Jonathan and David Bind Themselves to the Lord’s Purpose, Even When It Costs Everything
1 Samuel 19 showed Saul’s murderous intent break into the open.
Now 1 Samuel 20 reveals the personal cost of following the Lord’s chosen king.
Jonathan must choose:
- his father,
or - the Lord’s anointed.
David must choose:
- self-protection,
or - staying faithful to God’s calling even in exile.
The path of covenant love is not safe — but it is holy.
1. David Comes to Jonathan in Desperation (20:1)
David flees to Jonathan.
He does not hide alone.
He seeks:
- truth,
- discernment,
- covenant companionship.
This is not weakness.
This is the wisdom of the righteous:
The godly do not stand alone when tested — they seek faithful covenant brethren.
David asks:
“What have I done? What is my sin?” (v. 1)
David knows he is innocent —
but he is not self-righteous.
He allows his life to be examined.
This is the humility of a righteous king.
2. Jonathan Cannot Initially See Saul’s Danger (20:2–4)
Jonathan says:
- “My father does nothing without telling me.”
- “You shall not die.”
Jonathan is sincere —
but his understanding is incomplete.
Sometimes love blinds us at first
to the evil in those we care for.
David responds:
“There is but a step between me and death.” (v. 3)
He does not dramatize.
He states reality.
Jonathan’s response:
“Whatever you say, I will do for you.” (v. 4)
This is covenant loyalty — not sentiment.
Jonathan does not yet understand everything —
but he chooses faithful love now.
This is discipleship:
Follow covenant love first — understanding grows later.
3. The Covenant Between David and Jonathan (20:5–17)
David proposes a test:
- He will not attend Saul’s feast.
- Jonathan will observe Saul’s reaction.
- Saul’s response will reveal his heart.
Jonathan agrees.
Then comes the covenant renewal:
“Jonathan made a covenant with David.” (v. 16)
This is not an emotional vow.
It is a binding devotion of life.
Jonathan says:
“The Lord shall be between me and you,
and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.” (v. 42)
He is not simply pledging friendship —
he is aligning his lineage with David’s future kingdom.
This is astonishing.
Jonathan, the rightful heir by blood,
yields his future to the Lord’s chosen king.
Jonathan is the model disciple of the true Christ.
| Jonathan | True Disciple |
|---|---|
| Loves the Lord’s chosen king more than earthly ties | Loves Christ more than all else |
| Surrenders his own throne | Surrenders self-rule |
| Risks rejection for righteousness | Accepts the cost of discipleship |
| Binds his life to the king’s kingdom | Belongs to Christ’s eternal kingdom |
This covenant will later protect:
- Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth,
when David shows hesed (steadfast covenant love) in 2 Samuel 9.
The covenant is prophetic.
4. Saul’s Rage Reveals His Heart (20:24–34)
David is absent from the feast.
Saul asks Jonathan.
Jonathan answers wisely, simply.
Saul explodes:
“You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!” (v. 30)
This language is not insult — it is revelation.
Saul is saying:
- Jonathan is betraying family dynasty,
- Jonathan is aligning with God’s plan instead of Saul’s.
Saul says:
“As long as the son of Jesse lives… your kingdom shall not be established.” (v. 31)
Saul sees clearly:
- If David lives,
- Jonathan will not be king.
And Jonathan, full of the Spirit of God, chooses:
- not to be king,
- and to love the one God has chosen.
This is worship.
Saul throws his spear at Jonathan (v. 33).
The spear is now:
- not just an object of harm,
- but the symbol of Saul’s heart:
- control,
- fear,
- anger at God’s will.
Jonathan rises, grieving.
He does not hate Saul.
He mourns the evil in him.
Love can grieve what it cannot follow.
5. The Covenant Affirmed in Sorrow (20:35–42)
Jonathan goes to the field.
David is there.
The signal with arrows confirms the truth:
- Saul will not relent,
- David must flee,
- The separation is real.
Then:
“They kissed one another and wept together, but David wept the most.” (v. 41)
This is holy sorrow.
Not despair.
Not hopelessness.
Sorrow of:
- separation caused by sin,
- love that must yield to suffering,
- covenant faith deepened by trial.
Jonathan reaffirms:
“The Lord shall be between me and you.” (v. 42)
They part — not in bitterness,
but in eternal covenant loyalty.
This is the love of the kingdom.
