“Then David took an oath again, and said, ‘your father certainly knows that I have found favour in your eyes, and he has said, ‘do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death,” (I Samuel 20:3 NKJV).

David and Jonathan present us with a picture of a covenantal relationship. A relationship is borne out of friendship, exigencies and admiration for one another.

Nicky Gumbel wrote: “David and Jonathan loved each other. Jonathan ‘was very fond of David’ (v.1) and he ‘spoke well of David’ (v.4). Jonathan even said to David, ‘Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you’ (20:4). What a great commitment to a friend! Their commitment to each other took the form of a ‘covenant’ (v.16), which included even their descendants (v.42). And Jonathan ‘made David reaffirms his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself’ (vv.16–17).”

The bond between David and Jonathan was legendary. It is so exemplary that David made a poetic note of their relationship when Saul and Jonathan died in a war. “Saul and Jonathan were beloved and pleasant in their lives. And in their death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. ‘O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with luxury; who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan was slain in your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me; your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women. ‘How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!’” (II Samuel 1:23-27 NKJV).

Their affection was mutual. David found in Jonathan the friendship, loyalty and love he needed in times of crisis, while Jonathan saw in David an emblem of true leadership and inspiring courage.

As a mark of love and submission, Jonathan took his robe, his armour, his sword, his bow and his belt, symbols of his authority to the throne and surrendered them to David. “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 armour, even to his sword and his bow and his belt,” (I Samuel 18:3-4 NKJV). This submission was a mark of humility, loyalty and true friendship.

Jonathan not only love David, he was very sincere with David to the point of laying down his life for him. At the risk of his life, Jonathan defended David before Saul, his envious father. “And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said to him, ‘Why should he be killed? What has he done?’ Then Saul cast a spear at him to kill him, by which Jonathan knew that it was determined by his father to kill David,” (I Samuel 20:32-33 NKJV).

Jonathan chose David above himself and was willing to serve next to him on the throne. “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. Even my father Saul knows that,” (I Samuel 23:17 NKJV).

In David and Jonathan, we find how favour could be mutual and beneficial. It was a love that transcended rivalry and jealousy.

• Contact:[email protected]