I Samuel 18:3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as much as his own soul.

David’s relationship with Jonathan was a very complicated one for Jonathan. After David defeated Goliath he moved his residence to become part (and a leader) of Saul’s army. David was probably around twenty years old at this time. David probably spent his next ten to thirteen years in the court of Saul. Jonathan’s relationship with David grew very close during this time since David would be a big part of the activities in Saul’s house. This relationship between Jonathan and David became a major conflict with Jonathan’s relationship with his father Saul.

In I Samuel 14:10 “But if they say “come on up” then we will will go up because this will be our sign that God has delivered them into our hands.” we get a glimpse of Jonathan’s faith in God. In this early battle of his career Jonathan and his armour bearer kill about twenty Philistines. This was battle also set the stage for the conflict that Jonathan would face with Saul and his poor decisions in the future. It also shows that as a young man he placed his trust in the hands of the Lord to open and close doors.

As I study Jonathan’s life and his relationship with David I see someone who trusted in the Lord. Jonathan saw how the Lord’s hand was upon David and he also saw the fear that this placed upon his father. Jonathan is one of the characters that God has given us to understand how we must take a stand even when it hurts our relationship with our love ones.

Jonathan stand against his father and his desire to get his father to see and understand that David’s true motives farther split their relationship. Jonathan probably understood that David was to be the next king. He understood this and his desire was to support the future king and yet at the same time serve the current king (his father Saul). This lead up to a disappointing relationship with his father to the point it even made Jonathan a friend of the Saul’s rival which probably weigh heavy on Jonathan’s emotional life. Jonathan’s example can help us understand Jesus prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed “not my will, but thine will be done”.

Jonathan serves as an example of someone in David’s life who understood how to surrender his will to God’s will not his will. In today’s world were everyone wants their way and it all about me and my glory Jonathan’s example serve how a Christian should surrender to God’s will. Having to surrender to God’s will can be a difficult decision; however afterward you will realize a peace beyond understanding in your life. Seeking God’s will and not your will is difficult and will only come about with much prayer and studying His Word. Does your love for Christ measure up to Jonathan’s love for David. Jonathan accepted David as king in his life. Do you accept Christ as king in your life?