The relationship between David and Jonathan is one of the most well-known friendships in the Bible. Though they came from very different backgrounds, these two men formed a deep bond that withstood great adversity and ultimately changed the course of a nation.
David was the youngest son of Jesse, a sheepherder from Bethlehem. He was chosen by God to be the next king of Israel after Saul, Israel’s first king, disobeyed God’s commands. When we first meet David in 1 Samuel 16, he is a humble shepherd boy, commissioned by his father to bring food to his older brothers who are serving in Saul’s army.
Jonathan, on the other hand, was the eldest son of Saul and heir to his father’s throne. As crown prince, Jonathan lived a life of privilege in the king’s court. Despite their differences in status, Jonathan and David become the closest of friends soon after David slays Goliath.
1 Samuel 18 provides details on the beginning of David and Jonathan’s friendship. After David returns from killing Goliath, he is brought before Saul and Jonathan. “As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1). Jonathan is so moved by David’s faith in God that he makes a covenant of friendship with him, sealing it by giving David his robe, armor, sword, bow and belt (1 Samuel 18:3-4).
This act has huge significance, as Jonathan is symbolically setting aside his own claim as heir to the throne and recognizing David as the future king. His love for David supersedes his own self-interest. From this point forward, the Bible describes Jonathan and David as being “one spirit” (1 Samuel 18:1), showing the depth of loyalty and kinship between them.
Jonathan goes on to risk his life to protect David on a number of occasions. First, when Saul becomes jealous of David’s military successes and popularity with the people, he tries multiple times to kill David. But Jonathan intervenes, convincing his father to relent (1 Samuel 19:1-7). Later, when David has to flee Saul’s court and become a fugitive, Jonathan secretly meets with him in the wilderness to encourage him and reaffirm their covenant friendship (1 Samuel 20).
Jonathan continues to defend David’s cause even when it endangers his standing in Saul’s court. After David and Jonathan have an emotional final meeting before David’s exile (1 Samuel 20:35-42), they only meet one more time before Jonathan’s death. When David is living as an outlaw in the wilderness, Jonathan goes to find him and “strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). Even while David is a condemned man on the run, Jonathan remains his faithful friend.
After Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle on Mount Gilboa, David is distraught at the loss of his beloved friend. 2 Samuel 1:17-27 records David’s poetic lament over Saul and Jonathan. He declares that “Your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women” (2 Samuel 1:26). David recognizes Jonathan as a man of profound faithfulness, courage and sacrifice.
So what made Jonathan and David’s bond so strong?
1. They connected on a spiritual level. Both men had a heart to follow after God. When they made their covenant of friendship, Jonathan said, “May the Lord be between you and me, and between your offspring and my offspring, forever” (1 Samuel 20:42). Their loyalty to God and one another drove their commitment to the relationship.
2. They were willing to sacrifice for each other. Jonathan repeatedly risked his life for David, knowing it could cost him his position as heir to the throne. Jonathan put David’s interests above his own because he loved and believed in him. David also honored Jonathan by caring for his son Mephibosheth after Jonathan’s death.
3. They accepted each other fully. Though David was a lowly shepherd and Jonathan a prince, they valued each other for their character over social standing. Jonathan didn’t envy David for the favor God showed him but embraced him wholeheartedly.
4. They supported each other’s callings. Jonathan knew early on that David would be king instead of himself, and he willingly surrendered his own ambitions to empower David. David also honored Jonathan and his descendants for the rest of his reign.
5. They kept their word to each other. The covenant between Jonathan and David was binding for life. No matter the circumstances that came between them, they upheld their promises to each other and their descendants.
The deep brotherly love between David and Jonathan is an inspirational example of a friendship that goes the distance despite every odd stacked against it. Their faith in God and commitment to each other helped them weather painful trials and changed the destiny of Israel forever. Though often depicted as larger-than-life figures, David and Jonathan show that complete, sacrificial friendship is possible for ordinary people as well. Their story challenges all of us to evaluate our most important relationships and pour ourselves into them wholeheartedly, no matter the cost. They set the bar high for what it means to truly be a friend.
In addition to being a beautiful testament to friendship, the relationship between David and Jonathan also contains some powerful spiritual symbolism. Though subtle, there are messianic themes that point ahead to Jesus Christ. As the anointed future king, David foreshadows the coming Messiah who will reign eternally. Jonathan pictures those who lay down status and comfort to follow this coming king.
Jonathan’s unflinching loyalty to David even under threat of death mirrors the devotion Christ calls us to show as His disciples. As Jonathan covenantally binds himself to David, so too are believers grafted into God’s family through a new covenant in Christ. And Jonathan’s willingness to surrender his claim to an earthly throne in order to serve the true king parallels the cost of discipleship every Christian must count (Luke 14:25-33).
So in many ways, Jonathan acts as an Old Testament precursor of a Spirit-filled believer devoted to the Son of David. His example issues a challenge to the Church today to faithfully stand with and support God’s anointed Leader, come what may.
In closing, the friendship between David and Jonathan stands out in Scripture as a representation of God’s ideal for human relationships. At its foundation is a love that “rejoices with the truth” (1 Cor. 13:6) and seeks the good of the other above self. May we all be inspired by their legacy of loyalty, sacrifice and faith in the face of persecution to develop bonds just as strong with those we call friends.