Brotherly Love

Where Have we come from

From the call of Adam and eve

Not Believing Lies Living out The fruits of the spirit Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

power of prayer What is being written about us today

Trusting Gods Promises and exercising your Faith Muscles

john 3:16

Jonathan and David

1 Samuel 20:41 “After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most.”

Jonathan and David become close friends after David’s victory over Goliath. Jonathan, the son of King Saul, forms a covenant with David, giving him his robe, armor, and sword as a sign of his loyalty. Despite his father Saul's growing jealousy of David, Jonathan remains a faithful to him

Start the plot

After Joshua died, the tribes of Israel continued to fight against the Canaanites (Judges 1), but they did not drive out all the people who had lived in the land. In addition, the tribes of Israel were also surrounded by other peoples who were not friendly.

At this time, the Israelites began to forget the promises they had made to the Lord while Joshua was still alive. Some of them worshiped the Canaanite gods, Baal and Astarte, as well as idols of other gods from nearby lands The Lord was so angry that he let the surrounding nations raid Israel’s lands and steal their crops and possessions (Judges 2:6-15).

When the people cried out for help, God felt sorry for them. Help came from special leaders known as judges. The judges sometimes settled legal cases , but most of them were more well known as military leaders chosen by God to lead the Israelites in battle against their enemies.

Eli- High priest, Judge and mentor to = Samuel - Prophet, priest, last judge of Israel

KING SAUL

In Samuel 15 God regrets Making Saul king because he has turned away from following God

1 Samuel 18:6–7 “When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.”

1 Samuel 18:10–12 “The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David but had departed from Saul.”

1 Samuel 16:13 “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.”

David was on the run from Saul for approximately 13 years. This began when David was fleeing the king's court after learning of Saul's murderous intent and continued until Saul's death. 

1 Samuel 20:1–42 NIV

Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, “What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to kill me?” “Never!” Jonathan replied. “You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn’t do anything, great or small, without letting me know. Why would he hide this from me? It isn’t so!” But David took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.” Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.” So David said, “Look, tomorrow is the New Moon feast, and I am supposed to dine with the king; but let me go and hide in the field until the evening of the day after tomorrow. If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David earnestly asked my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because an annual sacrifice is being made there for his whole clan.’ If he says, ‘Very well,’ then your servant is safe. But if he loses his temper, you can be sure that he is determined to harm me. As for you, show kindness to your servant, for you have brought him into a covenant with you before the Lord. If I am guilty, then kill me yourself! Why hand me over to your father?” “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?” David asked, “Who will tell me if your father answers you harshly?” “Come,” Jonathan said, “let’s go out into the field.” So they went there together. Then Jonathan said to David, “I swear by the Lord, the God of Israel, that I will surely sound out my father by this time the day after tomorrow! If he is favorably disposed toward you, will I not send you word and let you know? But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father. But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. Then Jonathan said to David, “Tomorrow is the New Moon feast. You will be missed, because your seat will be empty. The day after tomorrow, toward evening, go to the place where you hid when this trouble began, and wait by the stone Ezel. I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. Then I will send a boy and say, ‘Go, find the arrows.’ If I say to him, ‘Look, the arrows are on this side of you; bring them here,’ then come, because, as surely as the Lord lives, you are safe; there is no danger. But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.” So David hid in the field, and when the New Moon feast came, the king sat down to eat. He sat in his customary place by the wall, opposite Jonathan, and Abner sat next to Saul, but David’s place was empty. Saul said nothing that day, for he thought, “Something must have happened to David to make him ceremonially unclean—surely he is unclean.” But the next day, the second day of the month, David’s place was empty again. Then Saul said to his son Jonathan, “Why hasn’t the son of Jesse come to the meal, either yesterday or today?” Jonathan answered, “David earnestly asked me for permission to go to Bethlehem. He said, ‘Let me go, because our family is observing a sacrifice in the town and my brother has ordered me to be there. If I have found favor in your eyes, let me get away to see my brothers.’ That is why he has not come to the king’s table.” Saul’s anger flared up at Jonathan and he said to him, “You son of a perverse and rebellious woman! Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of the mother who bore you? As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now send someone to bring him to me, for he must die!” “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David. Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the feast he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father’s shameful treatment of David. In the morning Jonathan went out to the field for his meeting with David. He had a small boy with him, and he said to the boy, “Run and find the arrows I shoot.” As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. When the boy came to the place where Jonathan’s arrow had fallen, Jonathan called out after him, “Isn’t the arrow beyond you?” Then he shouted, “Hurry! Go quickly! Don’t stop!” The boy picked up the arrow and returned to his master. (The boy knew nothing about all this; only Jonathan and David knew.) Then Jonathan gave his weapons to the boy and said, “Go, carry them back to town.” After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most. Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’ ” Then David left, and Jonathan went back to the town.

