With one little stone throw, David’s life changed forever. His dad had sent him on an errand, “Go see how your brothers are doing and report back.” But someone else would have to deliver that report. David wasn’t coming back, because Saul wouldn’t let him. 1 Samuel 18:2 tells us, “Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.” His days of watching the family’s sheep were over. His going back and forth from Bethlehem to wherever Saul was when he had one of his “episodes” was over. So were his days of being court wallpaper. His life of simple obscurity was also over. The life he had that morning when he woke up was nothing like the life he had when he finally made it back to bed.
We have all had those life redefining days. It comes as a sudden opportunity, an accident, an experience, a phone call, a lab result, a conversation or correspondence, a choice, or a storm, etc.. As dramatic and surprising that day was to us, it was always known to God. He knew what. He knew when. Because He knew, He had it perfectly incorporated into His plan for each of our lives. As you look at those past or present redefining days, how does this faith fact impact you?
God knew this drastic change would create a need in David’s life, a need David didn’t know he needed. That was a need for someone to come along side him as a friend and a mentor. God sent Jonathan. “By the time David had finished reporting to Saul, Jonathan was deeply impressed with David—an immediate bond was forged between them. He became totally committed to David. From that point on he would be David’s number-one advocate and friend.” (1 Samuel 18:1,3 The Message)
Jonathan had been in and out of the throne room while David had calmed Saul in one of his spells. I am sure he appreciated what David did and how he did it. David was familiar, but not known. We all have those “we’ve met” acquaintances that are neither stranger nor friend. Maybe Jonathan was seeing David in a new light or all the bits and pieces were falling into place. Back to the recommendation when his father was first losing it, through the many times he witnessed the miraculous difference David’s music had on Saul, then processing what he had seen on the battlefield and now observed as David responded to Saul’s post-victory meeting.
So when David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner [Saul’s general] took him and brought him before Saul with the Philistine’s head in his hand. Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.” (1 Samuel 17:57, 58)
The Message translation states that Jonathan was “deeply impressed” by what he heard. I think what impressed Jonathan the most was the simple humility of David’s response. When asked, “Who are you?” He didn’t flaunt his accomplishment or chastise him for acting like he didn’t know who he was, but simply answered the king’s question, “Jesse’s son.”
Humility is one of the most impressive and godliest attributes we can have. Jesus says in Matthew 11:29, “I am gentle and humble of heart.” I was always taught that if you think you are humble, you aren’t. But Jesus said He was. Gentle refers to strength under control. Humble refers to correctly placed focus and glory. Genuine humility can be described in three words: not about me. If Jesus correctly says that He is humble, who is it about if not about Him? #1 It is always about the Father = glory. And #2, it is always about us = grace. Genuine humility requires the same focus from us: glorifying the Lord and extending His grace to others.
1 Peter 5:5 tells us to “clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” It needs to be intentionally chosen and put on just like the clothing you wear each day. It is continually deciding to prioritize glory and grace, NOT ourselves.
Numbers 12:3 tells us that “Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.” I believe Jonathan to be a close second. As he watched David, I wonder if he saw himself in David – a common bond of faith, an uncommon genuineness, integrity and humility.
New American Standard says, “that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.” Knitting is where the threads are intertwined to make something of beauty and use. Together they were as one – one heart and one mind - an instant God-bond. Have you ever experienced that draw into a relationship that exceeds the normal definition of friendship?
These rare and wonderful relationships have God’s fingerprints all over them. They often step over the usual precursors of friendship, such as familiarity and similarity. From the world’s perspective there might not be any common bond at all. This was especially true between David and Jonathan. Not only was David a mere shepherd and Jonathan a renowned warrior prince, but Jonathan also was more then twice David’s age. David was in his late teens at this time, while Jonathan was between 40 and 45 years olds. (Saul became king 10 years before David was born in 1040 BC, soon after Jonathan was old enough to take over command of a third of the army. (1 Samuel 13:2) This is 25 years later.) Yet he didn’t take a fatherly role with David, but one of equal friendship. Why does that matter? There was no imposed distance or hierarchy in the relationship. I believe David strove to live up to the potential and the possibility Jonathan saw in him. Their relationship shared a heart bond of faith that enabled Jonathan to be a timely mentor as well as friend.
