Untitled Sermon (5)
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1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
You ain’t never had a friend like Jesus
You ain’t never had a friend like Jesus
You ain’t never had a friend like Jesus
You ain’t never had a friend like Jesus
You ain’t never had a friend like Jesus
You ain’t never had a friend like Jesus
For weeks a man had been trying to get ahold of a friend that he hadn’t seen for a while. text messages weren’t being replied to, phone calls weren’t being answered and voice messages never responded to. Finally, one day when he called, after several rings the call went to what was a new voice mail mail recording which stated: “I am not available right now, but I thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.”
We’ve all had those types of friends. Friends that for no apparent reason, decided we were one of the changes they needed to make. Friends that we couldn’t count on. Friends that when we needed them the most, we could count on them the least.
However, I like the way the write of Proverbs said it in And there is A FRIEND that sticketh closer than a brother.
you may have been let down
You may have been dissapointed
You may have been dissapointed
you may have been the change that a friend was making...
you may have been the change that a friend was making...
But…you AINT never had a friend like Jesus!
But…you AINT never had a friend like Jesus!
24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
you may have been let down
You may have been dissapointed
you may have been the change that a friend was making...
But…you AINT never had a friend like Jesus!
Throughout the Bible, we find many compelling illustrations of companionship and camaraderie. Relationships that displayed the qualities of devotion, dedication and dependability. One of the greatest illustrations of a bond of friendship would be the relationship between Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Ruth, whose name actually means friend, lived up to her name as she exhibited great loyalty (expound).
or the bond of friendship that was see forged between the prophet Elijah and his protege Elisha. When 3 times the elder prophet told the younger to stay behind, and three times the younger refused declaring his intent to never leave his side. We could cite the example of reconciled relationships like that of the new testament alliance between The Apostle Paul and John Mark (expound). Yet for all of the Biblical exampled, images and illustrations of the bond of friendship, none is more exemplary than that of David and Jonathan.
Jonathan a type of Christ:
Jonathan was a “First Friend”
Jonathan was a “First Friend”
tells us that as soon as David had finished his conversation with Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to David. Another modern translations renders that phrase, Jonathan quickly befriended David.
If we just look at these two men from the position of their status, it would make sense that David would be the one that just couldn’t wait to befriend Jonathan.
there is a tendency and a propensity instinctively positioned within the DNA of humanity. We all suffer from it to some degree. That is our infatuation with celebrity. Our attraction to those of renown and elevated status.
Check these crazy stories out: In 2004, a was of chewing gum that had been spit out by Britney Spears was listed on Ebay for $14,000
Listen to these crazy purchases that people made just to possess something that had once been in the possession of a celebrity:
A jar that had reportedly captured the breath of Brad Pitt and Angelena Jolie sold on ebay for $530
Britney spears spit out a wad of chewed up bubble gum that was collected and sold on ebay. The highest bid had reached over $14,000 dollars
Several years ago, a wad of bubble gum that had been chewed by Brittney Spears was auctioned on Ebay and at one point had garnered a bid of over $14,000 dollars
A jar that reportedly had been used to capture the breath of Brad Pitt and Angelena Jolie as they passed by on the red carpet, sold on ebay for $530 (just in case anyone here is interested, I have several jars from various celebrities whose breath I captured…see my after service…cash only please)
In 2006 Justin Timberlake couldn’t quite finish his french toast breakfast at a NY city diner. The scraps were gathered and then sold on ebay for $3,154.
And the locks from a Justin Beiber haircut were sold on Ebay for $40,668!!
Jonathan was the prince…the heir apparent. He was undoubtedly the most eligible bachelor in all of Israel…His father was the king. The fame and fortune that come with nobility were undoubtedly attached to Jonathan.
Of a certainty,
David, on the other hand was the son of a shepherd from Bethlehem. The same qualities that made Jonathan a celebrity, were far removed from David’s life.
Purely from the outlook of humanity, it should have been David that first approached Jonathan…but it was Jonathan whose soul was first knit to David.
Can I tell you today that it was Jesus that first loved you! It was Jesus that first loved me!
His love wasn’t in response to me seeking him. His grace wasn’t in response to me getting my act together. His mercy isn’t made available when you make up your mind…No…He first loved you and He first loved me!
To think that the God of heaven, came and dwelt among us. The King of all Kings and the Lord of Lords. The maker of the heavens and the earth. And yet, he loved me first?!?
While David was from a common family. No riche
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
We love him, because he first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
2. Jonathan was a Selfless Friend
2. Jonathan was a Selfless Friend
1 Samuel chapter 17, the chapter preceding this is the account of David killing the giant, Goliath. The word is spreading around Israel of David’s victory.
The top song on the radio is how that Saul has slain his thousands but David has slain his ten thousands. vs. 8 tells us that when Saul hears the news of the song that is being sung, he considers that next they will be removing him from King and replacing him with David as their King.
7 This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”
1 samuel 18:7
7 This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”
8 This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!”
Jonathan had nothing to gain from this friendship and everything to lose.
He was the rightful heir of the throne, but instead of guarding it from this perceived threat, he embraced David.
