1 Samuel 23:12-18: a reflection

12Then David said, “Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul?” The LORD said, “They will deliver you up.” 13Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, arose and departed out of Keilah and went wherever they could go. Saul was told that David had escaped from Keilah; and he gave up going there. 14David stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds, and remained in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul sought him every day, but God didn’t deliver him into his hand. 15David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph in the woods. 16Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God. 17He said to him, “Don’t be afraid, for the hand of Saul my father won’t find you; and you will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.” 18They both made a covenant before the LORD. Then David stayed in the woods and Jonathan went to his house.

David is at a low, frightened point. Saul is hunting him relentlessly, day after day, and he is worn down by the constant danger. And then Jonathan does something quietly beautiful. He seeks David out in the woods and, the text says, strengthened his hand in God. He did not remove Saul, or fix David's circumstances, or even offer much practical help. He strengthened David's hand in God, reminding him, do not be afraid; you will be king; God's hand is on you.

Notice what kind of encouragement that is. Jonathan's gift to his weary, hunted friend was not to change the situation, which he could not, but to strengthen David's grip on God in the middle of it, to point him back to God's promise and presence when fear had loosened his hold. He reinforced David's faith, and that was exactly what David needed to keep going.

That is one of the great gifts a friend can give, and one we can offer too. When someone we love is exhausted and afraid, we often cannot fix their circumstances. But we can do what Jonathan did: come alongside them and strengthen their hand in God, remind them of his promises, help them keep their grip on him when they are too tired to hold on well themselves. Who around you is weary and hunted right now? Go and strengthen their hand in God. And thank God for the Jonathans who have done it for you.

Lord, thank you for friends like Jonathan who strengthen the hand in God, who point us back to your promises when fear has loosened our grip. When someone I love is weary and afraid, help me be that kind of friend, not always able to fix things, but able to strengthen their hold on you. And when I am the weary one, send me a Jonathan.