Jonathan was not an ordinary man. No matter how long you study,
you won’t find one time in the Bible, where he didn’t have faith, made a wrong
decision, or fell into sin. Even though he was King Saul’s son, he was
certainly different from his father. He was a man of compassion and integrity
and this showed in his loyalty to David.
David is the man his father Saul tried to kill. In his life, Jonathan
gives us a picture of true friendship, and what a friend truly is like. Doing
so, he gives us a glimpse of the loyalty and dedication of the One who calls us
His friend, Jesus Christ.
I Samuel 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that
the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as
his own soul.
I Samuel 18:2
And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his
father’s house.
I Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant,
because he loved him as his own soul.
I Samuel 18:4
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it
to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his
girdle.
A. Twice it is said in this passage that Jonathan loved David as himself
1. This led to a covenant being formed between
the two of them.
2. This led to Jonathan giving David
a. His robe
b. His sword
c. His bow
d. His belt
1. Jonathan had just seen
a. The way David had dealt with Goliath
b. And had heard him speak with King Saul about
that victory
2. Jonathan was the legitimate successor to his
father’s throne
a. He gave David his robe and weapons
b. He was symbolically indicating that he was
willing to give up that right
c. He did it so David could be crowned instead
1. Jesus is the lover of our souls and has made
a covenant with us
Matthew 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them,
saying, Drink ye all of it;
Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins.
2. Like Jonathan, to make this covenant, Jesus had to lay aside His position at the right hand of God
a. Now we can be lifted to the position as son
of God
b. Now we can join as heirs of the Father
II
Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might
be rich.
Galatians 4: 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit
of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:7 Wherefore thou art
no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
I Samuel 20: 30
Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him,
Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen
the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s
nakedness? {Thou…: or, Thou perverse rebel: Heb. Son of perverse rebellion}
I Samuel
I Samuel 20: 32 And Jonathan answered Saul his
father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?
I Samuel 20: 33 And Saul cast a javelin at him
to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to
slay David.
1. He was even willing to place his life on the
line to protect David
2. In the middle of the anger and spear throwing
antics of Saul
a. Jonathan courageously spoke up for David
b. Said that David hadn’t done anything wrong
B. Jonathan’s loyalty and
love for his friend placed his own life at risk
C. This is a picture of the
true friendship of Jesus Christ
1. Like Jonathan, He was willing to do more than
lay aside His position as heir
2. Like Jonathan, He was willing to lay down His
life for his friends.
3. Jesus himself said
John
1. Jesus bore the hatred of mankind
2. So that the very people who hated Him could
go free.
D. The greatest prophecy in the Old Testament about the suffering that the Messiah would endure talks about this:
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and
acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was
despised, and we esteemed him not. {we hid…: or, he hid as it were his face
from us: Heb. as an hiding of faces from him, or, from us}
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he hath borne
our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of
God, and afflicted.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded
for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. {wounded: or,
tormented} {stripes: Heb. bruise}
I Samuel 19: 1 And Saul
spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill
David.
I Samuel 19: 2 But Jonathan
Saul’s son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my
father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself
until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
I Samuel 19: 3 And I will
go out and stand beside my father in the field where thou art, and I will
commune with my father of thee; and what I see, that I will tell thee.
I Samuel 19: 4 And Jonathan
spake good of David unto Saul his father, and said unto him, Let not the king
sin against his servant, against David; because he hath not sinned against
thee, and because his works have been to thee-ward very good:
I Samuel 19: 5 For he did
put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great
salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then
wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?
I Samuel 19: 6 And Saul
hearkened unto the voice of Jonathan: and Saul sware, As the LORD liveth, he
shall not be slain.
1. Saul is planning the death of David again
2. Jonathan comes to help David
a. Intercedes
b. And pleads for David’s life to be spared
1. He even said with an oath that David would not be put to death.
2. Of course Saul’s the word and oaths of Saul
were short lived
C. This intercession of Jonathon is a tiny picture of the intercession that Christ does on our behalf as our true friend
D. Even in His earthly ministry we see His intercession for others even before the actual event happened
An example of this is when Jesus said to Peter
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired
to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and
when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
E. Jesus now intercedes for us in His present role as our Priest and mediator before God
Hebrews 7: 24 But this man,
because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. {an…: or, which
passeth not from one to another}
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is
able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he
ever liveth to make intercession for them. {to the…: or, evermore}
Romans
Romans
1. This intercession of the Lord Jesus has nothing to do with turning away God’s wrath us.
2. The intercession on our behalf is for strength and courage to endure the trials that we face
3. We can be thankful that our High Priest is
also our friend and understands the temptations and trials we face.
Hebrews
4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews
4:15 For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews
4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
I Samuel
I Samuel
I Samuel 23:17
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.
I Samuel
1. David soon learned that Saul hadn’t given up
the chase but was still seeking to kill him.
2. I can probably imagine what David was
thinking
1. You think God is silent
2. You think the trials of this life seem too
much for you
C. We have the picture of Jonathan going out into the wilderness to encourage David.
1. Jonathon reminds David about the promises he
has received from God
a. He will be king
b. Encourages David that they will come to pass.
2. What a great picture of the Lord Jesus Christ and His encouragement to us through the Holy Spirit in the times of trial
John
14:26 But the Comforter, which is the
Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all
things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto
you.
1. Reminding us of His faithfulness
2. Then we are encouraged and have hope as explained:
Romans 15:4 For whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through
patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:5 Now the God of
patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another
according to Christ Jesus: {according to: or, after the example of}
II Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
II Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that
we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort
wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
II Corinthians 1:5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us,
so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
1. Who may be going through a hard time.
2. Like Jonathon encouraged David, and Christ
comforts us
1. About God’s faithfulness in fulfilling the
promises
2. Like Jonathan encouraged David, and Christ
comforts us
C. Jonathan interceded, encouraged and laid down his rights for his friend.
D. Jesus does all of these
things for us and we likewise, are called to show the same friendship to others
in need.
Jonathon – A Type of Christ |
|
Jonathon |
Christ |
Jonathan
made a covenant with David because he loved him as his own soul I Samuel
18:3 |
Jesus made
a covenant with us because He loves us Matthew
26:27-28 |
Jonathon
laid aside his position as heir to Saul’s throne so that David would be heir. I Samuel
18:1-4 |
Jesus laid
aside His position as heir to the Father’s throne so that we may be heirs II
Corinthians 8:9; Galatians 4:6 |
Jonathon laid
down his life for his friend I Samuel
20:30-33 |
Jesus laid
down His life for His friends John
15:13; Isaiah 53:3-5 |
Jonathon
Interceded and pleaded for David’s life – Saul wanted to kill him again I Samuel
19:1-6 |
Jesus
continually intercedes on our behalf – though Satan would like to destroy us Luke
22:31-32; Hebrews 7:24-25; Romans 8:33-34; Hebrews 4:14-16 |
Jonathon
encouraged his friend while he was in the wilderness I Samuel
23:15-18 |
Jesus
encourages us through the Holy Spirit in times of trial John
14:26; Romans 15:4; II
Corinthians 1:3-5 |