1 Samuel 23:18

New International Version

The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.

For Encouragement

When the billows roll and the waves surge, when the storms become angrier and the darkness around deepens, every lightning that lights the skies and thunder that rumbles force us to miss a heartbeat. All hope seems gone, and our only desire is the voice of God, so when a Jonathan becomes His instrument of encouragement to David, we drink from their story to the final dreg.

Jonathan was the heir apparent to the throne after his father and a capable one he would have been—a valiant soldier with good judgment and a heart for the Lord. Out of nowhere, David comes along. With courage and extraordinary faith, he stands upon the name and sovereignty of Yahweh to confront and kill Goliath, the Philistine giant they all hid from—intimidated and defeated. Jonathan learns God has anointed David to succeed his father. One would expect Jonathan to feel threatened, but No!

God has made a call, and he will not fight it. The Lord works in his heart to love David as himself and to surrender the throne to him (1 Sam. 18:1-4). What his father thinks does not matter. God has the preeminence, and Jonathan submits to Him. The two friends enter a covenant before the Lord to remain faithful to each other as partners, with David as leader. They commit to each other with a bond of love (18:4).

Death is the only thing that could thwart their future partnership. Jonathan becomes a constant advocate for David and a faithful keeper of his interest in King Saul’s camp. No word about David would miss Jonathan’s ears. He will do everything to prevent a surprise attack on his friend. So, when his father planned a surprise attack on David at Horesh, Jonathan went to encourage him in the Lord (1 Sam. 23:15-18). There, they renewed their covenant, a testament to the enduring nature of their friendship. It refreshed David and renewed Jonathan. They sealed their mutual commitment to each other’s interests, the outworking of a healthy relationship God desires for His children. It is a bond of friendship undergirded by love and strengthened by mutual trust and commitment to Christ.

When the Philistines took the life of Jonathan on Mt. Gilboa (31:1-2), his death broke David’s heart. As king, David sought after Jonathan’s disabled son, Mephibosheth, and favored him with a permanent seat at his table–a beautiful picture of God’s grace to us in Christ Jesus (2 Sam. 9:1-11).

We have a Covenant-keeping God who yielded His heavenly prerogatives to share in our humanity to save us (Philippians 2:6-11). He has given us His promised Holy Spirit to help us build healthy relationships that honor Him, like that of David and Jonathan. His fruit flourishes in yielded and emptied vessels made ready for filling and using to exalt our Savior.

Are you honoring this covenant in your daily living? Can you covenant with a fellow believer like this as evidence of your discipleship and keep it?

Pray with Me.

Father, thank you for the example of David and Jonathan’s friendship, a covenant relationship that flows from yours to your redeemed in Christ Jesus. We pray your Spirit would enable us to remain faithful to you and each other in Him. It is all to your glory and honor in Jesus’s gracious name, amen.