I Samuel 18:4  And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.

Jonathan met David just after David had done the impossible - kill the giant. No one else had the courage to even try. Saul was ‘head and shoulders’ above every man in Israel, yet he made no move to fight Goliath. Surely Jonathan, the crown prince, valiant hero of the army could do it. But he didn’t. Yet here was an unlikely hero. A shepherd.

Jonathan was so impressed that he gave David his robe, armor, and arms. This was an amazing gift. Jonathan’s robe would have marked him to one and all as the king’s son. It was his symbol of position - his identity. His armor was vital to him as a soldier. Yet he gave this defensive equipment to one he saw as more worthy. He even gave his sword to David. Read back a few chapters previous and you will discover that at that time there were no blacksmiths in Israel. They had to go to Philistines to get their farm implements sharpened. And the Philistines weren’t about to provide offensive weaponry to Israel! There was a grand total of two swords in the army! Saul had one, and Jonathan had the other. It absolutely marked his special position. And now David was given this irreplaceable sword!

When we come to David’s greater Son, Jesus. We must come bearing similar gifts. I do not enter into a casual relationship with Jesus. One where we ‘hang out’ once in a while. I go all in, or not at all. I have to give Jesus my ‘robe’ - my identity. I have to be willing to commit who I am to Jesus. I have to give my ‘armor’ to Jesus - my defense. I have to be willing to trust Jesus to fight my battles. I have to let Him be in charge. When I come to Jesus, I have to give up my ‘sword’ - the thing that makes me special (even if that’s just in my own mind). I have to become as nothing when I come to Him.

It’s a comfort at times to think of Jesus as a friend. But if that’s all He is, then I’m really kidding myself that I have any relationship at all with Him. No, my relationship with Jesus, if it exists at all, will be one where I call Him Lord. I love my friend, and I would do a lot for them. But Jesus is my Lord. To Him I give my ‘robe’, my ‘armor’, and my ‘sword’. And I count myself unworthy that He should accept these unworthy gifts.

Blessings,

Pastor Russ