The friend who made a king: lessons from Jonathan

Jonathan’s story is one of the most stunning examples of humility in all of Scripture.

As the crown prince and a successful warrior, Jonathan begins an unlikely friendship with David. In the lineage of kings, only the oldest son would become the next king. By every natural standard, Jonathan was the one who should have inherited the throne.

There is no record in Scripture that Jonathan was aware of David’s anointing moment from Samuel. Yet Jonathan saw by the Spirit what would eventually take place in the natural.

He literally gives David his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt—which is baffling when you understand what those items represented. As a sign of recognizing David’s future kingship, Jonathan essentially steps aside.

He recognized what was on David’s life, and instead of competing with it, trying to eliminate him, or fighting for what was his by bloodline rights, he actually defended him and moved heaven and earth to ensure his jealous father, Saul, could not kill him.

Jonathan discerned God’s next move and realized it wasn’t him. That is a very humbling realization.

Many would fight to elevate themselves in that scenario. Others might respond with repentance, trying to work harder to overcome and get back on track. But Jonathan simply aligned with what God was doing. He didn’t compete with it. He assisted the process.

Jonathan wasn’t called to lead that season. He was called to recognize it, make way for it in someone else’s life, and ultimately strengthen the elevation of another.

He literally protected the “king to be” before David became king. And he recognized the anointing without ever having witnessed it with his own eyes.

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