David and Jonathan were friends. Best of. Soul mates as we might say. They were such good friends that it says “they loved each other.” There is nothing sordid or hidden there (unless you want to make it that way). I have a college friend and we still get together (over 50 years) and it is easy to say we are best friends. Nothing illicit and when we part after meeting for lunch 1/2 way between our towns with our wives in tow, we hug each other and say, “I love you my friend.”
Jonathan knew David was the heir to the throne, not him. There was no jealousy. Several times we have Jonathan “going to bat” for David in the presence of his father. What there was between them was a pact, a promise, David made to Jonathan. He promised he would always take care of Jonathan’s offspring.
Jonathan and his father, Saul, were killed in battle and when the news reached David he wept. What didn’t reach him at the time was that Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth (M from here on). The news reached David many years later. But M was a special case. When news reached M’s nurse of Jonathan’s death, she ran, but in the process dropped M, and he ended up lame. He was 5 years old at the time. Years later David sent out men looking for any offspring of Jonathan and they found M in a place called Lo-Debar. He had M brought to the palace and gave him a lifetime presence at his table. Imagine going from nothing to everything all because of a promise made years earlier!
Keeping promises is absolutely essential. If we cannot be trusted to keep promises, how can we be trusted? We should want to be known as “the keeper of our word.” We should want to be known as one who makes a promise and sticks by it.
There are some more lessons we can learn from this story. I plan to share those in tomorrow’s devotion. Until then…be a keeper of your word.
Do what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it. Keep your word. Not only does this please God, but it’s a way to stand out in a world where not keeping your word has become all to commonplace.
Great advice Kari and unfortunately your last statement is true.
Quote read recently…
“People with good intentions make promises, people with good character keep them.”
And that, my friend, is a good and very true quote.
Absolutely true, dad always said, there are so many things out of your control, but telling the truth, and keeping your word is always in your control. If you give someone your word, follow through, tell the truth, it is easy to keep the truth straight, it’s hard to a remember a pack of lies. I think it is also awesome how Jonathan and David remained friends even when Saul was trying to kill David. Jonathan also understood, despite Saul’s hatred of David, David continued to love Saul. Jonathan was ready and willing to support a king of that virtue.
All good point Gail. Your dad spoke truth there. And the point about Jonathan’s defense of David and being ready to support a king of virtue is really important.
We must let our yes be yes, and our no be no. Keeping a promise is the basis of trust. May we never break ours!
Blessings, Bill!
That is absolutely correct Martha. We, above all people, should be able to be counted on.
I just love the story about Jonathan and David, and in some way, it sort of reminds me of John the Baptist and Jesus. John was so content to just be ” a friend of the bridegroom.” There is something so precious about that. Jonathan was content in knowing David would be next in line to be king, even though, technically it should have been him. So many similarities and lessons there. I also dearly love the story of M. You can glean so much spiritual good out of Lo-Debar and M’s story. Thank you for this wonderful reminder, Pastor Bill.
I hadn’t thought about the idea of “the friend of the bridegroom” Cheryl. That is an interesting way to put their relationship. thanks for the lesson.