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David: "Whose son art thou, young man?"--a question which makes us think of the
similar question asked concerning Christ in the Gospels. The structure given on page 45
shows that this question is important.
One can never read the account given in the next section of the book without being
moved, for it is one of the few instances recorded in Scripture of utter and selfless
affection. Jonathan had every reason, speaking after the manner of men, to hate David,
for it very soon became apparent that he was destined to occupy the throne. Yet it is
written:
"The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his
own soul" (I Sam. 18: 1).
As a result of this love, Jonathan and David made a covenant (I Sam. 18: 3)--a
covenant which is mentioned on four other occasions in this book, twice by name (20: 8
and 23: 18) and twice by implication (20: 16 and 42). Saul and Jonathan set forth in
type the two classes among Israel, whose true character was manifested by their reaction
to Christ. Saul represents the persecuting and unbelieving Jew, who went out in
blindness and hardness of heart, and Jonathan the believing remnant who crowned the
Saviour in their hearts, during the time of His rejection, in anticipation of the day of His
glory. Saul's javelin was directed not only at David, representing Christ, but at Jonathan
also, the type of the believer (See the six occurrences: I Sam. 18: 10, 11; 19: 9, 10,
18; and 20: 33).
We read that Jonathan "delighted much" in David (19: 2), and that he "spake good"
of him (19: 4). On numerous occasions he interposed on David's behalf, even at the risk
of his own life. Almost the last of his recorded acts is found in I Sam. 23::
"And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose, and went to David into the word, and strengthened
his hand in God" (I Sam. 23: 16).
And in the next verse we read:
"Thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee" (I Sam. 23: 17).
a passage which is parallel with the Lord's promise to the faithful in Rev. 3: 21.
It is written in Scripture that "every knew shall bow, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord" (Phil. 2:). There are some who find in this passage an argument in
favour of the final reconciliation of all, universally. To such we would commend the two
sections indicated in the Structure as follows:
D | 18: 1-4. JONATHAN. "Stripped himself."
D | 19: 18-24. SAUL. "Stripped off his clothes."
Jonathan stripped himself of his robe, and "gave it to David, and his garments, even to
his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle" (I Sam. 18: 4). This, in symbolic
language, is what Paul did when he counted all things loss for the excellency of the