Do you remember, as a young person, not asking your parents if you could do something,

because you knew they’d say “NO!” And then you went on and did the brave (or stupid) thing

hoping for forgiveness if it didn’t work out well.

Well… the co-stars of our devotions this week are right there with you! Although they were quite

different in their backgrounds, they shared some uncommon character traits that might have

made their friendship even stronger.

First, let’s look at Jonathan’s daring feat:

Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore

his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison… “ But he did not tell his

father.

Jonathan told his armor bearer, “It may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing

restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few… Come up after me, for the Lord has

delivered them into the hand of Israel.” (1 Samuel 14:1,6,12) And then… Jonathan and his

armor bearer (the few) won a battle against the Philistines!

Second, you know David’s story well. He didn’t touch base with his father either – he was

merely supposed to be checking on his brothers. No doubt his father would have given him a

big “NO” had he asked permission to face off with Goliath of Gath. Yet, there he was confidently

challenging the giant who had the Israelite soldiers shaking in their boots:

“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the

name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This

day the Lord will deliver you into my hand…” (1 Samuel 17:45-46). And then… the young

man with no military training or battlefield experience took down the enemy with a slingshot and

a stone!

We see in Jonathan and in David an uncommon bravery, but we also see something even more

important. They shared an uncommon trust in the ability of God to do what man would consider

impossible. And they both knew it was God who gave them the victory.

Although Jonathan and David were different in many ways, these two qualities – an uncommon

bravery and an uncommon trust in the Almighty God -- strengthened their unique friendship.

Let’s commit to developing those friendships – like that of Jonathan and David - that strengthen

and encourage while at the same time giving all the glory to God.

By Judy Shrout