Every long time Bible student knows about the friendship of David and Jonathan, and of the jealousy that Saul over David’s popularity with the people. 1 Samuel 20 contains one of the dramatic chapters of this relationship. The events that unfold show the courageous love of both David and Jonathan.
Saul wanted to kill David (1 Sam. 19:1, 11, 15). Jonathan has extended his friendship to David and will not allow that to happen without cause. Allow me to mention just a couple of actions that show this love. Maybe we too can grow in our courageous love.
- Jonathan took a stand for what was right against his family. Many friendships have been ended because the family did not like it. Some of those needed to end. But Jonathan stood with his friend because he had done nothing wrong. He loved David even when his father wanted to kill him.
- David shows courage in being willing to pay for any wrongdoing that was worthy of punishment by death (1 Sam. 20:8). Part of courageous love is accepting the consequences of our wrongs. If we expect others to, we should also.
- David also shows courageous love in not fighting back against Saul. David was already an accomplished warrior at this time. It was from that fact that his popularity with the people and Saul’s jealousy arose. Many times in this conflict with Saul, David turned the other cheek. He fled rather than fight God’s anointed. Sometimes the greatest courage and love is to not fight, not respond in kind. Consider Jesus, “who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not…” (1 Pet. 2:21).
- Jonathan showed a courageous love in warning David and saving his life 1 Sam. 23:16-17). But he also showed a very courageous love in not turning his back on his father and family. He managed a most difficult thing. He remained loyal to two people who were enemies to each other when one was in the right and the other in the wrong. His love and loyalty to his father eventually led him to his death as they fought side by side against the enemy army (1 Sam. 31:2).
Mike Glenn (e-bulletin 1-3)