Tuesday's Devo - We are Living Epistles

Read 1 Sam 20
The Bible is full of prophetic acts. They seem like a waste of time and a little foolish for the carnal mind, but are powerful acts that bring about results. Today's reading is an example of this. David is discussing with Jonathan about Saul's great hatred toward David. Jonathan has a hard time believing that Saul would want to kill David and not tell him. So David comes up with a plan to settle the issue once and for all. He decides not to show up for his monthly dinners with Saul. He knows that this is going to strike a very deep chord with Saul and Jonathan will be a witness. They pick out a time and place to meet, only they will do this prophetic act. Jonathan will shoot 3 arrows - close if it is OK for David to come close to the king again. If Saul is mad then Jonathan will shoot the arrows far to show David to depart away from Saul. Then they renew their covenant of friendship and loyalty to each other and their heritage.
Jonathan goes to the new-moon dinners and on the 2nd night Saul inquires about David. When Jonathan tells him he has gone home to be with his family, Saul looses any restraint he has had with Jonathan and he reveals the evil in his heart. He curses Jonathan and tells him that David is a direct threat to Jonathan's future as the king. He gets so out of control he throws his own javelin at Jonathan. Jonathan now has the picture. He leaves the table and the next morning he goes out to give David the news. He shoots the arrows beyond the boy, then tells the boy to leave. David comes out of his hiding place and he and Jonathan hugged and cried on each others shoulders. They parted with Jonathan's blessing.
So I ask, why did they have to go through the whole arrow scene? Why couldn't Jonathan just tell David. I think that our actions, like our prayers set things in motion. First the natural, then the spiritual. Truth is, David would go farther than Jonathan. David was going to be the next king and Jonathan knew this in his heart. This arrow was a departing for David, he would now go be Saul's enemy and join the Philistines.
I know that we live prophetic acts without realizing it. God allowed a circumstance to come into my life - being rear-ended by the truck to get me to go to a chiropractor and get realigned. I feel like that is what he is doing in my spiritual life. He is realigning me and my thoughts which sometimes comes with a jolt! Lord, open our eyes to see that we are living epistles living out your Word.