David and Jonathan, Pt 3

Lessons in Friendship from David and Jonathan, Devotional #3

Keeping His Commitment

So the friendship of David and Jonathan begins rather dramatically and with strong words, but how does it play out?

Jonathan kept his commitment by protecting David.

David’s early successes on the battlefield prompted Saul to promote him (18:5), but Saul eventually became jealous and tried to kill David. Jonathan, however, "was very fond of David and warned him" (19:1-2). Putting aside any personal goals and ambitions, he did all he could to rescue David from Saul’s increasing paranoia.

He spoke well of David to his father, reminded Saul that David had risked his life for him, berated Saul’s murderous intent toward David, and kept David informed about Saul’s words and actions (vv. 3-7).

True friends protect when others are throwing spears.

Jonathan kept his commitment by affirming David.

Jonathan and David reasserted their mutual friendship with a series of solemn oaths, often taken in the Lord’s name (20:2-3, 9, 12-17, 21, 42). Each of the two main sections of chapter 20 ends with Jonathan’s heartfelt declaration: "The Lord is witness between you and me … forever" (vv. 23, 42).

Covenant terminology is everywhere present throughout the first half of 1 Samuel 20, especially in verses 8-17:

"brought him into a covenant,"

"do not ever cut off your kindness,"

"made a covenant,"

"reaffirm his oath,"

"love/loved."

David asks Jonathan to demonstrate covenant faithfulness to him ("show kindness to your servant," v. 8), and Jonathan responds in the same way (v. 14).

The Hebrew word for kindness is hesed, often called the most profound theological term in the Old Testament. The "kindness" they wanted is the loving, steadfast loyalty that is expected only when the parties are serious about what they have agreed to do for each other. That’s some pretty intense friendship.

The strange thing is that our social life is sometimes the thing that keeps us from having true friendships. Sometimes we spend so much time with people that we don’t have time to just be with a friend.

It goes both ways.

• You don’t see David and Jonathan isolated from the world and caught up in their little clique.
• But they were committed to getting past the shallowness.

Doesn’t it seem that we have a hard time striking a balance here? We have seasons of complete isolation from society and then seasons of complete absorption into society. Jesus was a great example of balance: time with the crowds, time with the disciples, time with friends, time alone.