The Yale expositor., 1908-08-21
Friendship of David
and Jonathan
Sunday School Lesson for Aug. q, 1908
Specially Arranged for This Paper

SCRIPTURE TEXT Samuel 2O:SO-42.
Read all OF chapter. Memory verse, AZ
GOLDEN TEXT.-"A friend loveth at
all times and a brother is born in ad-
versity. Prov. 17:17.
TIME.-l062 B. c., and continuing till
lie death OF Jonathan. 1856
PLACE.-The court of Saul
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. the son OF
Saul, the crown prince, Is one Of the
finest, the most attractive, and engag-
ing characters in all history.
Mighty In Love. His love did not
flow from weakness but from
strength. He was Greatheart himself.
HE loved David as his own SOUL"
David, in the Song OF the Bow"
his touching lament over his friend
slain on Mount Bilboa, exclaims, II
am distressed for thee, my brother
Jonathan; very pleasant hast thou
been unto me, thy love for me was
wonderful, passing the love Of wom-
en-" q Sam. 1:26).
Brave. Jonathan was a brave and
noble soldier, and had accomplished
some very daring feats Of arms. Alone
with his armor bearer, he had cap
tured a mountain fortress Of the Phil.
istines Il Sam. 14:1-15). He was
brave in defending David before his
angry father (1 Sam. 20:10, 32). He
| showed another even nobler courage
in l Sam. 14:43. 81 certainly taste E.
. in my hand; here | am; 10,
must die"-"not a lament, but hero
ic act OF self-sacriice for the sake of
the people"
His good judgment is shown in
Sam. 14:27-30.
His faith in God and his religious
nature were strong as David's Il Sam.
1876, IL; 10: 5; 20:13, 42).
His unselfishness was more promi-
nent than in any other Old Testament
character. He was the Golden Rule
exemplifed."
His great-hearted unselfishness led
him to recognize, submit TO, and pro-
mote the evident leadings of divine
providence Il Sam. 23:16-1S; 20:13-
between two men of whom the younger
er was a most formidable rival to the
older. ."-Blaikie.
A Model Son. Jonathan's noble char
acter is also shown by his devotion to
his unfortunate father. ITO him, If
to anyone, the frenzy of the king was
amenable" saul hearkeneth unto the
voice of Jonathan" Il Sam. 1850.
Other characteristics. Jonathan
was older than David, had been
brought up in very different circum-
stances, and was more mature and
self-restrained. He was a soldier not
a poet. He had not quite the genius,
self-reliance, masterfulness. and vital
force of David, nor his versatility, and
power of leadership; but his was a
great soul, a mighty heart, with a
most wonderful capacity for loving.
David.-David, the son of Jesse, the
shepherd, also was very attractive in
his person; he was accomplished In
music and song; he was faithful; he
was full of grace like "a he-goat upon
the mountains" he was courageous
even in heroism he behaved himself
wisely in all his ways" he had great
common sense and tact; he was large
hearted and generous; and, above all,
he had "a sublime faith, a perfect.
childlike trust in the glorious arm of
the Lord" He had that in him by
which he became "a champion of
those who were in distress Il Sam.
23:1-5) a wall by night and day to
peaceful shepherds Il Sam. 25:15,
16). Professor Sanders.
An Ideal endship.-Between Da-
vid and Jonathan there arose a beau
tiful. almost ideal friendship. "The
soul of Jonathan was knit with the
soul of David" Their souls were inter-
woven together into a complete tex
ture of friendship. And Jonathan
loved him as his own soul' Il Sam.
1S: u. This love in it's highest perfec-
ton, mother love and bridal love is
the finest type and illustration of the
love of God to his children, as often
expressed in the scriptures.
Expression of that Friendship
First. Jonathan, the crown prince,
gave his court robes and armor to
David (1 Sam. IS: A.. Possibly the
gift was suggested by the need of the
country lad for some dress appropri-
ate to his entrance into court"
Second. He defended David from
the frenzy of his father Saul Il Sam
uel 19).
Third BY the incident and the
covenant in 1 Samuel 20.
He wished David well.
He yielded up his hopes OF the king
dom to David, only stipulating that
David should not kill him when he be-
came king, as was the custom of the
times, and the further history shows
the need of the stipulation.
He formed a shrewd plan of making
known to David the feelings of Saul
toward David.
V. 81. Saul tried to persuade Jona-
than to let him kill David, "for as long
as the son Of Jesse liveth
thou shalt not be established"
V. 33. When Jonathan refused, Saul
cast a javelin at him to smite him"