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Jonathans

Jonathans

I have been in the process of compiling the history of the church I attend, and one of the interesting facts I found was that in the 1940s, the church’s men’s club was called the Jonathans. I have a brother named Jonathan, so I have a special place in my heart for that name, but I assume that the men’s club chose that name because of the depiction of Jonathan, the son of Saul, as the epitome of a good friend to David.

The soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 1 Samuel 18:1

Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David and his armor and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 18:4

Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you and because his deeds have been of good service to you.” 1 Samuel 19:4

Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” 1 Samuel 20:4

Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own life. 1 Samuel 20:17

At their last meeting Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since both of us have sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you and between my descendants and your descendants forever.’ ” 1 Samuel 20:42 (Jonathan would later die on the battlefield.)

These verses about Jonathan describe for us all what a good friend is: a good friend loves his friends like he loves himself. A good friend will literally give you the shirt off his back to help you. A good friend will stand up for you. A good friend will follow your lead, and a good friend will recognize that the Lord is a part of your relationship. My hope and prayer is that you have many “Jonathans” in your life.