There are so many beautiful friendships we read of in the Bible, my favorite is between Jonathan and David. The love they shared leaves me in chills every time I read or hear about it.
I was inspired by the passage about David and Jonathan in I Samuel 23 verse 14 to 17.
So the background of the story is that David, a young shepard boy became a hero to his people by slaying a giant (Goliath) who insulted the God of Isreal. He then won favor in the sight of King Saul and this is how he became close to Jonathan who was Saul’s son. As the story goes on Saul becomes jealous of David as he become great in the battlefield by Gods grace and Saul starts to seek David out to kill him…
Verse 14
And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.
Saul “sought” David, that literally means that he searched for him, he desired to find him and this was his DAILY pursuit. What could David have done to Saul to become his daily mission, the matter was so personal to him that he had to do it himself rather than sending someone after him.
In life we also find situations that are like Saul, that seem to seek us out on a daily basis, and it feels as though life has a personal vendetta against us. It may be sickness, an addiction, debt, a person anything that may seem to be following us behind restlessly. The verse doesn’t stop there though it goes on to say BUT GOD! It cancels, nullifies all that came before it and gives a new feel to that verse and brings in comfort and reassurance. That’s what happens when God when swoops into a situation, He changes whatever has happened in the past and makes a new narration to our lives.
“But God delivered him not” To deliver means to hand over, or to surrender something to someone. I feel like that shows God had David and that God was at will to hand him to Saul but He didn’t! We serve a sovereign God who has us in the palm of His hands and we can never be pulled out of His hand!
Verse 16
And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.
Can you see what God did? He revealed David to Jonathan (aka Saul who wants to kill him’s son!!). That’s just how much of substance their friendship was in Gods eyes, that He could take David out of hiding and it was with purpose, because our God is intentional!
Jonathan “strengthened David’s hand in God”, that’s just so beautiful to imagine! Other translations say that he encouraged him in the Lord, Jonathan was that friend who edified David. In the middle of the chaos of being hunted the son of his hunter is the one to bring him to a calm and revive his spirit.
Iron sharpeneth iron, the company we keep is so important for many reasons and this is one of them, that they may constantly keep us in check, renewing our strength and edifying us in God.
Verse 17
And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.
Jonathan is just amazing! He was just so Spirit lead! He speaks with such boldness and authority in this verse, I love it! He tells David not to be scared, I’m sure David was thinking, “what? Not with your dad searching high and low for me!”(lol). Anyway, his words carried assurance to David and allowed his heart to be still and they must have waved whatever fear he had away.
The verse goes on to say that Saul knew that David would be king and that he would not find him, yet he carried on with his pursuit. I’ve realized that at times I find myself avoiding, and trying to escape certain truth and realities that God puts before me, its almost like I think my will would prevail over His. We cannot rewrite what the author of our lives has already written about us, that’s why its called a predetermined destiny! His words about us remain ever true and the same, we need to embrace it because it all works for our good!
chimzyatheart 