Jonathan
A Lesson of Love
Loving Others
in their Otherness
Samuel took his flask of oil and
anointed him, with his brothers
standing around watching. The Spirit
of God entered David like a rush of
wind, God vitally empowering him for
the rest of his life. At that very
moment the Spirit of God left Saul
and in its place a black mood sent by
God settled on him. He was terrified.
1 Samuel 16:13-14 (MSG)
As Saul watched David going
out to meet the Philistine, he
said to Abner, commander of the
army, "Abner, whose son is that
young man?" Abner replied, "As
surely as you live, O king, I don't
know." The king said, "Find out
whose son this young man is."
1 Samuel 17:55-58 (NIV)
As soon as David returned from
killing the Philistine, Abner took
him and brought him before
Saul, with David still holding the
Philistine's head. "Whose son
are you, young man?" Saul
asked him. David said, "I am the
son of your servant Jesse of
Bethlehem."
1 Samuel 17:55-58 (NIV)
After David had finished
talking with Saul, Jonathan
became one in spirit with
David, and he loved him as
himself. From that day Saul
kept David with him and did
not let him return to his
father's house.
1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NIV)
And Jonathan made a
covenant with David because
he loved him as himself.
Jonathan took off the robe
he was wearing and gave it
to David, along with his
tunic, and even his sword,
his bow and his belt.
1 Samuel 18:1-4 (NIV)
Whatever Saul sent him to do,
David did it so successfully that
Saul gave him a high rank in the
army. This pleased all the
people, and Saul's officers as
well. When the men were
returning home after David had
killed the Philistine,
1 Samuel 18:5-7 (NIV)
the women came out from all
the towns of Israel to meet King
Saul with singing and dancing,
with joyful songs and with
tambourines and lutes. As they
danced, they sang: "Saul has
slain his thousands, and David
his tens of thousands."
1 Samuel 18:5-7 (NIV)
Saul told his son Jonathan
and all the attendants to
kill David. But Jonathan
was very fond of David and
warned him,
1 Samuel 19:1-2a (NIV)
But an evil spirit from the Lord
came upon Saul as he was sitting
in his house with his spear in his
hand. While David was playing the
harp, Saul tried to pin him to the
wall with his spear, but David
eluded him as Saul drove the
spear into the wall. That night
David made good his escape.
1 Samuel 19:9-10 (NIV)
Then David fled 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 take my
life?"
1 Samuel 20:1 (NIV)
Jonathan said to David,
"Whatever you want me
to do, I'll do for you."
1 Samuel 20:4 (NIV)
David 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,
1 Samuel 20:41-42 (NIV)
Then David composed
a funeral song for Saul
and Jonathan, and he
commanded that it be
taught to the people of
Judah.
2 Samuel 1:17-18 (NLT)
The Lesson on Love
• Make a No Strings Attached
Covenant
Gordon MacDonald
A Resilient Life
“The older we get, the more we come to
understand the inestimable value of the
“happy few,” that inner circle of intimate
friends who will always be there long after
the lights of the fast and glamorous life
have been extinguished. The “happy few”
may be the most important treasure one
will ever possess this side of heaven.”
The Lesson on Love
• Make a No Strings Attached
Covenant
• Be an Advocate
• Help Them See God’s Good
Purpose for Their Life
• Be Willing to Sacrifice Your
Rights to See Them Succeed
Jonathan
A Lesson of Love
Loving Others
in their Otherness