“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David; and Jonathan 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.” (1 Sam. 18:1-41And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4And 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. (1 Samuel 18:1‑4).)
It will be interesting to trace the circumstances which gave rise to these beautiful words, and to seek to learn in some measure from them, as in a figure, how the heart of a sinner is drawn out, in love to the true David, even to Christ. “We love him because he first loved us,” is the true order in which, as poor sinners, we learn to know and to love Him, when He makes Himself known to our souls as the Conquering Victorious Saviour, who had gone to meet our adversary alone; who had returned from His conquest, having “bruised the head “of him who wielded the power of death over us. The soul of a poor sinner is thus knit to Christ, just as in this beautiful scene we read that “When he had made an end of speaking,” when David had made himself known to Jonathan, that “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”
In the previous chapter we read of the champion of the Philistines, Goliath, the giant of Gath, defying the armies of Israel, and holding them in dismay and terror. There stood their dreadful enemy day after day, and there stood the poor trembling hosts of Israel quailing under the power of the foe. Like “the strong man armed,” of whom the Lord Jesus speaks in Luke 11:2121When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: (Luke 11:21), keeping his palace, whose goods are in peace.
Who was this “strong man” to us? It was our strong enemy, Satan, whose captives, sometimes willing captives, sometimes unwilling captives, as by nature we are, but still under his undisputed sway. Satan’s palace is this world; the world that came so beautiful out of the hands of God, with everything in it “very good.” The old Serpent came and succeeded in usurping possession of the once beauteous world, making it his palace, and its inmates, the poor sinners of the world, his captives.
How our hearts would resent the thought of this, dear fellow-sinner; would try to put away the truth that we are captives to Satan, this “strong man “One is led captive by his position in the world, another by his riches, another by his vanity, another by his love of ease, another by his pleasures (so-called), another by his business, another by his religion, and another by his love of gain. Whatever it may be, one and all are his captives. And if ever our hearts would be disposed to resent the thought of this, we cannot escape the truth that the very weapon which he wields over us, the very armor in which, as the “strong man,” he trusts in keeping this undisputed possession of his captives, is that which proves his sway. And that is Satan’s great weapon, his armor in which he trusts! It is Death! which he wields as the judgment of God on our sin.
Saul’s armor, his helmet of brass, his coat of mail, his sword—(Chapter 17:38,39)—were worthless against Goliath of Gath. At last the deliverer came. “David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” (Verse 32.)
So with the poor sinner, Satan’s captive; man’s armor and man’s strength were unable to set him free. When he was “without strength “the True Deliverer came. He came to show that God saveth not from the enemy with man’s weapons. As David says (vs. 47), “The Lord saveth not with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” He came to reveal the heart of God, who did not desire that the poor sinner should be a captive under Satan’s grasp. He did not set aside death, the weapon which Satan wielded as God’s judgment on sin. That would have been as much as saying that the judgment He had pronounced was a mistake. But He, as we read, “Through death”—the very strong weapon that the enemy wielded over poor captive sinners— “Through death He destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and delivered them who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14,1514Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14‑15)) He went down to the dust of death, in His own pity and compassion for poor captive sinners; took the wages of sin on Himself, made their sins His own, and accepted the judgment of God on account of sin; and so plucked out of Satan’s hand his great weapon. As “David ran and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith” —(vs. 51),—so the Lord Jesus snatched Satan’s weapon out of his hand, destroyed his power of death, by going down Himself into its dark domain, and as the stronger than he, He came upon the strong man armed, and overcame him, taking from him the armor wherein he trusted. (Luke 11:2222But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. (Luke 11:22)) “He led captivity captive,” despoiling him of his goods, liberating the poor captive sinner, and returned victorious and a Conqueror!
Dear fellow-sinner, have you heard His own voice, as it were, relating His conquest for you? Have you listened to the voice of Jesus with an adoring, believing spirit, relating in your ears His tale of victory? And like Jonathan, when David had made an end of speaking—and you, when you have heard His tale of delivering, emancipating victory, has your soul been knit to Him? Have you learned to love Him for His wondrous love to you? Learned to own Him as your Deliverer, your victorious Saviour? And that you are delivered, and that you are saved? The bondage through fear of death has been changed for you into “songs of deliverance,” with which he has “compassed you about.” That even now He has placed the weapon of the enemy in your hand, declaring that “Death is yours,”—(1 Cor. 3:2222Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; (1 Corinthians 3:22))—so that you may sing, “O death! where is thy sting?” more than conqueror through Him that loved you!
What, then, do you not owe to Him? You say I owe Him all! How do we find Jonathan’s love displayed? Just as true love ever displays itself. It strips itself for the beloved object, that the beloved one may have all. “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.” It may be some worldly distinction or position, where the loved One has been cast out. It may be an alabaster box of ointment of the sinner of the city, who anointed the feet of Jesus, who was forgiven much and who loved much. It may be the widow’s mite, “all her living,” lavished upon the object of her heart. It may show itself in one way or in another, constrained by the love of Him, whose love was stronger than death. But, if true, it will show itself some way or other.
The Lord grant, dear fellow-sinner, that you may know Him in His story of love and deliverance to your soul; that He may make Himself thus known for you, committing Himself to one who values His changeless love, which passeth knowledge. And knowing Him, that your heart may learn to respond to His love; that your soul may be knit to Christ. David valued the love of Jonathan. He says of it, “Thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” (2 Sam. 1:2626I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. (2 Samuel 1:26)) Christ owned the love of the sinner of the city. He marked every action her love produced. It would seem that He had not heeded it as it passed; but when the time came to own it He recounted it all, nothing was forgotten. And the time is fast coming when not the faintest throb of true love to Christ, which the very heart of the poor delivered one may not have remembered, but will be owned by Him who knew and owned it all, and by whom the very cup of cold water given in His name will not be forgotten!