I know that there are those that might think that when God found you, he got the better end of the bargain. The reality is that he got the raw end of the deal.
When God found me, I had nothing to offer Him.
I brought to him my shattered dreams, he gave me hope in exchange
I brought to
When he loved me, he had everything to lose and nothing to gain!
You might be feeling like entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus is going to cost you too much. Like the things you will have to lay aside, and the changes that you will be required to make are just too extravagant and extraordinary…but I promise you that he made the greater investment.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You might be feeling like entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus is going to cost you too much. Like the things you will have to lay aside, and the changes that you will be required to make are just too extravagant and extraordinary…but I promise you that he made the greater investment.
I brought to him my shattered dreams, he gave me hope in exchange
I brought to him my defeat and he gave me the power to overcome.
You might be feeling like entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus is going to cost you too much. Like the things you will have to lay aside, and the changes that you will be required to make are just too extravagant and extraordinary…but I promise you that he made the greater investment.
3. (Closing) Jonathan was an Exchanging Friend
3. (Closing) Jonathan was an Exchanging Friend
vs. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.
Many commentaries state that the cultural significance of what Jonathan was doing when he removed his robe, which was a symbol of his status as the kings son and then giving it to David, was a statement that he was transferring the kingdom to David.
It was an exchange that was being offered by Jonathan…as he removed his royal robe and became common, he gave it to David, making covering his common clothes with royalty.
You aint never had a friend like Jesus!
The great God of glory left his throne and came and the bible says that he that knew no sin became sin that we might be made the righteousness of God!!
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
When God removed that robe of glory and put on the robe of flesh, he came that we could put on the robe of righteousness…that every sin could be covered. That all of the shame could be removed!!
The prophet Isaiah foretold this exchange in Isaiah chapter 53 (Lexham English Translation)
1 Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?
2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, And as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; And when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He is despised and rejected of men; A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: And we hid as it were our faces from him; He was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, And carried our sorrows: Yet we did esteem him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, Yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, So he openeth not his mouth.
3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering, and acquainted with sickness, and like one from whom others hide their faces, he was despised, and we did not hold him in high regard.
4 However, he was the one who lifted up our sicknesses, and he carried our pain, yet we ourselves assumed him stricken, struck down by God and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon him, and by his wounds we were healed.
Isaiah
What a friend!
He became sin so that I could be made righteous!
He removed the robe of righteousness so that I could be clothed in his righteousness!
I brought to him my failure, he brought to me His mercy
I brought to him my shattered dreams, he gave me hope in exchange
I brought to him my defeat and he gave me the power to overcome.
23 years old Salvor D’Acquisto was a young officer in the Italian Army during WWII. His assignment at the time was simply to be part of a police force tasked with simply overseeing the civil liberties in a small village North of Rome.
In Jesus said the second greatest commandment…second only to the command to love God with all of your heart, soul mind and strength is to love your neighbor as yourself.
And the Bible tells us that Jonathan
Jonathan recognized and rewarded what he saw in David.
David had already been anointed as the next King. Saul didn’t know it. Jonathan didn’t know it. but Jonathan recognized that there was a greater destiny upon David’s life.
Salvo was on duty on the morning of 23 September 1943. He had just been to church when he saw a group of feared German Nazi soldiers approaching. Their officer immediately refused Salvo’s greeting, striking him instead. The Nazi solider informed Salvo that one of his own soldiers had been killed in an explosion in a nearby village. He suspected sabotage was to blame and wanted revenge. The Nazis had chosen 22 local men. They would all be shot if Salvo could not find the man – or men – responsible for the alleged sabotage.
You are here today, not just because you are the only person that we could find to invite to friends day…but we have been praying as a church, over who we were going to invite…and that friend that invited you to be here today, saw something in you that others around you may not recognize.
Many commentaries state that Jonathan giving David his robe was transferring the kingdom to David…he was recognizing David in the place of himself.
The wonderful thing about the Kingdom of God today, is that when I recognize that God has a greater plan and destiny for your life, I do not have to offer to you the robe of destiny and authority in place of myself, but in partnership with me!
Salvo had to watch as the innocent men were made to dig their own graves. He tried to comfort the condemned and to reason with the Nazi officer. Eventually, Salvo himself ‘confessed’ to the crime, saying he had caused the explosion and had acted completely alone. He stressed that the other men were innocent and should be let go. Perhaps surprisingly, the SS man took Salvo at his word. The 22 men were released and Salvo was to face the firing squad alone. Salvo was shut just before dusk....what a friend that would offer his life in exchange for the penalty of others.
Salvo had to watch as the innocent men were made to dig their own graves. He tried to comfort the condemned and to reason with the SS officer. Eventually, Salvo himself ‘confessed’ to the crime, saying he had caused the explosion and had acted completely alone. He stressed that the other men were innocent and should be let go. Perhaps surprisingly, the SS man took Salvo at his word. The 22 men were released and Salvo was to face the firing squad alone. He was shot just before dusk, with just one of the freed men staying around to watch his final, dignified moments.
you ain’t never had a friend like Jesus!
you ain’t never had a friend like Jesus!