(1 Samuel 18:1-3)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. This was a supernatural connection. The Bible says “there was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.” The Bible goes on to say Jonathan “loved him as he loved himself.” This quickly became a covenant relationship when Jonathan made a solemn pact with David. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. Symbolically, this meant that Jonathan was giving David everything he had. Spiritually, the two men were entering into covenant with one another. Jonathan’s father, king Saul, sanctioned the relationship and welcomed David into the palace. David would never again live in Bethlehem. On a day when David was simply running an errand for his father, a funny thing happened on the way to lunch, and his life changed forever.
David had no way of knowing what Jonathan was going to mean to him. Jonathan, the son of Saul, would eventually help David escape the attacks of his father, at the risk of his own life. On more than one occasion Jonathan would be attributed with saving the life of David. Jonathan was being groomed to be king and he wound up establishing a covenant relationship with the man who would take his place.
Jonathan also had no way of knowing what David would mean to him. In addition to providing a special friendship while they were alive, David’s love and commitment to Jonathan would survive his death. Jonathan had no way of knowing that both he and his father would die on the same day and that his son, Mephibosheth, an heir to the throne, would wind up crippled living in a barren place (LoDebar). It was David who, because of his love for Jonathan, later redeemed Mephibosheth from LoDebar and restored him to the king’s palace.
David could not have planned a better relationship if he tried. David did nothing to start the relationship, other than kill Goliath, and I believe the Lord was behind the special relationship. I believe the Lord planned this relationship before the foundations of the world, because David needed Jonathan and Jonathan needed David. Let’s stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. There are no lone rangers in the Body of Christ. You will never maximize your purpose and potential without the assistance of others. I run into people all the time who say things like, “I don’t anyone”, but in actuality they are making such statements out of pain; because they have been hurt. It does not matter how bad you have been hurt, you need others and others need you. Allow the love of God to wash your heart and welcome the relationships He has ordained for you to have.
2. Covenant Relationships are special. The word “friend” is used very loosely today — especially when people have thousands of “friends” on Facebook — but God-given friends should be cherished. I believe the Lord helped set up the relationship between Jonathan and David and if you take the time to acknowledge it, you will find that He has done the same for you. The Father sends people our way, so we can be a blessing to them and they can be a blessing to us. Life is better lived when enjoyed with the company of great friends.
3. Friends help friends out of love. Jonathan helped David, even at the expense of going against his father, because he loved him. And David helped Jonathan, even after he was dead, because he loved him. When you operate in God’s love you are able to help your friends because you simply want to help; not because you are looking for anything in return.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this teaching. I acknowledge the fact that I will not be able to maximize my purpose or potential in life without others. I cannot do it by myself. I am not a lone ranger and I won’t even attempt to be one. I need You and I need others. I need the special people You have ordained to be a part of my life and I know they need me. So I release any pain from my past and I open my heart to receive the covenant relationships You desire for me to have. I also commit to being a blessing to my friends, because I love them, without any expectation of anything in return. My friends will be part of my life’s story and I shall be part of theirs. And when we get to heaven we will be able to continue the fellowship. I thank You Father for blessing me to have great friends and we enjoy our lives together. In Jesus’ name.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
