11th September 2013 Travis Snode

Mentoring in the Old Testament (6 of 7) – Jonathan and David

Leadership

Other posts in this series: Introduction, Jethro and Moses Part 1, Jethro and Moses Part 2, Moses and Joshua, Moses and Caleb, Samuel and Saul

Jonathan and David were friends, but much more than that.  Jonathan was most likely older than David and certainly of a higher status, but he was willing to do everything in his power to make David a success.  Notice several things about their mentoring relationship:

First, Jonathan was a mighty man of God himself.  He won several decisive victories for Israel and single-handedly took on a whole garrison of the Philistines (1 Samuel 13-14).

Second, Jonathan became a very close friend to David after the victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 18). Jonathan made a covenant with David, and his friendship was the most precious gift David was ever given.

Third, Jonathan demonstrated loyalty to David despite very adverse circumstances.  Jonathan defended David before his own father, continually spoke good about David, and was at peace about David becoming the next king in his own place (1 Samuel 19-20).

Fourth, Jonathan was committed to encouraging and helping his friend.  When David was running for his life, Jonathan endangered himself by going to David and encouraging his hand in God (1 Samuel 23:16-17).

Mentoring lessons:

• For mentoring to take place and be most effective, there must be trust, loyalty, sacrificial love, and no envy.
• The key to making others a success is unconditional love, sacrificial investment, and unselfish joy at another’s advancement.
• If we want to mentor, we must relinquish our claim on the throne and do all in our power to exalt another to the throne!
• To effectively mentor, we must be committed to being a friend, an encouragement, and a help even when it may cost us greatly and put us at great risk.
• We need to sensitive to key times of discouragement and crisis and be there to help and lift them up.

Where would the great king of Israel, the man after God’s own heart, have been if it were not for his friend and mentor Jonathan who loved him, encouraged him, and believed in him?  Read 2 Samuel 1:17-27 to see how David felt about Jonathan.