Let us turn again to that portion of Holy Scripture we read in 1st Samuel chapter 18. I'll read again the opening four verses of the chapter. In 1st Samuel 18 and reading verses 1 through 4. And it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that is David speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was next with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

And Saul took him that day and would let him go no more home to his father's house. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David. and his garments, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle. And I want to take those words in verses 3 and 4 for our text in particular this evening. What we are told here concerning Jonathan and David. Verses 3 and 4, Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. and Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his garments, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle.

In the second verse we're told how Saul had taken David at that time and would not let him return anymore to his father Jesse's house. He was to remain then at the royal court. Of course we know that he had been there previously as we see from words that we have there in the 16th chapter and verses 21 and 22. And David came to Saul and stood before him and he loved him greatly and he became his armor bearer. And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me, for he hath found favour in my sight.

So clearly he had some acquaintance with him, but from what we read in the previous 17th chapter, he had obviously forgotten this youth. He has to inquire of Abner the chief or the captain of the host as to who this young boy who had slaughtered the great champion Goliath, the champion of the Philistines. Clearly, it would appear that David had returned after a while back to his own home. In fact, we have it there in chapter 17 and verse 15, David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

And then he'd been sent by his father, as I said, to take some provisions to his brethren who were with the armies of Israel in the open fields. But now, having come forward and killed the giant Goliath, Saul will not have him return home anymore. Saul took him that day and will let him go no more home to his father's house. And then we see subsequently how he is brought to the notice of all Israel.

In verses 6 and 7 we have them singing the praises of David. David When he returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing to meet King Saul. With tablets, with joy, with instruments of music. And what did they sing? Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands. And how this enrages Saul.

In verse 9, He eyed David from that day forward, it says. David's now going to be in danger. We stopped our reading there at verse 9, but what do we read in the following verses? Verse 10, On the morrow, the evil spirit from God came upon Saul. And he prophesied in the midst of the house, and David played with his hand as at other times. And there was a javelin in Saul's hand, and Saul cast a javelin, for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence. Oh, David was in danger there in the royal court.

How bitter, how hard were his experiences. how he must have longed for his previous life and yet all of this I would say is necessary because David of course is that one who is now the anointed he's that one who will yet become the king in Israel back in chapter 16 we read of Samuel anointing him There in the midst of his brethren, verse 13, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. But then we're told in the next verse, the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. And all this experience then that David is now going to go through, the hatred of King Saul and his determination to kill David. All of this is so necessary as part of his preparation because he must eventually become the one who will be king in all Israel.

But now in what we have before us here in the text tonight we see that All his troubles were sweetened, surely, by the love of Jonathan. The words of the text, Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle.

And this is the theme that I really want to take up for a little while, the love of Jonathan, the love of Jonathan to his friend David. Now, I'm not suggesting for a moment that Jonathan is strictly a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, but I think we can draw certain parallels. When we think of this relationship that Jonathan has with David, we can draw parallels, and I want to indulge in a way, a sort of allegorical interpretation of the words of our text.

But to begin with, first of all to say something with regards to Jonathan's love. Though it's so much emphasized, we have it time and again, There at the end of verse 1, Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And then again, as they make a covenant, why does Jonathan do this? Because he loved him as his own soul.

It's as if David is Jonathan's other self. So, really, it's the love again in chapter 19 and then at the beginning of verse 2 we're told Jonathan's son delighted much in David in chapter 20 and verse 17. Jonathan caused David to swear again. This is the re-swearing as it were of the covenant.

Why? Because he loved him. for he loved him as he loved his own soul. There is much made then of the love between these two men. Now there was nothing, there was nothing at all perverse or sinful in this relationship between Jonathan and David. There's nothing of that anywhere in Scripture. This is a pure love.

And in it we see so much of the loyalty and the fidelity of Jonathan in the manner of his love. At the beginning of the second book of Psalms, in the opening chapter, we read of Saul and Jonathan's death. We have that remarkable lament of David's. What does David say of Jonathan?

I love to me. thy love to me was wonderful, he says, passing the love of women. There was nothing perverse there. The intensity of the love that Jonathan has towards his friend David, it's so remarkable and it contrasts really, it contrasts with his sister or his half-sister, Michael, who of course was given by Saul to David as his wife. here in verse 20 of this 18th chapter.