Theological Meaning
1 Samuel 20 teaches:
- Covenant loyalty is stronger than fear.
- True love supports God’s will even when it costs everything.
- The righteous may suffer, but they do not forsake the Lord.
- Envy destroys, but covenant love builds.
- Relationship under God is based on shared surrender, not personal need.
Jonathan’s love is not emotional affection —
it is covenant allegiance to God’s chosen king.
David endures suffering —
not because he is weak,
but because he is God’s king who will not take the kingdom by violence.
This prepares us for the Gospel.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
David’s suffering under Saul foreshadows Christ’s suffering under the rulers of His day.
| David | Christ |
|---|---|
| Hunted though innocent | Condemned though sinless |
| Refuses to seize the throne by force | Refuses to seize kingship apart from the Father |
| Loved faithfully by a covenant friend (Jonathan) | Loved faithfully by His disciples (imperfectly fulfilled) |
| Weeps at separation | Weeps over Jerusalem and His friends |
| Waits for the Father’s timing | Endures the cross, waiting for resurrection glory |
Jonathan images the true disciple:
| Jonathan | True Disciple of Christ |
|---|---|
| Recognizes the true king | Recognizes Christ as Lord |
| Yields inheritance | Denies self |
| Loves the king more than father, throne, or security | Loves Christ more than all else |
| Lives and dies in covenant loyalty | Perseveres in faith unto eternal life |
The covenant Jonathan and David swear becomes:
- fulfilled in Christ,
- extended to the Church,
- sealed in Christ’s blood.
What This Chapter Leaves in Us
1 Samuel 20 teaches:
- Covenant love is the highest expression of faith.
- True loyalty is measured when faithfulness costs something.
- The righteous suffer, not because the Lord has abandoned them, but because the world resists God’s kingdom.
- The Lord binds His people together in Himself, not in convenience.
- Christ is the true anointed King.
- We are called to be Jonathan — those who love the King more than ourselves.
The call is:
Choose the true King.
Stand with Him when the world opposes Him.
Bind your heart to Him in covenant love.
Even when it costs.
Especially when it costs.
Salvation is the work of God in our Live’s – Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ – Learning who our Father is by the Spirit of Adoption – We are Children of God by Grace and the Same Spirit that Raised Christ Jesus from the dead is Living in You. By Faith In Jesus Christ – Home
More on Salvation in Jesus Christ ➡️
Eternal Life — Life in God’s Presence and the Miracle of New Birth Through Christ
Eternal life is not a distant hope or a reward waiting beyond this world.
It is the sudden breaking in of God’s presence—
light entering darkness,
love overcoming fear,
the Father drawing His children home.
Many view eternal life as a future destination,
but Scripture reveals something far deeper:
eternal life begins the very moment Jesus calls your name
and the Spirit awakens your heart to the Father’s voice.
This is not theory.
It is the living reality of God dwelling in His people.
Eternal life is a story filled with:
new identity
new desires
new birth
Spirit-filled transformation
freedom from the old life
fellowship with the Father
a life shaped by the presence of Jesus
This is not something you wait for—
it is something Christ gives you now.
• “This Is Eternal Life” — Knowing God Through Jesus Christ 🤍🔥
Jesus does not describe eternal life as endless time
but as knowing the Father through Him.
“To know You, the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom You sent.” (John 17:3 CEV)
This knowing is relational, personal, intimate—
a life shared with God Himself.
When you trust in Jesus:
your sins are removed
your spirit is made alive
your name is written in heaven
your heart becomes His dwelling place
the Spirit of Adoption calls you His child
This miracle is explored at:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/a-study-in/
And God teaches His children to walk in trust, patience, and surrender,
themes reflected deeply in:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2025/05/13/trusting-gods-timing-how-to-be-patient-and-wait-on-his-plans/
Eternal life is the Father opening the door
and welcoming you in.
• “Take Up Your Cross Daily” — Eternal Life Reshapes the Way We Live ✝️🌿
The gift of eternal life does not leave anyone unchanged.
It calls us into a new way of living—
a life shaped by surrender, courage, and obedience.
Jesus invites His followers to take up their cross daily,
not as punishment,
but as the pathway to true freedom.
The cross breaks the old self
and awakens the new creation.
It leads us into resurrection power
and the fullness of life found only in Christ.
