David and Jonathan’s friendship is famous for good reason. It is even more remarkable when we consider that Jonathan was the son of Saul, who hunted David. They did not let even the most difficult circumstances keep them from encouraging and supporting one another.

The intimacy and devotion that they display can even be a bit shocking. Obviously, there are cultural differences in our world, but the need for truly deep friendships remains. The enemy can do his work much more easily if we lack deep relationships – and we should not forget that we have targets on our backs as well.

Even sociologists are sounding alarms about the epidemic of loneliness in our society. Take a moment to ponder about the state of your relationships. What does it, or would it, mean for you to have relationships that will be committed to you no matter what is going on in the church or in leadership? How might you go about developing these types of relationships?

Additional Resources

In this episode, we dive into the unique and powerful friendship between David and Jonathan. Learn about David’s journey from a shepherd boy to a future king anointed by Yahweh, his trials during 15 years in the wilderness, and the key role of spiritual friendship during his challenging times. We also compare and contrast David with King Saul, exploring the heart and spirituality that set David apart as a man after God’s own heart. Join us as we uncover deep biblical insights, the significance of inner life, and the development of spiritual leadership.

Topics Discussed:

David’s Inner Life and the Significance of Israel’s Kings.
The Contrast Between Saul and David as Leaders.
Defining “Spiritual Anthropology”.
Balancing Knowledge, Being, and Doing in Spiritual Development.
David as a Spiritual Leader Despite Moral Imperfections.
The Story of David and Goliath.
Saul’s Attempts to Kill David.
Saul’s Death and David’s Long Wait