Michael, Saul's daughter, loved David, and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And so what does the king do? He gives Michael to David as his wife, the end of verse 27. in this chapter. Saul gave him Michael, his daughter, to why she becomes his wife. And yet Jonathan's love is a greater love than that of Michael. At Saul's instigation she in fact leaves David and she's taken and she's given in marriage to another. Then at the end of chapter 25, Saul had given my colleague's daughter David's wife to Phalton, the son of Laish, which was of Galil. What protest she may have made, we're not told, but she was not faithful. She was given to another, even whilst David was still alive. And we know, don't we, how she despises David, really.

We have that incident that's recorded in the first book of Chronicles chapter 15 when they're bringing the Ark of the Lord up to Manziar and there is David rejoicing and dancing before the Lord and we're told how he was so much despised by Micah in first Chronicles 15 And there, at verse 27 following, David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bear the ark and the singers, and Cananiah the master of the song with the singers. David also had upon him an ephod of linen. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making noise with psalteries and harps. And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David at Micah, the daughter of Saul, looking out at a window, saw King David dancing and playing, and she despised him in her heart."

She despised him. Now think of that in her brother Jonathan. Jonathan always delighted in David. As I said he was Jonathan's other self really. And it's no wonder then that when Jonathan's life is taken we have that remarkable lament. David was a most emotional man.

He laments over the death of King Saul as he's lamenting over the death of Jonathan. He laments also, of course, over the death of his own son Absalom who had rebelled against him, conspired against him. Yet, how David feels the loss of these men. All the language that we have there then in the opening chapter of 1 Samuel and I think it's worth reading the words of David's great lament over those two men 1st Samuel 1 at verse 23 this is David speaking Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives and in their death they were not divided they were swifter than eagles they were stronger than lions you daughters of Israel weep over sword, who clothed you in scarlet with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle? O Jonathan, they were slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan. Very pleasant has thou been unto me. Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished? It's a remarkable account that we have here concerning these two men and I emphasize these things because as I said I want to in a sense allegorize the passage and it is but a pale reflex really of the great love that the Lord Jesus Christ has for his brethren. And those whom he saved, of course, they are his brethren. He loves his own, and he loves them to the end. And all the bitterness of the death of the cross.

But coming back to Jonathan, and what Jonathan is doing here in these verses that I've read for our text, what does Jonathan do? Well, in a sense, Jonathan really is marking David off as that one who is heir to the throne. That's what he does in verse 4. He stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle. I like the remark that dear old Matthew Henry makes in his commentary. He says, David is seen in Jonathan's clothes that all may take notice that he is Jonathan's second self.

He is now in the place of Jonathan. Jonathan would be the heir, it would appear. But Jonathan seems to be aware that it's not Jonathan, it's going to be David who will become the king. And Saul is clearly aware of these things. He sees the significance of these things.

Back in chapter 20, verse 30, Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan. And he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die." Jonathan knew, you see.

He is acknowledging that David is that one who is going to become the heir. And how Jonathan denies himself. He denies himself. And we see that again in those things that are recorded there. in that 20th chapter. When he answers his father, I just read verses 30 and 31, and then Jonathan answers Saul, his father, and says unto him, Wherefore shall he that is David be slain? What hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him, whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.

So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and he'd eaten no meat the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame. The king, in his rage, had sought to kill his own son. But Jonathan doesn't think of himself. Jonathan only thinks of David. His father's attitude to David, that was the thing that grieved him. Nothing of himself.

Even as a friend. Oh, what a friend. What a friendship is this between these two men. A friend, says the wise man, loveth at all times. And a brother is born for adversity. Isn't that the relationship between these two men, between Jonathan and David. But I want, as I said, to allegroise the account, as it were, and to say something with regards to the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. The wise man also says, there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. And again, that's true of Jonathan. Jonathan was such a friend to David, but the Lord Jesus Christ is such a friend to sinners, the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Who is that friend that sticketh closer?

