Chapter 20

¹⁴ And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die; ¹⁵ 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.” (1 Samuel 20:14-15)

Jonathan was aware of the political dynamic between the family of David and the family of Jonathan. In those days, when one royal house replaced another, it was common for the new royal house to kill all the potential rulers from the old royal house. Jonathan knew that one day David and his descendants would rule over Israel, and he wanted a promise that David and his descendants would not kill or mistreat the descendants of Jonathan.

May the LORD do so and much more to Jonathan. But if it pleases my father to do you evil, then I will report it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. (1 Samuel 20:13)

Loyalty is to God and to His Word and to the principles of His Word. Cast your mind back to Jonathan, the son of Saul. He realized that his father was wrong in principle. He also realized that his father was trying to murder an innocent young man. So he decided to help David even though it was emotionally difficult. Even though his actions were directed against his own family, it was the right thing to do.

Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. (1 Samuel 20:33)

This shows Saul’s deep hatred of David – he would kill his own son, Jonathan, for siding with David.