2. Jonathan’s Friendship
David: A Man after of God’s Own Heart Series [5]
1 Samuel 18-20
© February 5, 2017
Pastor Paul K. Kim 2

3. RECAP: SAUL’S INTESIFYING JEALOUSY OF DAVID
Saul’s jealousy was rooted in his insecurity due to a self-centered heart.
Saul’s jealousy was triggered by the Israelite women’s victory song comparing David’s success to his success, which angered him.
Saul’s jealousy was rapidly intensified from covert motives to overt actions to kill David, fearing that he might lose his throne to David.
Unlike Saul, Jonathan responded not with jealousy but with undying friendship for David. How was Jonathan able to do this?

4. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
Lesson #1: Jonathan’s friendship was marked by a SELFLESS LOVE & SURRENDERED HEART to God’s sovereign plan (1 Sam. 18:1-5).
1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.  2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. (18:1-5)
His love was free from envy and jealousy (a sign of selfless true love).
His action was a surrender of his crown to David (God-centered heart).

5. A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity
  A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

6. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
Lesson #2: Jonathan’s friendship was marked by an UNDYING LOYALTY to his friend, David as well as to his father, King Saul (1 Sam. 19:1-7).
1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” 4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 

7. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
Lesson #2: Jonathan’s friendship was marked by an UNDYING LOYALTY to his friend, David as well as to his father, King Saul (1 Sam. 19:1-7).
5 For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine,  and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” 6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore,  “As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death.”7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before. (19:1-7)
His loyal friendship was a fruit of his integrity—he was loyal even in his relationship with his senseless father.
His friendship for David was much more than feelings—it was a undying loyalty to seek his friend’s best.

8.   Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find? Proverbs 20:6

9. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
Lesson #3: Jonathan’s friendship was marked by a PERPETUAL COMMITMENT to David as a covenantal friendship (1 Sam. 20:12-17).
12 And Jonathan said to David, “The LORD, the God of Israel, be witness! When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13 But should it please my father to do you harm, the LORD do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety.  May the LORD be with you, as he has been with my father. 

10. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
Lesson #3: Jonathan’s friendship was marked by a PERPETUAL COMMITMENT to David as a covenantal friendship (1 Sam. 20:12-17).
14 If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the LORD, that I may not die;15 and do not cut off your steadfast love from my house forever, when the LORD cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD take vengeance on David's enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul. (20:12-17)
Notice that Jonathan initiated a bold commitment to reassure his frightened (& doubtful) friend, risking his life in being loyal to David.
He made a covenant before (18:3) but he renews his commitment again and again (also in 23:18) before God in a covenantal friendship with David.

11.   A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

12. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
Lesson #4: Jonathan’s friendship was marked by a SACRIFICIAL LOVE for his friend surpassing even romantic love (1 Sam 23:16-18; 2 Sam. 1:26).
16 And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. 17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.”  18 And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home. 1 Samuel 23:16-18
Jonathan strengthened David’s faith here. Have you been strengthened by a friend’s sacrificial love—going extra miles to encourage you in God?

13. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
Lesson #4: Jonathan’s friendship was marked by a SACRIFICIAL LOVE for his friend surpassing even romantic love (1 Sam 23:16-18; 2 Sam. 1:26).
26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; very pleasant have you been to me;     your love to me was extraordinary,     surpassing the love of women. 2 Samuel 1:26
Jonathan strengthened David’s faith here. Have you been strengthened by a friend’s sacrificial love—going extra miles to encourage you in God?
To David, Jonathan’s love was extraordinary because he laid down his life sacrificially; it is NOT that friendship love is superior to marital love but that he didn’t experience (or practice) selfless sacrificial love in marriage.

14. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

15. HOW CAN APPLY THE LESSONS FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
1) We are to REALIZE THAT OUR TRUE “JONATHAN” IS JESUS who has loved us with his undying and sacrificial love.
Look to Christ and put your full trust in him.
Walk with Jesus and cultivate a deeper friendship with him in your journey.

16. A Greater than Jonathan
A greater than Jonathan is here today, right now where you are. He is here to plan for you, to care for you. Is your lot hard to take? Is the going rough? Is there a cup of bitterness to drink somewhere? Are your friends of a totally different kind from Jonathan and have they hurt and grieved you? The Bible says that joy comes in the morning, for then we will see the King in His beauty with never a cloud between, and we will serve Him without any weariness or sin, and He shall present us faultless before the presence of God with exceeding joy. His love is so wonderful! His love was so disinterested in action that He not merely stepped into the background, but He stepped right down to the cross. He came, not merely to comfort and strengthen our hands in God, but “bearing shame and scoffing rude, in our place condemned He stood (Philip P. Bliss)”
— Alan Redpath

17. HOW CAN APPLY THE LESSONS FROM JONATHAN’S FRIENDSHIP?
1) We are to REALIZE THAT OUR TRUE “JONATHAN” IS JESUS who has loved us with his undying and sacrificial love.
Look to Christ and put your full trust in him.
Walk with Jesus and cultivate a deeper friendship with him in your journey.
2) We are to LIVE OUT THE VALUE OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP by following the example of Jonathan and David.
Restore the hope and beauty of true biblical friendship.
Focus NOT on searching for an ideal loyal friend but on being a loyal friend.
We are to BE A JONANTHAN to those who are around us—starting with the brothers/sisters in our church community.
Practice selfless love, undying loyalty, covenantal friendship, and sacrifice.
Start with a brother and sister in your men’s or women’s group.

18. THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE
What would it mean for you to realize that Jesus is your true Jonathan from inside out by faith?
What would it mean for you to restore the value of true friendship by following David & Jonathan’s example here at CrossWay?
What is your first step toward being a Jonathan to those who are in your community—i.e., practicing (1) selfless love, (2) undying loyalty, (3) covenantal friendship, and (4) sacrificial love?