I Want To Be Someone's Jonathan

This a tangent from a study of Samson and David. Samson, both men of God called to free His people oppression. Samson was a loner. He was isolated. During his 4 chapters in the book of Judges, you get three other names-- his parents in the beginning and then the one person who tricked him, Delilah. Samson ended up blind, a slave and ultimately killing more Philistines in his death blow then while he was living-- still, he did all this alone. David on the other hand started off as a loner. A shepherd. Content with himself out in the fields. But after David defeated Goliath something extraordinary happened. Jonathan extended his hand of friendship to David. Jonathan, who would have complete validation in being concerned with this nobody coming in and taking over his rightful position-- the throne. Jonathan was a prince and here comes David, a threat. Jonathan listens to what David said and forms a covenant with him.
FIRST, He takes off his armor and belt-- things that protect Jonathan. When you extended your hand of true friendship to someone in need, especially someone who is a loner, who struggles with isolation-- you must first become vulnerable. Open up to the person. Tell them what you struggle with. Show them that the standard of perfection we sometimes try to achieve can not be achieved. It is okay to fail. As long as we have others around us to help us back up.
SECONDLY, Jonathan handed David his sword and his bow, both weapons in which David could have used to hurt, kill Jonathan. Once we share our struggles, hurts, needs with someone... they are armed. They could choose to use that against us. That is a possibility. There is a risk involved in becoming someone's Jonathan. The original Jonathan, however, found that the risk was worth taking. It paid off too.
By stepping forward and forming a covenant with David, a brother/friend relationship-- It taught David a valuable lesson. One he then turned and became a JONATHAN to others. In 1 Samuel 22.3 it says that David became the leader of all types of losers, vagrant, debtors... 400 in all. And then again in 2 Samuel 23.8 it gives off a list of all of David's mighty men including his THIRTY and the TOP THREE. Who knows what would have happened if JONATHAN would have fed his fear of DAVID being a threat to his position?
I need to be, want to be will strive to be a Jonathan in someone's life. To bear all. To show that God's grace and mercy are real-- they are not just high church words with no substance. And hopefully as I do this it will trigger a chain reaction in which men join together in the bonds of Christ and become stronger, more powerful leaders in their homes, in church, in the workplace and in life.

Created almost 2 years ago