This path of daily surrender is unfolded in:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2025/11/10/what-does-it-mean-to-take-up-your-cross-daily/
And similar lessons of walking by faith appear in Peter’s journey:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2025/05/16/the-faith-of-peter-walking-on-water-matthew-1422-33-cev/
• “A New Creation” — Eternal Life Transforms the Heart 🌱✨
Eternal life is not only forgiveness—
it is transformation.
Where there was guilt, Jesus brings peace.
Where there was fear, He brings confidence.
Where there was bondage, He brings freedom.
Where there was death, He brings life.
The old life fades away.
A new creation rises in its place—
reborn by grace, shaped by the Spirit,
and rooted in Christ.
This transformation is explored at:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2025/11/10/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-new-creation-in-christ/
You also see the Spirit’s transforming power
in the lives of biblical figures like Joseph and David:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2025/05/19/josephs-early-life-and-his-dreams-genesis-37/
• “The Lord Is My Shepherd” — Eternal Life as Daily Fellowship 🕊️💛
Eternal life is not only a future kingdom—
it is the Shepherd walking with you through every valley.
He leads.
He restores.
He guards.
He comforts.
He carries.
He prepares blessings in every season.
This daily fellowship is revealed in:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2026/01/24/a-study-in-psalms-231-6/
And the Shepherd’s voice echoes through all of Scripture,
inviting believers into a life of refuge, strength, and worship:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2025/05/31/psalm-46-meaning-god-our-refuge-and-strength-a-psalm-of-comfort-and-assurance/
Eternal life is the presence of God
guiding, strengthening, and sustaining His people now.
• “The Altar and the Foundation” — Eternal Life Rebuilds What Was Broken 🧱🔥
When eternal life enters the heart,
it does not merely forgive—
it rebuilds.
Ezra 3 shows God’s people returning from exile
with wounds, failures, and memories of loss.
Yet the very first thing they restore is the altar—
the place of worship, surrender, and renewed fellowship.
Only then do they rebuild the foundation.
This is what God does in the believer:
He restores what sin damaged,
renews what fear destroyed,
and rebuilds what the enemy scattered.
See this picture of spiritual reconstruction:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2025/11/08/ezra-3-the-altar-and-the-foundation-laid/
And this restoration theme continues as God calls His people
to rebuild their lives, walls, and purpose:
➡️ https://goodchristiannetwork.com/2025/05/29/jesus-in-nehemiah-rebuilding-walls-and-restoring-faith/
Eternal Life in Christ —
| Theme of Eternal Life | What It Reveals in the Believer | Scripture Journey |
|---|---|---|
| Life in God’s Presence | Adopted, known, loved by the Father | What Is Eternal Life |
| Daily Surrender | You walk the path Jesus walked | Take Up Your Cross Daily |
| New Creation Identity | Old life gone; new life begun | New Creation in Christ |
| Shepherding Fellowship | Jesus leads, restores, protects | Psalm 23 |
| Spiritual Reconstruction | God rebuilds what sin destroyed | Ezra 3 |
| Strength in Weakness | God empowers where we are unable | Strength in Weakness — 2 Cor Theme |
| Trust in God’s Plans | Faith grows through patience | Trusting God’s Timing |
| Growing Through Trials | God forms character through hardship | Joseph’s Early Life |
| Learning God’s Heart | Knowing God changes how we live | The Faith of Peter |
Salvation in Jesus Christ
Eternal life isn’t just living forever—
it is life in the very presence of God.
It is the work of God in our lives—
Salvation by Faith in Jesus Christ,
learning who our Father is
through the Spirit of Adoption,
and walking as children of grace.
The same Spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead
now lives in you.
Through the cross you are forgiven.
Through the resurrection you are made alive.
Through the Spirit you are adopted.
Through faith you walk with God daily.
To grow deeper in salvation, identity, discipleship, and faith,
explore the pages throughout this teaching:
- Eternal Life
- Take Up Your Cross Daily
- New Creation in Christ
- Psalm 23 — The Shepherd Who Leads
- Ezra 3 — The Altar and Foundation
- Trusting God’s Timing
- Strength in Weakness
- The Faith of Peter
- Joseph’s Early Life
- Jesus in Nehemiah
These pages form a complete journey
into the life God gives through His Son—
a life restored, renewed, strengthened, guided,
rebuilt by grace,
and transformed by the Spirit who lives in you.
Books by Drew Higgins
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