More on Jonathan and David

1 Samuel 20-21

            Yesterday, I likened Jonathan to Jesus, and today’s reading just confirms the point for me. Philippians 2:6 says that Jesus “did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,” but “that he took the form of a servant and humbled himself.” Isn’t that what Jonathan does? He willingly gives his royal heritage away for David’s sake. Interesting, too, that we can take Jonathan as a type for our lives, giving up everything for our king Jesus.

            A second connection to Jesus is in the story of David and his men eating the sacred bread. In Matthew 12, the Pharisees were angry that Jesus’ disciples were breaking the Sabbath, and Jesus referred to this story from 1 Samuel 21. Jesus’ point was that in an emergency, some of the laws of Moses could be set aside; they weren’t the ultimate thing in one’s relationship with the Lord. Similarly, we want to do good and right by the Lord, and many people make our righteousness the measure of Christianity. Yet, important as obedience is, the heart of the faith is the mercy God has shown in Jesus. We want to keep that straight!