Life Lesson: Jonathan

Jonathan, the son of Saul, had a wonderful relationship with David to the point that his soul knit with him and even made a covenant with him because they loved one another. 

1S 18:1Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan became knit with the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him like his own soul.
1S 18:2And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house.
1S 18:3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him like his own soul.
1S 18:4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and he gave it to David, as well as his armor and even his sword and his bow and his belt.
1S 20:16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, And Jehovah will require it at the hand of David’s enemies.
1S 20:17And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, for he loved him as he loved his own soul.

This is a wonderful picture of a brotherly love that should be among the believers today. The Lord desires us to love one another and to even be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers.

Jn 13:34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Jn 13:35By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
Jn 15:12This is My commandment, that you love one another even as I have loved you.
Jn 15:17These things I command you that you may love one another.
Rm 12:10Love one another warmly in brotherly love; take the lead in showing honor one to another.
Rm 13:8Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves the other has fulfilled the law.
Rm 13:9For, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this word, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Rm 13:10Love does not work evil to his neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Jonathan loved David and stood for David when he discovered that his father Saul was envious of David and wanted to kill him. Jonathan stood between Saul and David and saved David's life when he was in a position to do so.

Jonathan also knew that one day David would be the king of Israel. He was also aware that the leading of God was with David. In fact, in his time, God's anointing was upon David; the minister of the age at that time was David, and Jonathan knew it.

1S 23:16Then Jonathan the son of Saul rose up and went to David at Horesh, and he strengthened his hand in God.
1S 23:17And he said to him, Do not be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father will not find you; and you will become king over Israel, and I will be second to you; and even Saul my father knows that.
1S 23:18And the two of them made a covenant before Jehovah. And David remained in Horesh, and Jonathan went to his house.

But Jonathan did not forsake his father Saul to follow David. Well, it was natural and logical for a son to follow in the footsteps of his father. But when one sees a vision of God's work and recognizes the minister of the age, one has to forsake the natural ties and relationship to be joined with the ones God has chosen to carry out His work at a particular time. Only in that way, blessed shall they be who follows the Lord's move in and through man. Later, Jonathan died with his father Saul in a battle against the Philistines and he had a tragic end. 

1S 31:2And the Philistines chased Saul and his sons; and the Philistines struck down Jonathan and Abinadab and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons.

Here is an important spiritual lesson to learn. First, we must love one another with divine love. But our love for one another should not be according to the natural relationship. If our natural inclination and relationship stand between us and God or in following what God is doing, we must learn to reject our natural relationship, forsake it all together and join ourselves to whom God has anointed. In other words, we must follow the minister of the age God has chosen and be one with such a one to be in God's move. Otherwise like Jonathan, we would miss being in the Lord's move while maintaining our natural relationship.

Mt 10:36And a man’s enemies will be those of his household.
Mt 10:37He who loves father or mother above Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter above Me is not worthy of Me;
Mt 10:38And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
Mt 10:39He who finds his soul-life shall lose it, and he who loses his soul-life for My sake shall find it.
Mt 10:40He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who has sent Me.

Oftentimes, the natural relationships can blind our spiritual sight to following the Lord or serving the Lord. We must pay heed to God's work in the present age and be one with whom the Lord has been carrying out His work in the present age. This requires one to see the vision of God's work in the present age and take up his cross to deal with natural relationships and hindrances to be absolute in following what the Lord has made known to us concerning His move.