The Study 2 Samuel 1:26 I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant have you been to me: your love to me was wonderful… I. THE LOVE OF JONATHAN TO DAVID WAS WONDERFUL IN ITS CONDESCENSION, If we take into account the state of society at the time, the difference between a prince and a shepherd was not so great as it now appears. But still the social difference was great. The heir to the throne of Israel loved the shepherd lad. II. THIS LOVE WAS WONDERFUL IN ITS DEPTH AND INTENSITY. Jonathan "loved him as his own soul" (1 Samuel 18:1). The love of Christ is in the same respect wonderful. His love is no feeble flame. "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you." His soul is indeed "knit" to us so closely that "nothing can separate us from the love of Christ." III. THIS LOVE WAS WONDERFUL IN ITS UNSELFISHNESS. Had Jonathan been of less nobler mould, he might have felt envious when David's deed of valour brought him into such notice in the camp. But Jonathan's generous nature knew nothing of such feelings. If they rose for a moment, they were strangled in their birth. Jonathan could expect to reap no advantage from his friendship. So with Christ's love to us. We are eternally enriched by His love gifts, and can make but poor return. We give Him, it is true, our love, our service, our devotion, but what at best are these returns for His great love ,to us? IV. THIS LOVE WAS WONDERFULLY PRACTICAL. True love ever seeks to utter itself in action, rather than words. It finds in loving deeds its fittest expression. 1. This practicalness was seen in Jonathan taking his own robe and putting it on David, so that he was clothed in princely attire. Has not Christ ,clothed us with His own raiment? We become beautiful in His comeliness. 2. In the promise he made him (See 1 Samuel 20:4). Christ has made to us exceeding great and precious promises, even to a share of His glory, His eternal glory. 3. In pleading with his father on David's behalf. The result of this pleading was David's restoration to favour at court. There is, however, this difference. In this case Jonathan pleads David's merit; but Christ pleads not ours, but His own. 4. Jonathan revealed to David his father's thoughts concerning him. Saul proposed to slay him. Jonathan makes this known (See 1 Samuel 20:35). Jesus has unbosomed to us the father. He has made known to us His purpose of mercy. Jonathan's was a warning voice, bidding David flee, but Christ's is a voice of love, bidding us to return to the bosom of God. V. THE LOVE OF JONATHAN WAS WONDERFULLY CONSTANT. No change in David's circumstances altered the character of his friendship. When David was an outlaw, when Saul was seeking his life, Jonathan remains true (See 1 Samuel 23:16). Whatever changes human friendship may know, the love of Jesus, like Himself, is the same "yesterday, to-day, and for ever." (The Study.) Parallel Verses KJV: I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. |
    |