David and Jonathan, Pt 4

Lessons in Friendship from David and Jonathan, Devotional #4

David kept his commitment by lamenting his loss.

To David’s credit, his memory of Jonathan’s faithful friendship was not diminished following Jonathan’s death in a battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa. David sang a moving lament over Saul and Jonathan. It begins and ends with a familiar exclamation: "How the mighty have fallen!" (2 Sam. 1:19, 27).

Mt Gilboa

David also kept his commitment by honoring Jonathan’s heir.

Two final episodes in 2 Samuel underscore the ties that continued to bind Jonathan to David, even after death.

• Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, lame from a young age (4:4), was his only surviving heir. To fulfill his promise to his friend, David was determined to show covenant "kindness," like that of God himself, to Mephibosheth (9:1, 3, 7). He therefore told Mephibosheth, "I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table" (v. 7).
• And that’s how it happened. Though David had not felt welcome at the table of Jonathan’s father (1 Sam. 20:29), Jonathan’s son would always be welcome at David’s table (2 Sam. 9:11, 13).

The final event concerns the disposal of the remains of Saul and Jonathan.

• David retrieved their bones from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead and had them buried in the tomb of Saul’s father, Kish, in the land of Benjamin (21:12-14). Thus David’s final, tender act of covenant friendship toward the man who was closest to him was to ensure that he received an honorable burial.

Conclusion

Do you feel the richness of this? As I have poured over these passages this week, I have been stirred by the fact that this story of friendship is MY HERITAGE, and I choose to make it a part of me!

A lot has happened since 1000 BC: there’s the understatement of the day! There has been revealed a friendship that goes far beyond that of David and Jonathan. Jesus left the safety of heaven to walk with us here and show us a new level of love and self-sacrifice. He told the disciples in the upper room, "The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them." (Jn 15.13).

Jesus’ friendship brings forgiveness and a new start. He can help you become the kind of friend to others that you really want to be.

[Amy Grant, Love of Another Kind, from Unguarded]

They say love is cruel

They say love is rather fragile

But I've found in You

A love of another kind.

They say love brings hurt

I say love brings healing

Understanding first

It's a love of another kind.

The love I know

Is a love so few discover

They need to know

Jesus' love is like no other.

They save love won't last

I say love is neverending

Cause in You I have

A love of another kind.

They would change their tune

They would add another measure

If they only knew

This love of another kind.

The love I know

Is a love so few discover

They need to know

Jesus' love is like no other.