Conflicted Sidekick by Robin Densmore Fuson

As we wind down the Sidekick and Better Half series, I turn to two of my favorite characters in the Bible. My first memory of their story came as a young child in Sunday school.

I’ll never forget the flannelgraph images of Jonathan giving his possessions to his best friend, David—a robe, tunic, bow, and belt. If you don’t know what flannelgraph is, you should acquaint yourself with the treasured hands-on visual teaching.

1 Samuel 18:1 and 3-4 shows the friendship of brotherly love between these two—the heir apparent and a shepherd boy. Both raised with expectations, planets apart, of what they would become but with the same belief in El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’

The passage expresses “the bond between them” and is translated from a phrase in Hebrew, which means “their lives were tied together.” Like a magnet drawing them together.  

Jonathan’s name means Yahweh has given. Yahweh or LORD blessed Saul with a son, Jonathan. The Lord gifted David a dear friend in Jonathan.

Jonathan loved both. Helped both.

David stepped into Johnathan’s life, when David slew a giant for Jonathan’s father Saul, King of Israel. David not only became a great warrior, but he also played a harp to calm the soul of Saul.

Saul loved David for what he could do for him, but soon that changed. Saul’s pride took him away from close fellowship with El-Shaddai. He lost focus. He changed. His love and reliant attitude changed to defiant hatred.

Saul disobeyed a direct order from Almighty God and God turned away from Saul. The Lord sent Samuel to anoint David to be the next king of God’s chosen people.

This contributed to Saul’s driven rampage of power and pride, distorting his thoughts and decisions.  

Jonathan found himself stuck in the middle and tried to be a peacekeeper. Initially, he could sway his father to accept David back into the fold as one who had proven he would not harm Saul. One who served him faithfully.

But Saul morphed into the unrelenting stalker of David. On numerous occasions, he tried to kill him.

The bible says, “So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, ‘May the Lord destroy all your enemies!’ And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself (1 Samuel 20:16-17 nlt).”

The kindhearted Jonathan didn’t want to believe his father had changed toward David. Jonathan hid David and investigated if his father really wanted to kill the anointed David, his best friend.

Unfortunately, insane rage drove Saul to throw a spear at his own son!

With a broken heart and through tears, Jonathan told David that indeed Saul wanted him dead. They made a pact. “At last Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever (1Samuel 20:42 nlt).’”

Jonathan sent David away to apparently never see his dear friend again. Later, Jonathan died in a battle along with his father Saul.

David mourned both of their deaths. After David became king, he kept his pledge and took care of Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth.

So sad. So tragic. Saul’s pride divided two great friends. Pride took his kingdom away. Pride broke Saul. He is a great lesson for keeping pride out of our lives. To be humble. Be obedient to the Lord.

Jonathan is a good example of deep abiding love, loyalty, and great faith in El-Shaddai. He is an example in being loyal to two vastly different people. He is an example of unconditional love. We need to strive, be like Jonathan. It’s a daily and sometimes a minute-by-minute battle. God will honor our desire.

Previous video: Two-Way Better Half