1 Samuel 19:1-12 - Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

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Bible Comments

Noble Intercession; Implacable Hate

1 Samuel 19:1-12

Not content with exchanging his dress and weapons with his friend, Jonathan pleaded David's cause at court. He had the royal ear and spoke as David's daysman. As he touched upon his brother-in-law's devotion, modesty and courage, the father's heart relented. We must not, however, take Jonathan's interposition as illustrating our Lord's, because Jesus stands for us in the presence of One whose love requires no argument. But learn to abide in “the secret place of the Most High,” and hide thyself, until thou hast learned what thou should do, 1 Samuel 19:2.

While Saul's troops were watching the house on the outside, the psalmist was appealing to God as his strength, and hiding in Him as his strong tower. See Psalms 59:9; Psalms 59:17. Wait on God during the hours when your enemy is waiting for you. We must not only pray for God's help, but expect and look out for it. All true waiting must be combined with singing. Sing, persecuted soul, in sure confidence that the glorious deliverance awaiting you is near at hand! Notice that Holy Scripture never conceals and never palliates wrong-doing. It does not excuse “lies of necessity.” See Leviticus 19:11; Colossians 3:9.

Related Commentaries of 1 Samuel 19:1

1 Samuel 19:1-12

1 And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

2 But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:

3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.

4 And Jonathan spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:

5 For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

6 And Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he shall not be slain.

7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan shewed him all those things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence, as in times past.

8 And there was war again: and David went out, and fought with the Philistines, and slew them with a great slaughter; and they fled from him.a

9 And the evil spirit from the LORD was upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his javelin in his hand: and David played with his hand.

10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain.

12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.