Surely we have to recognize it's the Lord Jesus Christ himself. This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them. How he loves sinners! how he loves the sinners, how he counts them as his brethren write a lot, that no man than this says the Lord Jesus that a man lay down his life for his friends he lay down his life for his friends, more than that remember the language of Romans 5 in due time Christ died for the ungodly it says he dies for the ungodly scarcely for a righteous man some might dare to die but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us we're told all the wonder of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ having loved his own which were in the world he loves them unto the end and now we see Something really of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for his people in what Jonathan is doing here for David in verse 4 where he strips himself and gives his robe and his garments and everything as it were to David.

Doesn't this remind us of the Lord Jesus Christ? Remember the language that we have in the prophecy of Isaiah. Isaiah speaks, doesn't he, of what Christ does in clothing his people with his own righteousness. The language that we have in that 10th verse of Isaiah 61.

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord. My soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me. with the garments of salvation he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels. The Lord has done that very thing for his people. Again we have the language of the book of the revelations. there in the 19th chapter concerning the church to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. What is that fine linen?

It's the righteousness of the saints. It's not their righteous deeds as it's perverted in so many modern versions. It's not their deeds. It's that righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ that is imputed to the sinner. nor do we not believe in a double imputation. All the sins of his people were reckoned to the Lord Jesus Christ.

And how he so willingly bear that punishment that was there just desert when he died upon the cross. But there is a blessed exchange because his righteousness is that that is accounted, imputed to his people. that robe of righteousness that he wrought by his obedience to every commandment of God when he was made of a woman and made under the law. He has fulfilled all righteousness. This is the name whereby he shall be called.

He is the Lord, our righteousness. What do we see here when we consider what Jonathan is doing in this fourth verse? he strips himself it isn't that what the Lord Jesus Christ did when he became a man being in the form of God he thought it not robbery to be equal with God but made himself of no reputation he took upon in the form of a servant he was made in the likeness of sinful flesh and foreseeing. All of this the Lord Jesus Christ did. Those are remarkable words, aren't they, there in Philippians chapter 2.

He made himself of no reputation. You know, we've looked at that passage previously. And there we have what's called the kenosis theory from the Greek word that's used. which is translated in our authorized version by that expression made himself of no reputation again in many modern versions it's literally translated empty being in the form of God he thought it not probably to be equal with God but tempted himself And they say, well that's the literal meaning of the word. Well it is. But we need to be careful when we're thinking about the incarnation. What did the Lord Jesus Christ do? Did he really empty himself of his deity?

He never ceased to be God. He could never cease to be God. He is the eternal Son of the eternal Father. He is very God of very God. He's begotten, not made. He's of one substance with the Father together with the Holy Spirit in the great mystery which is the doctrine of God, the doctrine of the Trinity. And the rendering that we have in our Authorized Version of course is taken straight out of Tyndale's version. Tyndale realized the significance of what's being said there is in the form of God and he's never anything but in the form of God because he is God so he could not empty himself of his deity but he made himself of no reputation and isn't this what we see here with regards to Jonathan? Jonathan is quite willing that David should be the one who is to be looked to as the heir apparent to the throne.

Oh, the Lord Jesus Christ, He did in that sense strip Himself. When He so willingly became a man, as He stripped Himself, so He clothed Himself. For as much as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, He likewise took part of the sign. the Lord Jesus Christ became a man, a real man, we read of God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin although there was nothing of sin in him, he was preserved pure from every spot there was nothing of original sin in him, he was not descended in that sense in the normal way from Adam. He had no human father. He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of the Virgin. And in the miracle of the Virgin birth of course he was kept from every taint of Adam's sin. That sin comes to us by natural generation, that sin comes down all the generations.

Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? asks Job. Not one, not one. Here is the miracle then of the virgin birth, the great mystery of the incarnation. Because what is born of the virgin is referred to there in the opening chapter of Luke as that holy thing the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God that holy thing, that human nature no spot of original sin and as He is without original sin so He is free from actual sins in His life He's holy, He's harmless, He's undefiled, He's separate from sinners, He's made higher than the heavens. And yet He identifies with the sinner. God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and forcing. The sin is imputed to Him. The sin is imputed to Him. Now He comes.

