Through Thick & Thin - Part 7 [Notes]

Relationships are so important, and yet they can be so difficult. The pandemic, social media and a divided country have not helped. How do we develop new relationships? How do we strengthen the ones we have? How do we repair the ones that seem broken? Why does it even matter?  

Join us for our series titled, Through Thick & Thin. We will explore ways to develop the kinds of friendships that will enrich our lives.

Today's Takeaway // Christ-centered friendships are the best friendships.

Too many Bible readers still view David and Jonathan as two frolicsome teenagers who liked each other because they had many common interests, but this picture is shallow and inaccurate. Jonathan had to be at least twenty years old to be in his father’s army, and the fact that Jonathan was already commanding one-third of that army and had won two great victories indicates that he was a seasoned soldier and not a callow adolescent.
– Warren Wiersbe

That same day Saul’s son Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” However, he did not tell his father.
– 1 Samuel 14:1 (CSB)

Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. Go ahead! I’m completely with you.” “All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us — that will be our sign.” They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!” The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said. “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.” Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in a half-acre field.
– 1 Samuel 14:6-14 (CSB)

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with a sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of the ranks of Israel — you have defied him. Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, remove your head, and give the corpses of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the wild creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God, and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves, for the battle is the Lord’s. He will hand you over to us.”
– 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (CSB)

Commitment to God
Commitment to each other

When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself. Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house. Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.
– 1 Samuel 18:1-3 (CSB)

It is no wonder Saul attempted to bring David into his royal retinue, since he was a young and promising warrior. David would be a great political and military ally. His presence in the royal house would certainly boost morale! However, the text gives other motivations at work in Saul as well. He experiences the burning pangs of jealousy in his heart and life.
– J. D. Greear and Heath A. Thomas, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Samuel

Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much, so he told him, “My father, Saul, intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there. I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I’ll tell you.” Jonathan spoke well of David to his father, Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?” Saul listened to Jonathan’s advice and swore an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed.” So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before.
–  1 Samuel 19:1-7 (CSB)

If I continue to live, show me kindness from the Lord, but if I die, don’t ever withdraw your kindness from my household — not even when the Lord cuts off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” Then Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the Lord hold David's enemies accountable."
– 1 Samuel 20:14 (CSB)

David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God, saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.” Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence.
– 1 Samuel 23:15-18 (CSB)

Commitment to God
Commitment to each other
Consideration

Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.
– 1 Samuel 18:14

To receive any part of the dress which had been worn by a sovereign, or his eldest son and heir, is deemed, in the East, the highest honor which can be conferred on a subject.
– Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,
– Philippians 2:1-5 (CSB)

Commitment to God
Commitment to each other
Consideration
Care

When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship, and loved him as much as he loved himself. Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house. Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.
– 1 Samuel 18:1-3 (CSB)

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.
You were such a friend to me.
Your love for me was more wondrous
than the love of women.
– 2 Samuel 26 (CSB)

'Ahăḇâ

Demonstrates that the men were like-minded in their observance of God’s Law and zeal for Israel.
– John D. Barry 

The text does not suggest that David had a homosexual relationship with Jonathan or that David had a poor relationship with his wives. Rather, it speaks to an unbreakable friendship bond between men that has been witnessed countless times and in countless cultures throughout history.
– CSB Study Bible

We Praise You // 1,000 Names // The Truth // Thank God I Do

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