1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-7; 20:1-20 "The Portrait Hall": The Tie That Binds

Today’s portrait is of two young men, bound with a self made rope of friendship that kept them tied to each other. What worked in their relationship, will work in any that you would forge with another person!

Key Principle: Relationships require deliberate binding and maintenance based on specific Biblical principles!

Right after killing Goliath (18:1ff), David spoke with Saul about his family. Leaving the King, he spent some time with Jonathan.

From that moment, Jonathan built a friendship with David:

1)       Connection: Jonathan’s soul (nephesh) was “knit” together (kawshar: bind or tie) with David (18:1).

2)       Time: Saul wouldn’t let David return, so Jonathan had TIME with David (18:2).

3)       Purpose: Together, they “cut a covenant” or made a binding agreement of goals based on admiration and love (18:3).

4)       Sharing: Jonathan humbled the house of the king and offered David all of the symbols of his princely power (18:4).

5)       Protection: When Saul sought out of jealousy to kill David, Jonathan’s commitment to David became action, and he told David to hide himself (19:1-2).

6)       Defense: Jonathan reasoned with his father to logically defend his friend, and show Saul that he was overtaken in jealousy (19:3-5).

7)       Reconciliation: Jonathan recognized the opportunity to bind together a broken relationship between Saul and David, so he brought them together (19:6,7).

8)       Honesty: Jonathan and David could talk about any problem, and work toward a solution. When David was on the run, he pleaded with Jonathan from his hurt, “What have I done?” (20:1).

9)       Helpfulness: Jonathan believed that Saul would not act against David without first speaking to Jonathan about it (20:2). David was not so confident, and openly asked for Jonathan’s aid in sounding out Saul (20:3-16).

10)   Selflessness: Jonathan honored David and his needs above his own, even though he was a prince. He became selfless and honored what his friend needed.

Relationships require deliberate binding and maintenance based on specific Biblical principles!