It's all in the covenant. We have mention of the covenants here. They made a covenant, it says. Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul. All of these things are really the outworking of the covenant, aren't they? The incarnation, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in human flesh. Again, remember the language that we have in Hebrews chapter 10. where the Apostle is referring to the Psalm, Psalm 14 Hebrews 10 verse 5, Wherefore when he cometh into the world he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me in burnt offerings and sacrifice of source sin thou hast had no pleasure then said I lo I come in the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will O God in the volume of the book that is the book of God's decree the outworking of the covenant lo I come He says, abiding as thou prepared me. All of this, the outworking of God's great purpose of salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ will come as that one who is ever the great friend of sinners. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. And that's what the Lord Jesus Christ has done. He loves his own. And he loves them to the end. all must terminate in that great work upon the cross at Calvary.

And I say, when we think of the relationship, the love that Jonathan bears to David, do we not see the pale reflection, as it were, of that great love of the Lord Jesus Christ? But it also teaches us something also, surely, with regards to what real Christian love is.

There's an application to ourselves here, is there not? Oh, the soul of Jonathan is so neat to dive into. Jonathan loved him as his own soul. and as I said at the beginning we have it there at the end of verse 1 and we have it again here at the end of verse 3 there's an emphasis there's an emphasis upon that truth we sang didn't we for our opening praise that lovely hymn of Isaac Watts it's a paraphrase of the 122nd Psalm really But what words we have there in the last verse? My tongue repeater vows peace to this sacred house, for there my friends and kindred dwell.

It's a high view of the Church, isn't it, that we have? Of course, Isaac Watts was an independent, a Congregationalist, he had that high doctrine of the Church, that every Local church gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a microcosm of the one true universal church. It's the church, the church in minister. The local congregation of the Lord's people. What's at a high doctrine of the church in that sense?

And of course we're reminded, aren't we, of the importance of the corporate worship amongst the people of God in the Church of Christ the language there in Hebrews 10 let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is but so much the more as we see the day approaching how we should be those who desire to fill our place whenever the church gathers together hear our friends, hear our kindred dwell. And again, when we think of the language that we have in this fourth verse, Jonathan stripping himself of the robe and everything else, his garments, even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle, it says. Now think of the words of the Lord Jesus. What does Christ say as he gives such practical instruction in the course of his own ministry? Words there in the Gospel in Luke chapter 3 and verse 11.

The Lord answers and says unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none. and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. This is the Lord's instruction to His people. They are to care one for the other. They are to minister one to the other. And this is what the Lord will look for when he comes a second time without sin, unto salvation when he comes to usher in the great day of judgment. All remember the language there in the 25th chapter of Matthew. In Matthew 25, verse 34, and the following verses then shall the king say unto them on his right hand come ye blessed of my father this is the final division the sheep on the right hand the goats on the left then shall the king say unto them on his right hand the sheep come ye blessed of my father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat.

I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink. I was a stranger, and ye took me in naked, and ye clothed me. I was sick, and ye visited me. I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee, or thirsty, and gave ye drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in, or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, says Christ, ye have done it unto me. or to know something then of that love that Jonathan bore towards his friend David for that love to be shed abroad in our hearts in the church to have such a concern one for the other John also of course in his epistles brings these things out doesn't he the practical aspect of that love of God when it's shed abroad in the hearts of the Lord's people the words in particular there in the third chapter of 1 John verse 17 who so hath this world's good and seeth his brother hath need and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him how dwelleth the love of God in him my little children Let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Isn't that what we see in Jonathan? It's not love just in words or tongue, it's in deed, it's in truth. He treats David as his other self. The remarkable love that he bears towards his friends And what does the Lord Jesus Christ say to us? He says, if you are my friends, you'll do what I command you. Isn't that what he says? You are my friends if you do my commandments.

And we have these things recorded, we have this remarkable account of the love between these two men and particularly that great love that Jonathan bore towards his friend David all his days all his days so strange really when we contrast it with Michael who despises David and Saul who is bent upon the death of David But Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul and Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him and gave it to David and his garments even to his sword and to his bow and to his girdle. Oh God grant that we might know something of that spirit that we see in this character, in the man Jonathan. And the Lord be pleased then to bless the truth of His words to our souls. Amen.