Do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth

1 Samuel 20:1-23

But David took an oath and said, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, ‘Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.’ Yet as surely as the Lord lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death.” Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.”

But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” 

So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the Lord call David’s enemies to account.” And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

But if I say to the boy, ‘Look, the arrows are beyond you,’ then you must go, because the Lord has sent you away. And about the matter you and I discussed—remember, the Lord is witness between you and me forever.”

Why?

David and Jonathan made a covenant that even when the Lord has cut off David's enemies from the face of the earth, he will not cut off his kindness from Jonathan's family. David implemented this covenant a few years later.

Jonathan and David are faithful to each other and love each other.  This is a really gentle and righteous covenant.

The relationship between David and Jonathan is an example to us, could we have such good friend in this world? It is uneasy.

How?

Even Saul did many evil things but his son Jonathan did his best to keep his family safe. Jesus is my best friend in this world and forever!