What Does I Samuel 20:40 Mean?

The transfer of the weapons from the prince to the lad represents the final clearing of the space for the most significant encounter of the chapter. By divesting himself of the tools of his office and sending his witness back to the city, Jonathan creates a sanctuary of silence where the two friends can face the reality of their separation. This removal of the "artillery" is the transition from the tactical mode of the signal to the relational mode of the farewell, allowing the heart to speak without the intrusion of the lad's presence.

The Father often requires the removal of our earthly instruments and our human witnesses before He allows us to experience the deepest levels of spiritual fellowship. Jonathan had to be alone with David for the covenant to be fully finalized in tears and embraces, showing that the most significant moments of the Spirit-filled life often occur when we have sent every external distraction away. This clearing reveals that the presence of the Father is most clearly felt in the stillness that follows the completion of our duties.

The sending away of the lad with the weapons prefigures the way the Lord Jesus Christ laid aside His glory and His heavenly "artillery" to meet His people in the lowliness of their condition. The Savior is the One who divested Himself of the symbols of His power to enter into the depths of our sorrow and our exile, providing a fellowship that is deeper than any earthly bond. Christ is the One who has cleared the way for our reconciliation with the Father, meeting us in the field of our need to secure our eternal peace.