The term “mentor” comes from Homer’s Odyssey where the king entrusts his son to his friend, Mentor, to counsel, guide, train and befriend while he was off fighting a war. The Greek term is parakletos, which literally means to come along side. On the very day that David’s life radically changed, God gave him what he needed most – someone to come along side and walk with him through the transition and challenges. We desperately need someone to come along side us in our walk of faith.
Jesus was a parakletos to his twelve disciples. When He went back to heaven, He promised to send another. “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. ... But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:16,17, 26) The word “Helper” (NAS), “Counselor” (NIV) and “Friend” (Message) is the word parakletos. The Holy Spirit comes along side us in this adventure of life and faith.
But we are also to come along side each other. “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) Over the next ten years, Jonathan proved to be an incredible friend. What he did more than anything else was “encouraged him in God.” (1 Samuel 23:16) Do you have someone in your life that you can always count on to encourage you? What an incredible gift!
Speaking of gifts, on that life-changing day, Jonathan gave David some very significant and symbolic gifts. “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.” (1 Samuel 18:3,4 NIV) What were the gifts:
1) His robe
This garment identified Jonathan as a prince. Wherever he went wearing that robe, everyone knew he was royalty with all the privileges and authority that came with that distinction. By giving David his robe, Jonathan was bestowing on him prince-hood. He considered David royalty. What a big jump from shepherd to prince! It also conveys that he didn’t mind if David was mistaken for him or him for David.
2) His tunic
This was more personal then just his princely robe. He also gave him the shirt off his back. Who would you allow to wear your clothes, dress out of your closet? This was an obvious declaration that he considered David a brother, a friend, an equal!
3) His weapons: sword and bow
These represented a commitment to defend and protect. Each held specific meaning:
a) Sword: represented strength. When David took Goliath’s sword, he symbolically also took his strength. Jonathan giving David his sword was a promise to put all his strength and resources behind David.
b) Bow: The most common weapon of war in antiquity, symbolized an individual’s or nation’s power. Jonathan’s bow represented both. He committed himself and all of Israel to support this national hero.
4) His belt
This was actually a valuable and desirable part of a soldier’s military uniform. Not only was it practical as the folds held small swords, money, “snacks”, etc., but was woven or embroidered to signify identity, unit association, rank and accomplishments. Early Bronze Age belt rings have been found carved with symbols apparently representing specific victories. They were like modern day medals. In 2 Samuel 18:11 these rings were rewarded for bravery. I believe Jonathan was not only rewarding David’s bravery, but also declaring his faith in David that there will be many more.
Can you imagine what these meant to David? Each one was incredibly personal. They declared, “What is mine is yours – Who I am you will be.” They were a constant reminder of the covenant Jonathan made with him. A covenant is a heart-binding commitment that goes beyond an obligation or contract. It is meant to be unconditional and unending.
Do you realize that Jesus has made a covenant with you? Our Bible is divided into Old Testament and New Testament. A better word is “covenant.” The Old Testament is the old covenant made between God and Abraham and his literal as well as faith descendants. The New Testament is the new covenant made between Jesus and us as believers. Hebrews 7:22 calls it “a better covenant.” I love the assurance in 2 Corinthians 3:6 that He has “made us adequate as servants of [this] new covenant.” He does that by bestowing on us the same gifts Jonathan gave David.
1) He bestows on us prince (or princess)-hood. (John 1:12; 1 Peter 2:9,10)
2) Clothes us in garments of salvation and wraps us in a robe of His righteousness. (Isaiah 61:10)
3) Gives us His armor, including the sword of His word. (Ephesians 6:11-17)
4) He sees in us a potential of being just like Him. (1 John 3:2)
What does the reality of being given an eternal love-based covenant and each these incredible gifts mean to you?
David needed the partnership Jonathan offered. He needed it at that moment of radical change. He would need it more with each passing year as the Lord used some amazing opportunities and even more difficult challenges to prepare David to be the man, king and servant God intended. What a timely partnership!
We need the partnership the Lord offers us, today, and even more as we face opportunities and challenges in the days and years to come.
