David was in grave danger. He had been anointed to be the future king of Israel. But Saul, who was the reigning king, was still very much alive and on the throne. Understanding the threat that David was to his rule, Saul wanted nothing more than to have David dead.
Ironically, Saul’s son Jonathan was an extremely close friend of David’s. Even though Saul wanted David out of the picture, Jonathan maintained his friendship with David at great risk, which, I’m sure, did not make him very popular with his father.
Jonathan did not, however, merely strengthen David with friendship. He pointed David to God as his source of strength. 1 Samuel 23:16 says, “Saul’s son Jonathan went to David and helped him find strength in God.” I don’t know how Jonathan did it, for the Bible doesn’t tell us. But he was a great support to David and a spiritual strength as well.
The day came when Jonathan was no longer there to encourage David. But David had learned from Jonathan how to find God’s strength, for when his friend wasn’t there, David strengthened himself in the Lord. The Bible tells us, “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him…. But David found strength in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). Jonathan had taught by example, and David benefited.
Perhaps God wants you to be a Jonathan to a friend who is going through a difficult time. Send him an e-mail, give her a call, write a note or mail a card. Don’t preach—just give your friend the confidence that God is going to see him through this hard period.
Has anyone ever urged you to hang in there, trusting God when you felt like giving up? Now it’s your turn to reach out. Maybe today is the day that you, like Jonathan, can help your friend find strength in God.
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