Credit Jonathan

1 Samuel 18:1- 4 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved s him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

Sometimes I think that we do not hear enough about Jonathan as one of the Biblical heroes. Go back a few chapters to 14 and Jonathan is slipping behind enemy lines and making quite a conquest of the Philistines. But in this passage, the capable Jonathan recognizes David as the one who will lead Israel. He makes a covenant with him and honors him with robe, sword, tunic and belt. The one who would be next in line to King Saul recognizes David as the next leader. It is a pledge of mutual loyalty or even more. I see it this way. David, I have your back. I will be the #2 man. I will be what I can to give my strong support to your true leadership.

We will see what develops, but Jonathan does show this loyalty later and is informative and protective of David when he is on the run from Saul. So give Jonathan great credit. When Saul is getting jealous of David, Jonathan is the one who opposes Saul's desire to kill him.