Saul became furious with Jonathan and said to him, “How rebellious and faithless your mother was! Now I know you are taking sides with David and are disgracing yourself and that mother of yours!“
So much for the religious facade; after all, there was no use in trying to fool his son Jonathan.
“Don’t you realize that as long as David is alive, you will never be king of this country? Now go and bring him here—he must die!”
The facade of justice is still in play however: “must” implying some moral imperative. According to Saul, David merits death because he’s a threat to his personal interests! What a deep pit – and truly the root of all evil (Job 1:9-11). How far he has fallen from being simply insecure (1 Samuel 15:17). What was once given as a gift is now a right to be defended to the death…
“Why should he die?” Jonathan replied. “What has he done?”
At that, Saul threw his spear at Jonathan to kill him, and Jonathan realized that his father was really determined to kill David.
Jonathan’s questions exposed the evil in Saul – just like Pilate’s questions exposed the evil in the religious leaders at the time of Jesus (Mark 15:9-15). We must expose evil (John 8:42-47). May I do so, Father (Jeremiah 6:27).
Jonathan shot an arrow beyond him. When the boy reached the place where the arrow had fallen, Jonathan shouted to him, “The arrow is farther on! Don’t just stand there! Hurry up!”
“God be with you. The Lord will make sure that you and I, and your descendants and mine, will forever keep the sacred promise we have made to each other.”
Comme David had to have waited for Jonathan’s words with baited breath – and then to hear what was inconceivable! Saul wanted to kill him! David wasn’t capable of entering into Saul’s world view – and may I likewise never be capable, Lord.