Gospel Reflections #956: Forgetting the Throne

1 Samuel 20:16 “Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David and said, ‘May the Lord take vengeance on David’s enemies.’

At that time, King Saul, his father, was trying to kill David, but Jonathan loved David deeply.

This covenant was also a declaration of Jonathan’s resolve to remain David’s ally forever, even if Saul regarded David as an enemy. 

Jonathan promised to be faithful not only to David personally, but also to his ‘house (descendants)’.

This shows that Jonathan was convinced of God’s plan that ‘David would indeed become the future king’.

The words, ‘May the Lord take vengeance on David’s enemies,’ are an expression of a strong vow that if anyone were to harm David, God would judge them.

Although Jonathan was the heir to the throne, he chose to set aside his own rights and to love and protect David, whom God had chosen.

The relationship between these two men is spoken of as a symbol of the ‘most noble friendship’ in the Bible. 

God has granted us the same covenant that He made with David and Jonathan.

It may not appear in the same way as that between David and Jonathan, but I believe that David was assured through his faith in Jonathan’s covenant (promise).

Depending on whom we look to and whom we follow, the people we are drawn to will differ, and so too will our faith, our peace, our perceptions and our responses.

Let us turn our eyes not to the difficulties before us, but to God through the window of heaven.

God will surely work on our behalf.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.