1 Samuel 20:27
And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day? And it came to pass on the morrow, which was the second day of the month, that David’s place was empty: and Saul said unto Jonathan his son, Wherefore cometh not the son of Jesse to meat, neither yesterday, nor to day?
The empty seat belongs to the time after David killed Goliath, when Saul kept David with him and would not let him return to his father's house. On the second day of the new-moon feast, a sacred Israelite festival, David's place at Saul's table was empty, and Saul asked Jonathan why the son of Jesse had not come to eat either the day before or that day. David's absence was the arranged test by which Jonathan would discover whether Saul still intended to kill him.
The question reflects the close bond between Jonathan and David, whose soul and heart were knit together in a most sacred union, with Jonathan loving David as his own soul. Jonathan and David made a covenant to be united as brethren, and Jonathan gave David his robe and garments, even his sword and bow and girdle. Their bond of union remained unbroken until the death of Saul and Jonathan. Their friendship was the Lord's doing, so that Jonathan might be the means of preserving David's life when Saul tried to kill him.
During this time David was trusted with important responsibilities, yet he remained modest and won the affection of the people as well as the royal household. God's providence connected David with Saul so that by wise behavior David might obtain the confidence of the people, and by a long course of hardships and vicissitudes be led to put entire trust in God while being prepared to become ruler of His people.