"Contract Or Covenant?"

"Contract or Covenant?”

Jonathan and David, best friends.

Jonathan needed a friend...

I have often wondered why Jonathan himself did not take on the giant Goliath? He displayed the right kind of faith and courage needed for the mission in 1 Samuel 14 when he and his armour bearer took on the entire army of the Philistines.

I am convinced that Jonathan allowed his Father’s backslidden condition to discourage him. Jonathan needed a friend, and God provided him with with David.

Notice that Jonathan and David made a covenant. The theme of this message is, "What is a covenant?"

Most people live in a contract world and not in a covenant world. Contracts are written with the idea of failure in mind. That is, "What if things do not work out?"

A covenant always comes with the word, "Everlasting."

(Gen 9:16 KJV) And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

(Jer 31:3 KJV) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Marriage is to be a covenant relationship, not a contract! The very nature of the wedding vows is "everlasting."

My salvation experience is that of a covenant. Reread John 3:16. I believe in the eternal security of the believer!

In today’s text Jonathan illustrates what it means to be in a covenant relationship:

I give you my robe… That is, "I believe in you."

Jonathan was next in line to be King. He knew that David was the anointed and desired David to be his King. He gave him his robe. Christ was given you a robe! In order to be saved, we must accept his robe of righteousness and declare Jesus to be our Lord.

I give you my garments… That is, "I want to identify with you."

When anyone would see David they would at first think, "Jonathan." David was wearing Jonathan’s garments. In a marriage the name of the husband and wife should always be seen side by side, for example: Jerry and Judy.

In today’s story, I can never think of Jonathan without saying the name, "David, best friends."

I give you my sword… That is, "I am depending on you."

God has also given us a sword. Read Ephesians 6 and find a parallel to today’s text. God is our defender. Let him fight your battles. There are also times that we must stand for the Lord and defend the faith with the "Sword of the Spirit," and the "Sword of the Word of God."

I give you my bow…That is, "I am always at your side."

When a battle took place those with the bows and arrows stood side by side to aim their arrows at the enemy. Whatever side the Bible is on, that is the side that I am on.

It is a blessing in the ministry having my wife always at my side. We have a covenant relationship!

I give you my girdle… That is, "I give you my heart."

Of all of the things that I desire from my wife, I desire to know that I have her heart. God wants your heart. He desires a personal intimate relationship with you.

I usually use this part of the text when I perform wedding ceremonies. The girdle is the belt that is placed around the waist. By giving a wedding ring to the wife a man is saying, "All that I have is yours. My arms are about you. I cannot be with you at all times, but this wedding ring symbolizes my desire to have my arms around you at all times. I love you. I will never leave you."

Live to not betray your friends

Note this next verse:

5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

David lived as to not disappoint the covenant trust of Jonathan had placed in him.

(Prov 18:24) A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Do you make a good best friend? God wants to know.