May God Give You a Jonathan
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 home to his family. 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. I Samuel 17:57-18:4.
“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 home to his family. 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. I Samuel 17:57-18:4.
David did not just walk in divine favor on the battlefield against Goliath, it was evident that God’s favor was on him before Jonathan and King Saul as well. Jonathan must have been very impressed with the conversation David had with his father Saul. This attraction caused Jonathan to become one in spirit with David and to love him as himself!
The depth of love Jonathan had for David, caused him to establish a covenant with him because he loved him as himself. Jonathan even went to the extent of giving his robe, tunic, sword, bow and belt to David to ratify the covenant. This was almost a statement of admission that Jonathan was prepared to accept David as the future successor to the throne held by Jonathan’s father, Saul. Future events would prove Jonathan right. David did succeed Saul as king.
There are times in life when God would touch the heart of someone to uniquely see our future and propel us with an inexplicable love and protection into that future. This is as mysterious as it is sobering and can only be adequately explained as a divine act. That is at the core of the relationship between David and Jonathan.
Jonathan was an accomplished warrior in his own right and was next in line to the throne.
But Jonathan saw the unique role that God wanted him to play in the life of David and he gladly did that. He gave up his future, signified by the transfer of his royal robe to David. It appeared Jonathan was more concerned about supporting God’s choice even at the expense of his own future. This signified nothing short of a genuine and sincere heart.
As you march on to accomplish your destiny, may God bring you a Jonathan who would be willing to give you the love and support you need because he sees you as God’s choice. May you in turn remember that God might at some point call you to be a Jonathan in somebody else’s life. Whether we are a David or a Jonathan, may we recognize and fulfill our roles effectively.
The depth of love Jonathan had for David, caused him to establish a covenant with him because he loved him as himself. Jonathan even went to the extent of giving his robe, tunic, sword, bow and belt to David to ratify the covenant. This was almost a statement of admission that Jonathan was prepared to accept David as the future successor to the throne held by Jonathan’s father, Saul. Future events would prove Jonathan right. David did succeed Saul as king.
There are times in life when God would touch the heart of someone to uniquely see our future and propel us with an inexplicable love and protection into that future. This is as mysterious as it is sobering and can only be adequately explained as a divine act. That is at the core of the relationship between David and Jonathan.
Jonathan was an accomplished warrior in his own right and was next in line to the throne.
But Jonathan saw the unique role that God wanted him to play in the life of David and he gladly did that. He gave up his future, signified by the transfer of his royal robe to David. It appeared Jonathan was more concerned about supporting God’s choice even at the expense of his own future. This signified nothing short of a genuine and sincere heart.
As you march on to accomplish your destiny, may God bring you a Jonathan who would be willing to give you the love and support you need because he sees you as God’s choice. May you in turn remember that God might at some point call you to be a Jonathan in somebody else’s life. Whether we are a David or a Jonathan, may we recognize and fulfill our roles effectively.
Prayer: Father, please help me to recognize the Jonathans you bring my way; and please help me also to know when you are calling me to be a Jonathan in someone else’s life. Amen.