Imagine inheriting a kingdom—then choosing to give it away. Not out of weakness, but out of love.
You’re Jonathan, son of Saul. Your best friend David is a loyal musician and warrior for the king. One day David played a soothing melody when, suddenly, an evil spirit came over Saul, and he tried to pin David to the wall with his spear. With no other choice, David fled for his life.
Can you believe it? David tells the truth, yet your father is no murderer. Evil spirits drive him mad sometimes, but David has been so loyal. It doesn’t make sense.
You love David and need to understand the truth. You let him hide while he should be dining with the king at the new moon feast. On the first day your father says nothing about David. You pray your father’s anger has passed.
On the second day of the feast, your father asks you where David is.
As David instructed, you lie, saying you let him go home. Your father erupts in rage, swearing that David must die—that the kingdom depends on it.
You’ve already told David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you” (1 Samuel 20:4). This includes giving up your right to the throne. You are the son of the king, but you know thathe is God’s chosen one.
When David was younger, the prophet came to his father searching for one to anoint as the next king. David wasn’t even there—his own father didn’t think he was important enough—but the prophet chose him anyway. It is his destiny. You will serve him loyally as he served your father.
For now, you must tell David to run and never look back, so he can one day rule your country.
You love David, and he loves both you and your father. Knowing the king sometimes goes mad, David still served him loyally, but he can’t anymore. You know that if your life depended on it, he would save yours. So you do the only loving thing: you save his life.
Through it all, you bring out the best in each other.
Friends Sharpen One Another
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17
David and Jonathan strengthened each other in their faith and purpose. Even though Jonathan was the rightful heir to the throne, he willingly gave up his claim because he knew that God had chosen David, a simple shepherd boy, to be the next king of Israel. Instead of fighting for his own position, Jonathan helped David step into his God-given calling.
Have you ever made a great sacrifice for a friend, like Jonathan did? Has any of your friends made a great sacrifice for you?
Jonathan gave up a throne. What is the ‘throne’ in your life—the thing you hold most tightly—that God might be asking you to surrender for someone else’s calling?
Have you ever watched a friend step into something you wanted? How did you respond?
Sources and References:
The Bible. New International Version, Bible Gateway, 1 Samuel 20:4.
The Bible. Easy-to-Read Version, Bible Gateway, Proverbs 27:17.
The Bible. New International Version, Bible Gateway, 1 Samuel 20:42.