The Encouragement of a Friend

- This is part of a series on the theme of encouragement -

In the rough-and-tumble circumstances of life, we sometimes receive blows that leave us bleeding and gasping for breath. During such times, we need reassurance from God and others so that we may remain faithful in “the good fight” of faith, fix our eyes on Jesus and finish the race.

Jonathan and David entered into a deep and profound, covenantal relationship of mutual support that served both men well and gave them steadiness and comfort in unstable times.

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 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 18:1-4

These men walked together, prayed for one another and encouraged one another until Jonathan’s death. David would eventually say of his friend, “Jonathan, my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women” (2 Samuel 1:26).

Jonathan encouraged David by demonstrating his loyalty to him in the good times, when David was the favorite member of Saul’s court. But later, when his father Saul wanted to kill David, Jonathan’s encouragement was far more important to his friend. Many people who encouraged David in the good times abandoned him when he most needed support.