CRITICAL AND EXPOSITORY NOTES
1 Samuel 23:13. “They went whithersoever,” etc. Lit. “They wandered about where they wandered about, i.e., wherever they could go without danger.” (Keil.)
1 Samuel 23:14. “Wilderness of Ziph.” “A mountainous and sequestered region was generally called a wilderness, and took its name from some large town in the district. Two miles southeast of Hebron, and in the midst of a level plain, is Tell Ziph, an isolated and conical hillock, about one hundred feet high, probably the acropolis (Van de Velde), or the ruins (Robinson) of the ancient city of Ziph, from which the surrounding wilderness was called. It seems, anciently, to have been covered by an extensive wood.” (Jamieson.) “Every day.” “Either as long as he lived” (Keil), or “continually.” (Erdmann.)
1 Samuel 23:16. “Strengthened his hand,” etc. “By the recollection of the Divine promises, and of their mutual covenant.” (Jamieson.)
1 Samuel 23:17. “Saul, my father, knoweth.” “The assurance of this must have forced itself involuntarily upon the mind of Saul, both from his own rejection, as foretold by Samuel, and also from the marvellous success of David in all his undertakings.” (Keil.)
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— 1 Samuel 23:13-18
JONATHAN’S VISIT TO DAVID IN THE WILDERNESS OF ZIPH
We have here—
I. A man in the sorest need of human friendship. It is scarcely possible to exaggerate the need in which David stood at this time of human sympathy. It has been often said that nothing gives a human spirit so much pain as ingratitude, and David was now proving how ungrateful men can be when prompted by motives of self-interest. He had just saved the inhabitants of Keilah from a great calamity, and if he looked for some active proof of their good will on his behalf, it was certainly not expecting very much. He might have reasonably counted on their help when his hour of need came; and when he became aware that this would not be given he would have hardly thought it possible for them to go beyond a cowardly neutrality. But the Divine oracle had assured him that these base specimens of humanity were prepared to deliver him up into the hands of the king at his command. Such an experience as this tests to the utmost a man’s faith in humanity, and more than anything else tends to harden the heart and embitter the spirit. And when it has this effect, it does not bring the soul nearer to God. A true and tender human friend at such a time will often make it easier for a man to believe in Divine faithfulness and compassion, and form the link between a broken spirit and the Great Healer. David evidently needed such a friend at this moment.
II. A friend fully equal to the needs of friendship. If the treachery of the men of Keilah was sufficient almost to destroy David’s faith in his fellow-men, the stedfastness of Jonathan was a more weighty influence on the other side. A feebler friendship might have satisfied itself with the remembrance of having given proofs of love in the past, or at least with sending to David an assurance of present sympathy; but Jonathan’s self-sacrificing love embraced every occasion of serving his friend to the utmost of his power, and hence he is found in person in the wilderness with the outlaw whom his father seeks, and cheers David by putting him in mind of the declared purpose of God concerning him, although it included his own loss of worldly power and influence. When David received this new assurance of his friend’s unselfish and undying regard, it must surely have driven away all the mistrust in God which was making him fear; for if a man of like passions with himself would be thus true to his plighted word, he would not dare to harbour the thought that Jonathan’s God and his own God would fail him.
OUTLINES AND SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS
1 Samuel 23:16. The distinguishing power of a true man. What is the distinguishing power which a true man has? To destroy life? Brutes can do this. To weaken faith, and shake confidence? A child can do this. What then? To strengthen a brother’s heart in God!… But how can a true man strengthen a depressed brother thus? First: By a truthful exposition of God’s method of governing the fallen in this world. The gospel unfolds that method; shows that it is to the true corrective, not penal; remedial, not destructive; introductory, not final … Secondly: By a practical expression of genuine sympathy. Nothing in the world is more strengthening to a tried soul than the practical manifestation of true sympathy. One breath of it infuses new life to the soul—energizes the heart. Thirdly: By a devout intercession with heaven. Paul prayed that the Ephesians might be “strengthened with all might in the inner man.” The highest function of a true friend. It is one thing to have the power to strengthen, and another thing to use it when and where required. He who uses it is the truest friend. Jonathan proved his friendship to David by tracking him out in the lonely wood, and there, in the depths of solitude, in the sanctuary of wild, majestic nature, in-breathing invigorating thoughts about God. Let us, in imagination, go into this wood and see Jonathan acting the friend. He meets David, with a heavy gloom upon his brow, only able to speak in sighs and tears. First, perhaps, Jonathan makes a few consolatory remarks about the great providence of God. Then, secondly, perhaps he refers him to the trials of good men who have passed away—Abraham and Jacob, Moses and Samuel. Then, thirdly, perhaps he reminds him of the past kindness of God to him as an individual.… And then perhaps he kneels down under the shadow of some old tree and prays with him and for him. This is the way to strengthen souls, and he is the true man who acts thus.—Dr. David Thomas.
1 Samuel 23:17. It was doubtless well ordered by God’s good providence that Jonathan’s noble sentiments were not subjected to the unnatural strain of such a situation, but that he died a soldier’s death, fighting gallantly for his country, before anything had happened to disturb the perfect beauty of his friendship for David.—Biblical Commentary.