When Jonathan gave David his royal robe (1 Samuel 18:4), it was a symbolic gesture depicting his willingness to give up his right to the throne; a right that he would renounce in favor of David again and again. “‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you..’” (1 Samuel 23:17).

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

— John 15:13 (NLT)

Lord Jesus, help us to always prefer our friends above ourselves. Give us the love to lay down our own goals in favor of theirs. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

When Jonathan gave David his weapons—his sword, his bow, and his belt—he made himself vulnerable. He was at David’s mercy. He had no way to defend himself. So it is in a true friendship. When we share our deepest self with our friend, we are giving him weapons he can use to destroy us. It is the ultimate act of trust, and it is what distinguishes the truly great friendships from those that are just average.

“Jonathan took off…his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.”

— 1 Samuel 18:4

Lord Jesus, help us to lay down our defensiveness and make ourselves vulnerable. Help us to share our deepest feelings and the secrets of our heart with our close friend. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.

When Jonathan disrobed, he made himself transparent to David. It was his way of saying that he had nothing to hide, that he wanted David to know the real Jonathan. A friendship built on anything else is just a sham — a make-believe friendship between two people who are pretending to be something other than who they really are. As C. S. Lewis said, “Eros will have naked bodies; friendships naked personalities.” 1 Samuel 18:4 says,

“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 18:4

Lord Jesus, keep my heart pure. May I guard the secrets entrusted to me and may I never betray a friend. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

Jonathan understood that if his friendship with David was to survive it had to be a covenant relationship. Better than anyone he understood his father’s jealousy and his rages. He realized it was only a matter of time before Saul would turn on David so “…Jonathan made a covenant with David” (1 Samuel 18:3). This covenant—this commitment to the friendship at all costs—enabled their friendship to survive the jealousy of Jonathan’s father Saul, and his determined attempts to take David’s life.

“If I make it through this alive, continue to be my covenant friend. And if I die, keep the covenant friendship with my family—forever.”

— 1 Samuel 20:16 (MSG)

Lord, give me the strength and character to stand by my friend when adversity strikes, when he needs me most. Amen.

1 Samuel 18:1 says, “Jonathan became one in spirit with David…” That oneness of spirit might well be called chemistry, and it plays a vital role in all great friendships. Yet chemistry alone cannot sustain a relationship. It may be the spark that ignites it but only commitment can sustain it. Sooner or later your friendship will be tested. Without a commitment to the relationship, you will be tempted to slide off sideways and begin a new relationship rather than digging deep in order to renew your friendship.

“A friend is always loyal,
and a brother is born to help in time of need.”

— Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)

Lord Jesus, make me the kind of friend who is always loyal. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

When I think of friendship Jonathan and David immediately come to mind. There are several things we can learn from them, things that will enable us to build better friendships. 1) It is impossible to build a true friendship without chemistry. Your personalities have to “click”. 2) Chemistry may be the spark that ignites the relationship, but commitment is the glue that enables friendships to endure. 3) True friendship requires vulnerability and transparency. 4) Both Jonathan and David demonstrated selflessness in their relationship; consequently their friendship has become the standard by which all friendships are judged.

“Jonathan said, ‘Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in GOD’s name, saying, “GOD will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!”’”

— 1 Samuel 20:42 (MSG)

Lord Jesus, help me be the kind of friend who is willing to seek his friend’s good over his own. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

While it is important to learn from others we must never try to be someone we are not. If David had tried to be Saul, he would have failed miserably. King Saul was a warrior while David was a shepherd. Instead of trying to be something he wasn’t David remained true to himself and as a result the Lord delivered the giant into his hand.

Whose armor are you wearing? Are you being true to who God has made you or are you trying to be someone else?

“So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone…

— 1 Samuel 17:50 (NIV)

Lord, my sling and my stones may not be impressive, but they are the weapons You gave me. Deliver these giants into my hands. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

Once David convinced King Saul that he was willing to fight the giant Goliath, Saul dressed him in a suit of armor and gave him his own sword. Although Saul was well meaning, David realized it would never work. “‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’ So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:39-40 NIV).

“So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.”

— 1 Samuel 17:50 (NIV)

Lord Jesus, help me resist the temptation to wear someone else’s armor. Help me to be true to who You have made me. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

When King Saul questioned David’s ability to defeat the Philistine giant Goliath David replied, “GOD, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37 MSG).

Is there a spiritual principle here that will help us when the enemy comes against us? Absolutely! Don’t focus on the giants that are coming against you. Instead focus on the mighty God you serve. Remember how He has delivered you in the past. Now trust Him to do it again!

“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty…This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands.”

— 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)

Lord Jesus, remind me of all the ways you have delivered me in the past lest I allow today’s giants to intimidate me. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.

Faith and obedience are two sides of the same coin. Consider the widow of Zarephath. Pay careful attention to the sequence of events. First the Lord spoke through Elijah telling her what to do. The word of the Lord birthed faith in her heart producing obedience–“She went away and did as Elijah had told her…” (1 Kings 17:15). Faith and obedience opened the windows of heaven for her.

“So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family…in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.”

— 1 Kings 17:15-16

Lord Jesus, help us to be willing to give what we have in order to receive what we so desperately need. In Your holy name we pray. Amen.