(35) В¶ And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him. (36) And he said unto his lad, Run, find out now the arrows which I shoot. And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. (37) And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? (38) And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master. (39) But the lad knew not anything: only Jonathan and David knew the matter. (40) And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad, and said unto him, Go, carry them to the city.
I cannot help remarking on these verses, how many times the Lord makes men, like this lad, the unconscious instruments of working after the counsel of his will. What a glorious instance of this kind, is that of the Jews crucifying the Lord Jesus. Him (saith Peter in his inspired Sermon) being delivered, by the determinate counsel and fore-knowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands, have crucified and slain. Acts 2:23.