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Covenant 7 fyi…

“below the surface of one of the most beautiful and meaningful instances of covenant in all the Scriptures; the bond between Jonathon and David. This event is introduced simply, but profoundly, “Then Jonathon made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.” (Our Covenant God, book)

In our culture, we are quick to jump to some sort of odd perversion instead of embracing what the Scripture deems as one of the most precious of relationships. While we often want to equate Covenant ONLY with marriage, the Word is clear to explain that Covenant friendship is a relationship God establishes and longs for us to partake in. Often we reject this notion, due to perversion or simply because we are uncomfortable with letting another this close, or perhaps even because it just seems odd to us. But whether we like it or not, it is defined in Scripture and is a sacred part of the journey God calls us to.
Kay Arthur describes this relationship as “a way of life that ordered your steps and altered your lifestyle, from your relationships with others to the way you conducted your affairs, all under the watchful eye of an omnipresent God.”
Part of our rejection to the idea of Covenant friendship has been our lack of Biblical knowledge about Covenant. We MUST return to the WORD for our insights on Covenant and how God views. If we refuse to do so, we will face the wrath of God for not viewing Covenant as HE does. From friendships like David and Jonathon, Ruth and Naomi or Jesus and His inner circle, the Word is clear to define Covenant Friendship as something God valued and expected to be kept. It is why Jesus called us friends and described the greatest of all love in the context of friendship. (Greater love hath no man than that he would lay down his life for his friend-John 15:13-14)
The Word defines the Covenant of Friendship as souls being KNIT together, loving as oneself. That is how Jonathon loved David. (1 Sam 18:1-3) Covenant was not just a commitment made, but was also sealed, therefore accompanied by a sign that came with it that sealed the covenant and kept it-a reminder that it is to never be broken. (it is why we wear wedding bands-a sign and seal of marital Covenant). All Covenants come with a sign and seal. The Rainbow, the cross-from God are such examples. But sometimes it was a well dug, a meal shared, a tree planted. Circumcision was a HUGE sign of Covenant. (hence the shedding of blood AND the issues with the seed.)
In the Covenant of Friendship of David and Jonathon, they not only exchanged lives, but signs and symbols of that Covenant. We find in 1 Sam 18, that they exchanged robes, weapons and belts.

David and Jonathon understood covenant friendship as the exchange of life.
“Jonathon stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.” 1 Sam 18:4

The Word is clear to say that Jonathon made a Covenant with David. The word in the Hebrew reads, he CUT Covenant with David, therefore it is understood by the reader that there was a blood exchange, making them blood brothers.

Before we go into the exchange, perhaps we should just read what scholars greater than I have to say about covenant friendship.

[Jonathan loved him as his own soul] The most intimate friendship subsisted between them; and they loved each other with pure hearts fervently. No love was lost between them; each was worthy of the other. They had a friendship which could not be affected with changes or chances, and which exemplified all that the ancients have said on the subject; "Friendship produces an entire sameness; it is one soul in two bodies: a friend is another self."
(from Adam Clarke Commentary)

Kay Arthur: “Speaking volumes of the breadth and depth of Covenant they had just cut, the new relationship they had just entered into, the Covenant made them one. A relationship that would supersede all others except their relationship with their God.”

For example, David and Jonathan entered into a covenant because of their love for each other. This agreement bound each of them to certain responsibilites <1 Sam. 18:3>. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

Disciplines of a Godly Man- describes the relationship between David and Jonathon as a relationship that though in Scripture has fallen by the wayside, simply because we lack roots. He goes on to say that even the most intimate of friends for men will never approach the depth of friendship that women share because men do not value friendship like they do. He goes on to state that such thinking is to ignore the wisdom of Scripture and life. (R. Kent Hughes) Jesus ministry was centered and rooted in DEEP friendship with a few-3, particularly 1. He goes on to describe the friendship of Jonathon and David as the Mutuality of soul. It is a supernatural mutuality of soul where two are one (knit together) because of the Spirit of God that has drawn them into a Covenant friendship.

According to Hughes, The mutuality of soul is followed by an unselfish love and accompanies a mutuality of love and commitment to one another. The deepest of friendships have the desire to make the other royalty. (as Jonathon did for David.) They work for and rejoice in the other’s elevation. There are no hooks, no desires to manipulate, or control and no jealousy. With such a Covenant friendship comes deep loyalty. When Saul spoke evil of David, Jonathon did not receive the evil report but instead spoke well of David. (1 Sam 19:4)
Repeated (Jonathon and David affirmed and cut Covenant twice, not just once) commitments to covenant bound their lives and their children’s lives to one another. (1 Sam 20:14-17)
Hughes alludes to the fact that many men never experience such Biblical friendship and are confounded by the women who do. He states that such friendship is a discipline we must exercise and engage in, that it takes work and a willingness to be transparent and challenges us all to look at Scripture and to cultivate such a friendship.


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