Jonathan, Noble in Friendship

GOLDEN TEXT: “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” —Proverbs 17:17

I SAMUEL 18:3,4; 19:1-7; 23:15-18

HISTORY does not record a more touching example of friendship than that which existed between Jonathan and David. It was a mutual friendship, although David stood to gain more from it, while Jonathan risked his father’s love, and even his own life, because of it. However, we believe that if the situations were reversed David would have done the same, because of his great love for Jonathan.

Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and heir apparent to the throne of Israel, possessed noble qualities. He was faithful to his father, and seemed to be able to comfort him in his times of disappointment. His intimate understanding of his father’s view points would make him aware of the jealousy Saul entertained toward David. But at the same time he knew that David had done nothing to warrant this jealousy. So, while Jonathan loved his father, his affinity for David was strengthened by his father’s attitude.

In Jonathan’s great friendship for David we have a good example of unselfish love. From the selfish human standpoint Jonathan had as much, or more, reason to be jealous of David than his father did. Being an able warrior, and well favored in other ways, he would be the logical successor of Saul as Israel’s king, yet the tide of popularity was turning toward David. Every advancement of David meant the preparation of the people to receive him as Saul’s successor instead of Jonathan. Saul and Jonathan both knew this but they were differently affected by it.

Jonathan was willing to risk the loss of his father’s love and confidence in an effort to save David, whom the king had ordered slain. First, he took the proper course of reasoning with his father, pointing out to him that his antagonism toward David was not justified, that this shepherd boy had always been loyal to the king, even at the risk of his life in fighting against Israel’s enemies, particularly the giant, Goliath.

Temporarily Saul recognized the logic of Jonathan’s viewpoint. The account reads, “Saul hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the Lord liveth, he [David] shall not be slain.” (vs. 6) This must have brought great joy to Jonathan’s heart, and certainly it eased the situation for David. But “jealously is cruel as the grave,” and Saul’s jealous heart did not for long allow Jonathan’s reasoning to turn him from his determination to destroy David.

For the remainder of his life Saul continued his efforts to find and destroy David. David was aware of this, but did not retaliate. He simply did all he could to keep out of reach of the king. On one occasion David and his men were hiding in “the wilderness of Ziph in a wood,” and Jonathan made contact with him, and said, “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.”—I Sam. 23:15,17

Jonathan’s certainty that his father would not find David strongly implies that he used his knowledge of his friend’s whereabouts to keep his father deceived in the matter. But, as we have noted, Jonathan was protecting David to his own disadvantage. He said to David, ‘Thou shalt be king,” and of himself, “I shall be next unto thee.” Human reasoning would have told him that if he allowed David to be killed by Saul, he would have the first place in the kingdom.

Nor had Saul refrained from making this fact known to Jonathan. When he first determined that David must be slain, he said to Jonathan, “As long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom.” (I Sam. 20:31) While we do not in any way discount the great friendship which existed between Jonathan and David, its importance was in the fact that it was based upon their mutual faith in and devotion to the God of Israel. We are told that when Jonathan visited David in the wilderness of Ziph, he “strengthened his hand in God.”—I Sam. 23:16

Actually, little is recorded of the fellowship enjoyed between these two men. It seems reasonable to conclude, however, that David would confide in Jonathan the feet that Samuel had anointed him to be king of Israel.

“A friend loveth at all times.” says our Golden Text, even in “adversity.” This was true of Jonathan. He was a real brother to David when he most needed friendship. And David was appreciative. Jonathan, of course, did not enjoy the privilege of association with David when he did become king, for he was slain in battle. Subsequently David said, “I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.”—II Sam. 1:26

QUESTIONS

Relate the story of Jonathan’s and David’s friendship.

What was the true basis for this friendship?

Why was Jonathan so sure that David would become king of Israel?

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