Dave's Diary

1 Samuel 20

Today’s reading gives us an Old Testament example of the sort of covenant “connectedness” to which we are called by God in the Body of Christ.

Jonathan was the son of king Saul, and therefore next in line for the throne according to royal custom. David was the young man whom God had chosen and anointed to be the next king. One would expect them to be natural enemies but, against all the odds, these two young warriors formed a unique bond of brotherhood from very early on in their acquaintance and became “one in spirit”. Their covenant of friendship was so deep that twice in 1 Samuel 18 we are told that Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. (See 1 Samuel 18:1-5)

That love was sorely tested when David’s military successes and popularity led to Saul being so jealous of David that his jealousy led first to anger, then violence, and then overwhelming fear. This violent fear and anger grew relentlessly in Saul’s heart as David became increasingly successful and popular, and Saul made numerous attempts to murder David (18:11, 17 and 25; 19:1-3 and 11). When Jonathan realised what was happening, he tried desperately to mediate peace between the two. All he wanted was to be able to love and respect his father and his best friend. But despite Saul’s oath to Jonathan not to put David to death, he continued in his evil plotting and assassination attempts (19:6-10). Jonathan was stuck in the middle.

1 Samuel 20 records how Jonathan renewed his covenant commitment to David. He assured David that he had no desire for the throne that God had promised to David after Saul and that he would continue to work to protect David. David in turn renewed his covenant promise and assured Jonathan that his family would not be annihilated when David replaced Saul as king. (This kind of murder to safeguard power is what often happened at the time).

In the way David and Jonathan made and abided by this covenant (20:18–42), we see covenantal, loyal love on display. Phrases such as “steadfast love” and “kindness” in 20:1–17 translate the Hebrew term for covenant love, hesed. This rich concept refers to enduring faithfulness and an unwavering commitment to seek the other’s highest best. It is more than just a sentiment or feeling. Because of hesed, Jonathan and David sought one another’s highest best even when it cost them dearly.

This kind of covenant loyalty that we see between David and Jonathan should characterize our relationships in the body of Christ. We should not only connect with each other at a superficial level but, as the covenant family of Christ, we should be seeking one another’s good. Let us commit ourselves in 2023 to seek the highest best of our brothers and sisters in Christ in the local church, and to endeavour not to harm them in any way through our words and actions. Let us display the same commitment to our covenant family, as David and Jonathan showed each other.

Lord, grant me the ability to forge deep and abiding commitments of brotherly/sisterly love with my covenant-family in the local church. Move my heart to seek the highest best of others at all times and to be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit in this pursuit. Amen.