The episode of friendship and companionship between David and Jonathan in 1 Samuel 18 was a real eye-opener to what a committed relationship and friend should look like. Both of them were deep in affection, care and love for each other, to the extent that the Bible recorded; “Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1) [NKJV].
They shared pains, trials and challenges together, and each one of them encouraged his friend whenever he was down and it seems discouragement was setting in. In all of this, Saul, who was the father of Jonathan, was after the life of David, but Jonathan stood behind his friend, David, and even went as far as swearing an oath in order to assure David of his allegiance, loyalty and support in the midst of his ordeals. At some point, Jonathan and David had a covenant that even in death; the covenant would still be valid.
“14 And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die; 15 but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David… (1 Samuel 2014-16)
And after the death of Jonathan and David had become king in Israel, David remembered the covenant he had with Jonathan, his friend; “Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). David ensured that he never forgot the covenant he had with his late friend, Jonathan and that’s the reason he sought to bless someone in the house of Saul.
Despite the condition of Mephibosheth (Lame), that did not stop David from giving an order that Mephibosheth sits, wines, and dines with him at the same table in the palace for the rest of his life. This display of extreme kindness was shown to Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth, because of the covenant David had with his father.
Jesus’ Blood Covenant
As humans, we must understand that a covenant depicts an agreement binding on two parties and they both must be committed to it. Usually, covenants are made between two people in order to attain a common goal. God, the Father loves mankind so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ to the world to die for us. His blood was used as a symbol of the covenant so that all men can be reconciled back to God. The blood of Jesus has been used to ratify our membership in the kingdom, and as many that believe in Him by confessing Him as Lord and Saviour, they shall be saved.
22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” 23 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 24 And He said to them, “This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many. 25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 17:22-25).
The death of Jesus on the Cross and His resurrection proves that we have a better covenant that supersedes the covenant between any two men. With the covenant which has been sealed with the blood of Jesus, our eternity with Jesus is secured and protected. All you and I need to do is just believe in our heart and confess with our mouth; “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). It is never in the nature of God to die, or to give up on His word; “…For You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (Psalms 138:2). Generations of men will die and be forgotten with their covenants, but the covenant that was sealed with the blood of Jesus remains active and valid forever.
Blessed be the Father, Who has given us His only Son, the blood of Whom was used as propitiation, cleansing all our sins, so that we, believers, can spend the whole of eternity with Him – this being the perfect covenant!
Happy New Month!
