1 Samuel 20:24-34 Hatred

 ”Then David hid in the field. And when the New Moon had come, the king sat down to eat the feast. Now the king sat on his seat, as at other times, on a seat by the wall. And Jonathan arose, and Abner sat by Saul’s side, but David’s place was empty. Nevertheless Saul did not say anything that day, for he thought, “Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean.” And it happened the next day, the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty. And Saul said to Jonathan his son, “Why has the son of Jesse not come to eat, either yesterday or today?” So Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem. And he said, ‘Please let me go, for our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has commanded me to be there. And now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me get away and see my brothers.’ Therefore he has not come to the king’s table.” Then Saul’s anger was aroused 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, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, “Why should he be killed? What has he done?” Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David. So Jonathan arose 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 treated him shamefully.“

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭20‬:‭24‬-‭34‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. But David’s place was empty: David was expected to be at this special feast of the New Moon, and so his absence was clearly noticed. At first, this did not trouble Saul greatly because he thought, “Something has happened to him; he is unclean, surely he is unclean.” Ceremonial uncleanness might cause a person to miss a feast such as this but the ceremonial uncleanness only lasted a day (Leviticus 22:3-7). So when it happened the next day…that David’s place was empty, Saul demanded an explanation.

i. Meyer on the son of Jesse: “Speaking of him derisively as ‘the son of Jesse,’ thus accentuating his lowly birth, and ignoring the relationship that bound him to the royal family.”

b. Jonathan answered Saul, “David earnestly asked permission of me to go to Bethlehem”: Jonathan covered for David, trying to give Saul a plausible (and truthful) explanation for David’s absence.

i. “It seems probable that he went first to Bethlehem, as he bade Jonathan to tell his father, verse 6, and thence returned to the field, when the occasion required; else we must charge him with a downright lie, which ought not to be imagined (without any apparent cause) concerning so good a man.” (Poole)

c. Saul’s anger was aroused…. You son of a perverse, rebellious woman: Jonathan knew from this response that Saul’s heart was settled on evil against David. If Saul’s heart was different towards David, he might have been disappointed but not furious.

d. He shall surely die: Certainly, this was Saul’s intention, despite his previous oath (As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed, 1 Samuel 19:6). Despite Saul’s intentions, David would not die at the hands of Saul or any other enemy. Man proposes, but God disposes.

e. Why should he be killed? What has he done? Jonathan responded by defending not only David but right in this cause. His support of David wasn’t blind support; it was based on what was rightbefore the LORD. Jonathan’s support of David enraged Saul and Saul cast a spear at him to kill him. This shows how deep Saul’s hatred of David was – he would kill his own son for siding with David.

(Guzik)

i. “Jonathan made one vain attempt to reason with the furious monarch; he might as well have tried to arrest the swelling of Jordan in the time of flood.” (Meyer)

Hatred

Saul became impulsive because of his hatred and jealousy towards David and cast a spear at his own son! 

”He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.“ Proverbs‬ ‭14‬:‭29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

It’s ok to get angry but….

”“Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,“

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

When I feel my heart getting bitter I pray for the Lord to remove my bitterness and on occasion I go for a walk.

I’ve found this method of controlling anger helps.

Do you get angry?

Blessings