David and Jonathan, Pt 1

Lessons in Friendship from David and Jonathan, Devotional #1

There are many friendships manifested in Tolkien’s trilogy “The Lord of the Rings”, and the friendship between Frodo and Sam is put to the test over and over again. At the climax of the story, Sam picks up his exhausted friend in his arms and says, “I may not be able to carry the ring, but I can carry you.”

It’s interesting that the gentleness of their friendship and the harshness of their task is similar in many ways to a friendship that took place just east of the Mediterranean Sea about 3000 years ago. If Jonathan could steal a line from Return of the King, he might say to David “I may not be able to carry the crown, but I can carry you!”

Background

Jonathan was the firstborn son of Saul, the first king of Israel. Saul had walked away from the anointing and blessing of God, and young David had already been anointed as the next king of Israel by the prophet Samuel. All of this took place right about 1000 BC, so we’re right in the heart of the historical books of the Old Testament.

Jonathan first appears in 1 Samuel 13:2-3 as the capable leader of a third of the troops in King Saul’s army. Prince Jonathan was a powerful warrior, not pathetic, spoiled royalty.

1 Sam 14 – Jonathan’s greatest exploit, with armorbearer

His greatest military exploit comes in 1 Samuel 14 in a time when the Israelite army was being oppressed and ridiculed by the Philistines.

Before David ever had the chance to take a shot at Goliath, the Philistine giant, Jonathan took a shot of his own. Without telling anyone, Jonathan proposed to his young armor-bearer that they attack a Philistine outpost (14:1, 6). Jonathan showed his faith as he told his armor-bearer in v. 6 : "Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few”. After receiving a clear sign from God, the two men climbed a cliff and engaged the Philistines in battle. Although outnumbered ten to one, Jonathan and his armor-bearer annihilated their enemies in this legendary battle (vv. 11-14).

David’s unremarkable entrance to the story comes when he delivers food to his brothers at the frontlines of the battle with the Philistines. His bravery also came to the forefront very quickly and soon he had killed the giant and won the day for Israel.

1 Samuel 17:57-58; 18:1-4

As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine's head.
   "Whose son are you, young man?" Saul asked him.
   David said, "I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem."

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.  From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.  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.

We aren’t told exactly what triggered their friendship. The transition from chapter 17 to chapter 18 is pretty stark. But when we compare Jonathan’s heroics with David’s heroics and then look at these opening moments of their friendship, the clues are pretty strong.

God had put in Jonathan a heart that listened for God’s direction and a wild abandon to embrace God’s purposes.  That is EXACTLY the spirit that we see in David as he approaches the frontlines and Goliath. They recognized that God had put something unique in each of them. It resonated within them like a like a low E on an acoustic bass when they came to the same place. It was godly humility and spiritual royalty converging on that day. They both submitted to God’s purposes and began a loyal friendship that would stand the test of time.

Let me ask you something. If they had found their common ground in secretly stealing palace treasures and hawking them on Ebay, do you really think the whole friendship would have been something special? You can find friends in a lot of places, and good for YOU! Hey, a friend’s a friend.

But if you really want something special, start by listening carefully to the heart of God, responding as he calls you, and just see what comes of that.

• He’ll build your character and give you a calling.
• He’ll build your maturity and give you a ministry.
• And THEN, you just watch how you resonate when that friend comes along.

Do you really think that if David had skipped the whole Goliath thing, these guys would have had this sort of friendship? I don’t think so. I think we’ll reap the same kind of benefits when we go with God’s leading in our lives.