“约拿单对大卫说：‘你心里所求的，我必为你成就。’” - 撒上 20:4

扫罗王想杀大卫，大卫以为是他自己犯了错。他也不知道自己有没有得罪了王呢？难道他做事不尽责或曾在扫罗面前表示对他不忠心吗？大卫不明白扫罗为什么对他怀怨。

尽管扫罗曾几次尝试杀害他，但大卫仍然忠心服侍这位君王。难怪大卫如此困惑和苦恼了。

这时约拿单也感到困惑，可能因为他本以为扫罗会遵守誓言不杀大卫（参看撒母耳记上19:6-7），约拿单似乎未料想扫罗又再次尝试杀害大卫和追杀他（19:10, 15）然而大卫却这样说：“我指着永生的耶和华，又敢在你面前起誓，我离死不过一步。”

一切都与约拿单的回应密切相关。如果大卫不能信任约拿单，大卫将会完全无助和失去一切保护。但是约拿单不以自私的野心为出发点，现在他知道他不能相信他父亲的承诺。约拿单便满怀爱心地对大卫说：“你心里所求的，我必为你成就。”

就是这样，约拿单改变立场站到大卫的立场，他与大卫结盟并承诺忠于彼此的友情，他们也求神作他们的见证人。

祷告

主啊，约拿单虽然受家族关系所限制，但他愿意改变立场转向对方，我惊叹他有这种勇气。当你向我发出挑战、为你的缘故而改变立场时，求你帮助我向你忠心。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。

撒母耳记上 20:1-17

1大卫从拉玛的拿约逃跑，来到约拿单那里，对他说：“我做了什么？有什么罪孽呢？在你父亲面前犯了什么罪，他竟寻索我的性命呢？”
2约拿单回答说：“断然不是，你必不致死。我父做事，无论大小，没有不叫我知道的，怎么独有这事隐瞒我呢？决不如此！”
3大卫又起誓说：“你父亲准知我在你眼前蒙恩，他心里说：‘不如不叫约拿单知道，恐怕他愁烦。’我指着永生的耶和华，又敢在你面前起誓：我离死不过一步！”
4约拿单对大卫说：“你心里所求的，我必为你成就。”
5大卫对约拿单说：“明日是初一，我当与王同席。求你容我去藏在田野，直到第三日晚上。
6你父亲若见我不在席上，你就说：‘大卫切求我许他回本城伯利恒去，因为他全家在那里献年祭。’
7你父亲若说好，仆人就平安了；他若发怒，你就知道他决意要害我。
8求你施恩于仆人，因你在耶和华面前曾与仆人结盟。我若有罪，不如你自己杀我，何必将我交给你父亲呢？”
9约拿单说：“断无此事！我若知道我父亲决意害你，我岂不告诉你呢？”
10大卫对约拿单说：“你父亲若用厉言回答你，谁来告诉我呢？”
11约拿单对大卫说：“你我且往田野去。”二人就往田野去了。
12约拿单对大卫说：“愿耶和华以色列的神为证。明日约在这时候，或第三日，我探我父亲的意思，若向你有好意，我岂不打发人告诉你吗？
13我父亲若有意害你，我不告诉你使你平平安安地走，愿耶和华重重地降罚于我！愿耶和华与你同在，如同从前与我父亲同在一样。
14你要照耶和华的慈爱恩待我，不但我活着的时候免我死亡，
15就是我死后，耶和华从地上剪除你仇敌的时候，你也永不可向我家绝了恩惠。”
16于是约拿单与大卫家结盟，说：“愿耶和华藉大卫的仇敌追讨背约的罪！”

Changing Sides

"Jonathan said to David, 'Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.'" - 1 Samuel 20:4

David thought it might have been his fault that King Saul was trying to kill him. Did he offend the king unknowingly? Did he not fulfill his duties or make a disloyal gesture in Saul’s presence? David could not figure out why Saul was against him.

David had tried to serve the king faithfully, even though Saul had tried to kill him several times. No wonder David was confused and upset.

Jonathan was also confused at this point, probably thinking that Saul had kept his vow not to kill David (see 1 Samuel 19:6-7). Jonathan didn’t seem to realize that Saul had again tried to kill David and to hunt him down (19:10, 15). But David said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.”

Everything hinged on Jonathan’s response. David would have been completely vulnerable and exposed if he could not trust Jonathan. But Jonathan was not motivated by his own ambitions. He realized now that he could not trust his father. And with a heart of love, Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”

In this way Jonathan changed sides. And he and David pledged their friendship to one another, calling upon God as their witness.

Prayer

Lord, I marvel at Jonathan’s courage to change sides despite his family ties. When you challenge me to change sides for your sake, please help me to be faithful. In Jesus’ name, Amen.