“Now when 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….Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt. So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.”
I Samuel 18:1, 3-5 NKJV
Jonathan and David’s friendship began when David slew Goliath and testified before Saul. Something Jonathan heard or possibly what he saw in David caused a profound respect to develop that it pierced Jonathan’s heart forever.
The Amplified Bible writes say this: “David’s testimony before Saul and Jonathan’s response to hearing it established a friendship, admiration, and loyalty that lasted beyond Jonathan’s death.”
As I was meditating this morning, the Lord encouraged me to take a closer look at the gifts Jonathan gave that demonstrated his covenant friendship and commitment to David.
The Bible says that Johnathan took off his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt and gave them to David.
Five gifts.
Five – the number that represents grace.
Gifts – all related to covering and positioning.
In a single moment, David’s identity was changed when David was given Jonathan’s royal garments and royal weapons.
By stripping himself of his garments, Jonathan was saying: here’s my robe, I have your back and will cover you. Here’s my armor, I will protect your heart and defend you. Here’s my sword, I am honoring you and giving you authority. Here’s my bow, I see you and recognize you as an equal and a royal. Here is my belt, I will support you and hold you up. In the giving of these 5 gifts, Jonathan held nothing back from David. There was no jealousy or comparison. Jonathan felt no threat or fear. Jonathan freely gave all.
In an instant, David was promoted and his identity forever changed. The act of defeating Goliath and him testifying before the King transformed him from a shepherd boy that killed lions and bears to a man that slew tens of thousands. Jonathan must have seen in his spirit in that moment the call and destiny G-d had for David.
The Hebrew word used for “knit” above is qāšar and means “bound up” as in a gang. The Blue Letter Bible tool wrote it this way: the life of Jonathan was bound up with the life of David. It’s the same word used to describe How Jacob’s life was “bound up” in his son, Benjamin’s, life (Genesis 44:30).
Jonathan was deeply committed to David and spent the rest of his life helping prepare, protect, and position him. In a way, Jonathan shepherded David’s heart.
The type of relationship between David and Jonathan is a gift and a calling given by G-d. I felt it once – the moment an arrow pierced my heart for someone and I laid down everything to serve them. It’s a friendship that surpasses family ties and though I don’t serve him in the same capacity today, the feathers of the arrow can still be seen protruding from my heart.
I was talking to my daughter recently about friendships. One consequence of moving so frequently is that we don’t have the history with people to have “life long friends”. However, I am reminded today that He is the one that gives true friends. He puts the connection and calling it in our hearts to be knit to another and we respond. And while we wait for Him to fulfill the desires of our hearts for the type of friendship and calling found in David and Jonathan, we can rest in knowing that Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He covers me, He protects me, He has my back and defends me, and He holds nothing back from me. May I rest in His friendship today and find comfort in His presence.
Father, thank You for Your friendship and love. Thank You for my knit friend I was called to love and serve and though distance and time have changed things, I give thanks for the season You gave me to love and serve him. He is one of Your best gifts to me. Fulfill our desires in Your time and in Your way. You are good. Your leadership in my life is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: I Samuel 18-20, Psalms 11 & 59