Red Skelton and Lucille Ball
“Iron sharpens iron so a friend sharpens a friend” Proverbs 27:17
David and Jonathan
I Samuel 18:1,3 NASB “Now it came about when he (David) had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan love him as himself. And Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.”
One of the first verses I memorized as a child was from the story of Jonathan and David. “A friend loves at all times.” (Proverbs 17:17 NASB) I have been blessed with several true friends in my life. Statistics tell us that most people have one maybe two friends that they really trust with their innermost thoughts. God has so richly blessed my life with friends, true friends that I can count on for almost anything.
Jonathan and David had that kind of special friendship. We most often hear the story with David as the main character. David has been studied over and over many times. He is such an important part of God’s storyline. But today I want us to look at Jonathan.
It is Jonathan who recognizes the hand of God on David’s life. Jonathan was to be the next king following Saul. When David killed Goliath with a slingshot, he got the attention of Saul and Jonathan. Saul took David and would not let him return to his father’s house. I Samuel 18:1 says, “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.” Now many have tried to make this an unholy relationship but Jonathan’s actions reveal a deeper love. A love that can only come from having the love of God in your heart. Jonathan from the day Saul takes David into his house, Jonathan recognizes his anointing from God. David was just a teenage boy at this time. The first thing we read is that Jonathan makes a covenant with David. He gives David his robe, (symbol of authority) his armor, his sword, his bow and his belt. All of which says I know you are God’s anointed. Jonathan sees that David will reign as King of Israel. Jonathan’s character and integrity shows that he is NOT like his father. You can read this story in I Samuel 9-31. Saul was always fearful, always self-centered, jealous and rebellious.
Jonathan was loyal, strong, faithful and unselfish.
What can we learn from Jonathan and David’s relationship?
Godly friends are:
- Respectful to one another (I Samuel 18:1)
- Loyal and faithful to one another ( I Samuel 20:12)
- Keeper of promises
- Willing to take risks for one another
- Willing to intercede for each other
- Unselfish
- They have “agape love” for one another (the God kind of love)
- The are truthful and honest with each other.
Jonathan was a man who was true to his character. He was honest. He didn’t back down from conflict. He was not intimidated by his father, the king! He had the courage of a warrior and won the people’s affection. Jonathan was what we might call “one of the good guys” and God blessed him even after his death.
Jonathan protects David from his father by sending a message in the field using his bow and arrows. Jonathan and David knew they would be separated for a long time meet after the archery practice. So after Jonathan sends a young lad to pick up the arrows which told David that Saul was determined to harm him, we read that “When the lad was gone, David rose from the southside and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed each other and wept together, but David more. And Jonathan said to David, “Go in safety, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other.”
Each time Saul planned to kill David, Jonathan alerted him to the plots. “Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh and encouraged him in God. Thus he said to him,’Do not be afraid, because of the hand of Saul my father shall not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.’ So the two of them made a covenant before the LORD, and David stayed at Horesh while Jonathan went to his house.” (I Samuel 23:15-18 NASB)
At Jonathan’s death David writes, the song of the bow. In the last verse David writes that “Jonathan’s love was more wonderful than the love of women. How the mighty have fallen.”
Theirs was a friendship that was pure with unconditional love and admiration.
After Jonathan’s death, David finds Jonathan’s five year old son who was crippled in a fall while his nurse was trying to flee from the enemy. The covenant which was with Jonathan was extended to his son and David brought the boy to live in his house and eat at his table.
Friendship like that of David and Jonathan is rare. Have you a friend who is a lifetime friend? A friend that you can say “we will be friends forever?” To be in covenant meant a lot more than we understand today. Today, we have contracts which are supposed to be binding. Many times they are broken. For an interesting study sometime look at the covenants in God’s Word. We are to be in covenant with God and with each other as the body of Christ. God’s covenant with us is an everlasting covenant. God seeks to redeem us, set us apart for service. God seeks a relationship with us. We can’t earn it and we can’t buy it. It came to us through the blood of his one and only Son, Jesus. When we accept Him as the only way to the Father, we enter into covenant with God.
Father,
Give us the love for one another that Jonathan and David had. The love that can only come through the cross and the price that was paid to bring us out of the darkness and into your glorious light. We love you so imperfectly. Help us to love you with the God-kind of love with which you have blessed us.
Faithful Friend by Twila Paris and Steven Curtis Chapman
Thank you to all the friends who have been faithful friends in my life. God has blessed me many times over.
Freda Reynolds