Criticism from a friend is better than flattery from an enemy.

Anonymous

The relationship between David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel offers several important lessons for men, especially regarding friendship, loyalty, and emotional depth. Here are some key takeaways:

Loyalty and Commitment: Jonathan and David's bond is and example of deep loyalty. Despite the fact that Jonathan was the son of King Saul, who saw David as a threat, Jonathan chose to support and protect David rather than align with his own father. This highlights the value of loyalty in relationships—putting the well-being of a friend above personal gain or family expectations.

Selflessness and Sacrifice: Jonathan’s willingness to give up his rightful place as heir to the throne in favor of David is a profoundly a demonstration of selflessness. He recognized David’s anointing as king by God and chose to prioritize God’s plan over his own ambition or desires. This teaches the importance of humility and sacrifice in relationships, particularly when the well-being or success of others is at stake.

Vulnerability and Emotional Openness: The emotional connection between David and Jonathan was strong and genuine. They openly expressed their love and friendship, with passages in 1 Samuel describing them weeping together (1 Samuel 20:41). Men, in particular, can learn the value of expressing their emotions and forming bonds based on mutual trust and openness, breaking down stereotypes about emotional restraint.

Respect and Honor: David and Jonathan's relationship was marked by mutual respect. Despite the political tension between their families, they maintained a strong bond of trust. Jonathan honored David as someone chosen by God, and David respected Jonathan as a friend and ally. This teaches men the importance of mutual respect and honor in relationships, especially when navigating complex situations.

Covenant and Faithfulness: The covenant that Jonathan and David made with each other was based on a promise of faithfulness, even after Jonathan’s death (1 Samuel 20:42). David kept his word to Jonathan by showing kindness to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, later on (2 Samuel 9). This teaches the value of keeping commitments, honoring promises, and showing faithfulness even when the circumstances change.

2 Samuel

Support in Times of Trial: Jonathan stood by David during his difficult moments, especially when David was being pursued by King Saul. Instead of distancing himself from David, Jonathan encouraged him and reaffirmed his loyalty. This illustrates the importance of being there for friends during times of hardship, providing encouragement and support when it’s needed most.

In summary, the relationship between David and Jonathan provides a model for us to cultivate deep, selfless, and emotionally supportive friendships built on loyalty, respect, . This story demonstrates that true friendship is not just about shared experiences or convenience, but about standing by each other through thick and thin, and supporting one another's well-being and growth.

In 1 Samuel 18-31, Jonathan plays a crucial role, showing his deep friendship with David, loyalty to his father Saul, and faith in God’s plan1 Samuel 18:

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1 Samuel 19:

Saul’s jealousy leads him to attempt to kill David. Jonathan tries to warn David of his father’s intentions and devises a plan to confirm Saul’s feelings toward David. Jonathan pleads with Saul to spare David’s life, but Saul’s anger only grows.

1 Samuel 20:

Jonathan and David's bond is solidified in a secret meeting, where Jonathan again seeks to protect David. They devise a code involving arrows to communicate Saul’s intentions. Jonathan swears an oath to David, vowing to protect him and ensuring David's safety even if it means turning against his own father.

1 Samuel 23:

Jonathan goes to David in the wilderness and strengthens his faith in God, encouraging him to remain steadfast. Jonathan reaffirms his commitment to David’s future reign, acknowledging that David will become king and he will be second to him.

1 Samuel 31:

In the final chapter, Saul and Jonathan die in battle against the Philistines. Jonathan’s death is particularly tragic for David, who mourns deeply for his beloved friend. David laments the loss of Jonathan, declaring that his love for him was greater than the love of women.

Overall, Jonathan's role in these chapters is defined by his unwavering friendship with David and his commitment to God’s will, even when it requires personal sacrifice. His actions contrast sharply with his father Saul’s jealousy and fear of David, making Jonathan a pivotal and tragic figure in the story.