The Way
Three Arrows
The arrow of promise that flew beyond
Story
Fleeing from Naioth, David asked Jonathan, “What have I done, that your father is after my life?” Jonathan answered, “It can't be. You will not die.” David shook his head. “There is only a step between me and death.” David decided to stay away from the New Moon feast and hide in the field. As they made a covenant, Jonathan said, “Never withdraw your kindness from my house.”
On the second day of the New Moon, David's place at the king's table was empty again. Saul asked, “Why hasn't the son of Jesse come, either yesterday or today?” When Jonathan gave the excuse they had agreed on, Saul exploded: “As long as the son of Jesse lives, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. He must die.” Jonathan stood up to him: “Why should he die?” Instead of an answer, Saul's spear flew at his own son.
The next morning Jonathan went out to the field with a young servant boy. An arrow flew over the boy's head. Jonathan called out, “Isn't the arrow beyond you? Hurry! Don't stop!” It was the signal for David, hidden behind the rock, to go. When the boy had gone back, David came out and bowed down to the ground three times. The two kissed each other and wept together, but David wept the most. Jonathan said, “Go in peace.”
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and David
As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.
Go in peace. The two of us have sworn in the name of the Lord, and the Lord will be between you and me, and between your descendants and mine, forever.
Show me the Lord's steadfast love as long as I live. And even after I die, never withdraw that love from my house.
As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will stand secure.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 1 Sam 20:1–42
Background
The New Moon was the day the new moon appeared, a festival with trumpets, offerings and a shared meal (Numbers 10:10; 28:11). Scripture calls the rock beside the place where David hid and waited the stone Ezel.
Pause and Reflect
Even as a relationship grows distant, do I keep the promises I should keep?