Home / 1 Samuel: Verse by Verse / 1 Samuel 20
Faithful When It Costs: David and Jonathan
- Passage
- 1 Samuel 20
- Taught
- September 20, 2026
- Series
- 1 Samuel: Verse by Verse
- Length
- 44 minutes
Summary
David is a hunted man. In 1 Samuel 20 he comes to Jonathan, Saul’s son and the heir to the throne, and asks what he has done to deserve this. Jonathan can’t believe his father would kill David, so the two work out a test. David will miss Saul’s new moon feast, and Saul’s reaction to his empty seat will show what is in the king’s heart.
Saul explodes, and in his anger he throws a spear at his own son. Jonathan now knows the danger is real. He signals David with arrows, and the two part in tears, renewing the covenant of loyalty they made before the Lord.
The lesson focused on Jonathan. As Saul’s son he could have seen David as a rival. Instead he put God’s kingdom above his own ambition, defended what was right at great personal cost, endured loss without bitterness, and kept his covenant when his father turned against him. His greatness was not in becoming king but in backing the man God had chosen. The deck set him against Saul: self-sacrifice, love, and surrendered power on one side, and self-preservation, jealousy, and clinging to power on the other.
What true friends do
The lesson, and the teacher’s preview, listed what friends like Jonathan bring:
- They help us face our fears and see circumstances clearly.
- They carry burdens we can’t carry alone.
- They stay faithful when life gets hard.
- They encourage us to follow God’s direction, even when it costs them.
- They keep us accountable and show us God’s love through people.
Practical takeaways
1 Samuel 20:1–11
- Take your fears to trusted believers.
- Test assumptions with facts.
- Seek clarity before big decisions.
1 Samuel 20:12–23
- Trust God’s sovereignty when his plan differs from yours.
- Invest in godly friendships.
- Show loyalty when it is costly.
1 Samuel 20:24–34
- Stand for what is right at personal cost.
- Expect misunderstanding when you are faithful.
- Don’t let anger and bitterness rule. Saul wounded his own son.
1 Samuel 20:35–42
- Keep your commitments before God.
- Part faithfully when God’s plan diverges.
- Leave the future in God’s hands.
Questions to talk about
- Am I willing to put God’s will above my own ambitions?
- What does my response reveal when doing right becomes costly?
- Am I helping my friends follow God more faithfully?
Scriptures in this lesson
- 1 Samuel 20Interlinear
- 1 Samuel 18:1–4Interlinear
- 1 Samuel 19:1–7Interlinear
- Proverbs 17:17Interlinear
- Ecclesiastes 4:9–10Interlinear
Background
Background: David’s psalms from the road
- The deck tied several psalms to David’s flight from Saul: Psalm 59 (his house watched), 56 and 34 (Gath), 52 (Doeg at Nob), 57 and 142 (the cave), 54 (the Ziphites), and 63 (the wilderness).
- Jonathan’s arrow signal relied on a boy who knew nothing of the plan.