Hi everyone, I hope you’re all fine by God’s grace. Today’s post is a case study of a very interesting story of friendship in The Bible, that of David and Jonathan.
Let’s make a quick recall of who’s David and who’s Jonathan.
Saul was the first king of Israël. God had anointed him as king (after the Israëlites insisted on having a king), Saul disobeyed God at a certain number of occasions and God took away His Holy Spirit from Saul. Saul had a son, named Jonathan. Hence, Jonathan was the Prince of Israël.
David was a young shepherd, the youngest son of his father (number 8).He fought against Goliath a giant who belonged to the army of the Philistines(enemies of Israël).God chose him to be the second king of Israël but it didn’t happen instantaneously, he faced many trials before becoming king.
So, let’s look at some aspects of David and Jonathan’s friendship
1. Love at first sight
1 Samuel 18:1, 3 NIV
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Have you ever fancied someone at first sight? Has it ever happened to you just to see someone and feel instantaneously connected to that person without knowing why? That’s what happened to Jonathan. He just loved David and decided to befriend him.
The difference between Jonathan’s love at first sight, and the love at first sight we usually have, resides in the fact that his love is about giving, sharing, protecting and loving, just as he loves himself. His feelings for David aren’t based on what he can obtain from him, nor on his physical appearance. He just loves him.
This should make us think of the love Jesus Christ has for us. His love isn’t about anything we are, anything we have been or anything we can do, His love is all about who He is, He is Love and He loves us just because He loves us (for free).
Let’s learn from Jonathan’s love on friendship, let’s learn from Jesus Christ’s love, and apply that in our friendships, loving for free, just because of love, just because of God.
2. Presents/Gifts
1 Samuel 18:4 NIV
Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
Jonathan immediately initiated friendship with David and started offering things to Him. Love is generous.
This should remind us of God’s love for us, because He gave us His everything and His best. He didn’t spare the life of His Son on The Cross of Calvary to save us from our sins.
John 3:16 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
This should encourage us to be generous towards our friends and loved ones and extend God’s love to them.
3. Involving God in the relationship
1 Samuel 20:16-17 NIV
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.
1 Samuel 20:42 NIV
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord , saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ ” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.
When you love someone, and you love God, it’s natural for you to involve God in your relationship.
How?
- By praying for the person
- By praying with the person
- By discussing God’s Word with the person,
- By sealing your covenant with the person in front of God (usually in case of marriage).
It’s not necessarily about swearing and oaths, it’s about putting God at the center of your relationship.
God created relationships, reason why He should always be at the center of every relationship. When Jesus Christ us at the center of your love and friendship, the relationship is bound to succeed in The Lord.
4. Loyalty
1 Samuel 19:1-3 NIV
Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan had taken a great liking to David and warned him, “My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I’ll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out.”
Jonathan demonstrates his loyalty to David by protecting him from his dad.
David demonstrates his loyalty to Jonathan by taking care of his son after his death.
2 Samuel 9:1, 7-7, 11 NIV
David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my Lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.
Friendship is loyal, no matter the obstacles, friendship remains loyal.
5. Showing emotions and demonstrating affection
1 Samuel 20:41 NIV
After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.
When you love someone and the person is really your friend, there’s no use to wearing masks and pretending to feel or not to feel x, y or z way. When you’re truly friends, you can show yourself just as you are, in your moments of joy and in your moments if weakness. You can pour out your hearts to one another, cry, smile, laugh, be yourselves.
Friendship is a safe environment for showing our emotions.
In the same way, Jesus Christ us The One Friend who shall never let you down. Feel free to open up all your feelings to Him.
It’s true that most of the times it was Jonathan who encouraged David and saved him from troubles, and death. Nevertheless, David too really loved Jonathan and demonstrated it by doing good to his child after his death.
Finally, I’ll end this post by asking these questions: Are you David or Jonathan?
In your relationships do you feel more like David or like Jonathan?
Do you feel like right now, you are the one giving the most to the other? (Jonathan)
Do you feel like you’re the one demonstrating most your love towards your friend (like Jonathan did)?
Or are you like David, who’s grateful towards a friend who showed him love at its greatest depths, who helped him when he was in trouble, and who is now in a position to return the favour, and who actually returns the favor?
Are you David or Jonathan?
Prayer
Father Lord God Almighty, thank You for showing me today, this beautiful story of friendship in The Bible. Please Lord be at the center of all my relationships, that your Name may be glorified through them. Thank You for being my Best Friend. Thank You Lord, in Jesus Christ’s Name. Amen.
Thanks for reading.
God bless you all.
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