Daily Devotional

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). 

In America, we sometimes hear of a close friend being introduced as “my brother from another mother.” It suggests a kinship between two individuals that would be similar to that of close siblings. Jonathan was like that to David. Indeed, the Bible suggests they could not have been closer had they been actual brothers. This was despite the fact that David had been chosen by God to take Jonathan’s place as the next king of Israel. David had slain Goliath and protected the people; that was apparently enough to earn Jonathan’s respect and trust. 

Sadly, that trust didn’t extend to Jonathan’s father Saul’s view of David. Though King Saul initially welcomed David into the royal household—it appears that Jonathan insisted on it—he soon grew suspicious of the young man. He wanted David out of the picture, regardless of what God had decided. 

David became a hunted man and hunted by one of the most powerful individuals around. It would have been to Jonathan’s advantage to side with his father, but Jonathan was “born for adversity”—David’s adversity. He helped David when the anointed successor was in hiding. David even demonstrated respect for King Saul, at Jonathan’s prompting. 

But while Saul distrusted David, Jonathan’s faith in his friend was undimmed. David mourned when Jonathan lost his life alongside his father and brothers. David’s high regard for Jonathan was such that years later David sought out Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, restoring to the young man all of Saul’s lands and seating the crippled heir at the king’s table. 

Jonathan’s kindness to David paid dividends decades later. May God grant each of us a friend like that! 

Lord, help me to find a friend as loyal as Jonathan was to David—and please help me to be such a friend.