Blessed Assurance
Jonathan was a
prince while David was from a poor background. Yet he loved David so much that his
soul knit to that of David[1].
Jonathan proved to be the greatest friend that David would know. The
relationship was so strong that Jonathan and David established a covenant
between themselves. A covenant relationship was the strongest form of agreement
and commitment people could make to each other. When God chose a form of
relationship with humanity, he chose the strongest - a covenant relationship[2].
Three encouraging characteristics of a covenant are:
1) A Covenant is lasting. Jonathan’s
devotion to David did not waver to the extent that it even caused a rift to
develop between him and his father, as he repeatedly took David’s side against
the king[3].
Later he remembered Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son and promoted him to the king’s
table[4].
Mountains will pass away but God’s covenant of peace will not pass away[5].
2) A Covenant is an exchange. Parties to a covenant exchanged
identities, wealth and weapons. They committed to sharing everything. Whoever
attacked one of them had attacked all. God
has also given saints his divine nature and access to all his by His name[6]. He put on them his robe of righteousness in
place of their filthy rags of sin[7].
All his has become yours.
3) A Covenant is a choice. Parties willingly enter into a covenant. Jonathan showed uncommon, unconditional and
sacrificial love to David. Love is a choice one commits to live by. Similarly, Jesus had nothing to gain in
comparison to what it took to save the world. He showed uncommon love for lost
sinners[8].
He knew they would never show their love for Him to the same degree He
demonstrated His love for them but He loved anyway. He loves us because that is His nature and
choice[9].
Thank God for his unmerited love and his unfailing covenant commitment to you.
That is the blessed assurance.
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