The Greater Picture – Part 23

As David departed from his friend and the two of them could no longer see each other, they must have wondered how it was that God would reverse this situation. How would David go from a fugitive in the wilderness to the king of Israel? David had been in the perfect position to become king — he had recently been brought into the king’s family and the prince had clearly demonstrated that he was willing to give the throne to him. He had fought a number of battles with the Philistines and had gained quite a reputation within and without the nation. But, instead of ascending to the throne or waiting until Saul had passed it to him, he was being driven further away from everything related to royalty. In fact, his life would soon be the exact opposite of how he would have expected it to be. He would live in caves, running from the king of Israel and surrounded by a band of discontents and debtors! How would God reverse all of what had been done and bring David back to the throne?

Yet regardless of the fact that neither of these men understood what God was doing and how He was working, Jonathan never let David forget that God had said that he would be king — therefore, he would be the king, no matter what happened. After this farewell meeting, in which the two men likely thought it was their last before the Kingdom of God, Jonathan and David were able to see each other once more. As always, though time was short and though they would have wanted to exchange stories with one another, Jonathan set David’s mind on the future:

“And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. 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” (1 Sam 23:16-17).

Saul had been scouring the countryside looking for David, yet as soon as Jonathan sought to find him, he knew where to look. Just think of the danger that Jonathan encountered trying to do this — trying to depart from his father’s camp without Saul seeing him or realizing that he was gone! Nevertheless, Jonathan went to his friend, a visit which would be their last before he died — and throughout this final meeting, Jonathan “strengthened his hand in God.” Though David had been gone for months, Jonathan hadn’t changed. He was still that mentor who was focused on the things of the Kingdom and who would constantly bring David’s mind back to the things that were good. Thus, Jonathan’s words were again focused on the time in which David would be king. “The hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel.”

Truly, Jonathan did all that he could to prevent David from forgetting. He thought past all of the difficulties of today, and spoke to his friend about the glories of tomorrow.

Thus ends the story of David and Jonathan — throughout the rest of the record, the two men never see each other again. In fact, as the years passed, Jonathan followed Saul into battle with the Philistines and loyally gave his life in service to his father. Yet though Jonathan died on Mount Gilboa, David and Jonathan’s friendship lived on, because David never forgot the things which Jonathan had taught him and the example which Jonathan had left. Throughout the rest of his life, David thought about his friend, and as will be seen in a later chapter, he even fulfilled his promise to continue his kindness to Jonathan’s descendants.

But even more so, the friendship has not been forgotten because it was a type of a greater friendship to come.

Type of Christ

In the pages of Jonathan and David’s friendship, it can clearly be seen who was the leader of it all. Jonathan was the one who initiated all three of the covenants that the two men made with one another, he was the one who was older, he was the one who consistently helped David to think of the joy that was set before him. Jonathan was the mentor, Jonathan was the one who gave of himself, and Jonathan was the one who loved David as his own soul (1 Sam 20:17).

Throughout the record, this love that Jonathan had for David became a type of the love that the Lord Jesus Christ has for us. Just notice some of the similarities between Jonathan and the Lord:

• In David’s distress, Jonathan promised him that he would do whatever he needed him to do (1 Sam 20:4). The Lord Jesus Christ has given us the same assurance (John 14:13).
• Just before his life was threatened, Jonathan made a new covenant with his friend (1 Sam 20:16). The Lord Jesus, the same night on which he was betrayed, made a new covenant with his followers (Mark 14:22-25).
• Jonathan, in love for his friend, almost lost his life at the hands of a man who was set in ritual and self-service (1 Sam 20:33). So it was with the Lord Jesus. In love for his friends, he lost his life at the hands of the Jews (John 15:13-15).

The same ritual-bound man who sought to kill Jonathan, also slandered him by calling him illegitimate — the son of a “perverse and rebellious woman” (1 Sam 20:30). Once again, this was endured for the sake of his friend. In the same way, the Master was called the same thing by the Jews — illegitimate, yet he endured it so that he might complete his mission, all for the sake of his friends (John 8:41).

As David was about to go off alone into the wilderness, unaware of what challenges might face him, Jonathan was able to say to him “Go in peace,” because he could assure David of the eternal hope which he had. The Lord Jesus has said the same to us — though we know not what trials we may have to endure, the Master has told us to “Go in peace,” knowing that we have an eternal hope (John 14:27-28).

These acts of love on the part of Jonathan beautifully come together to show a shadow of the love that the Lord Jesus had and still has for his disciples. But far and above all of the other connections, there stands one which truly shows the greatness of the love which Jonathan had for his friend, and in turn, magnifies the Lord which the Lord Jesus has for all of his followers — Jonathan’s love for David was greater than any other love that David had ever experienced:

“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” (2 Sam 1:26).

Jonathan’s love surpassed anything that David had ever felt or seen — such was its quality of selflessness, humility, and patience with a man who needed to have his hand “strengthened” in God. Yet so it is with us. Truly, can it be said that we have ever experienced any love greater than the love which the Lord has for us? As he said:

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

That love which Jonathan had for David was simply a shadow of the things which were to come in the love which the Lord Jesus Christ has for us. As we have meditated upon Jonathan’s love and as we have seen his fervent attempts — even to the point of risking his own life — to lift up David’s mind to the things of the Kingdom and the things of the future, may we too see the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and may we remember that this isn’t simply a story in a book, but it’s a story that involves us too. As recipients of that love of the Lord, it is our goal to seek to give him that level of love back — to seek to be selfless, to be full of humility, and to be full of trust in what he is working every day.

Thus, the story of Jonathan not only demonstrates to us the quality of the love of the Master, but it also sets a standard for us. May we, as we ponder these lessons, seek to love as he did, and ultimately, even be willing to give up our lives for the sake of the brethren — because truly, when we learn to love like that, we won’t merely be loving like Jonathan, but we will be loving like the Lord Jesus Christ.