God was with David. “This was Saul’s fifth attempt to do away with David: (1) He threw his javelin at David ([1 Samuel] 18:10, 11). (2) Then he tried to accomplish his evil design by placing David at the front in the hope that he would be killed (ch. 18:17). (3) Next, Saul deceived him by promising him Merab but giving her to another, perhaps hoping that David would act rashly as a result and might be punished (ch. 18:19). (4) After that, he gave David permission to earn the dowry for Michal by a dangerous mission (ch. 18:25). (5) Now, it being evident that the Lord was with David, Saul sought the help of others to kill him.” “Jonathan revealed the king’s intention to David and bade him conceal himself while he would plead with his father to spare the life of the deliverer of Israel. He presented before the king what David had done to preserve the honor and even the life of the nation, and what terrible guilt would rest upon the murderer of the one whom God had used to scatter their enemies.” Jonathan could no longer straddle the fence. He had to maintain loyalty to a father who was obviously unhinged, and he had a duty to his best friend, David, to protect him from harm. Jonathan displays amazing diplomacy as an advocate for justice. He could easily have pointed out that killing David would be another bad decision and thus angered the king with criticism. He could have argued that David was no threat to the throne and tried to change the stubborn king’s mind. Instead, he pointed out David’s unique value and the benefits he brought to the nation and further delineated David’s many acts of loyalty to Saul personally. Jonathan’s tact and wise counsel softened the heart of Saul, and he vowed to stop seeking the life of David. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).