Sidekick - Jonathan And David

Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.

1 Samuel 18:3-4

The Lone Ranger had Tonto. Marshal Matt Dillon had Festus Hagan. Batman had Robin, and Andy Taylor had Barney Fife. All classic television characters, it seems, must have their sidekicks.

The sidekick is the character who provides support, encouragement, and comic relief when needed. Though the sidekick plays a lesser role in the story, the hero couldn’t be the hero without him.

Often in life it’s good to be the sidekick. Sometimes God wants you to step back and allow someone else to take the lead and the credit. David’s friend Jonathan was content to play the role of sidekick in David’s rise to power in ancient Israel.

Jonathan’s dad was King Saul, Israel’s first monarch, but God hadn’t called Jonathan to succeed his father on the throne. A different man might have felt angry and indignant at this apparent slight, but Jonathan remained David’s close friend and ally.

In Jonathan, David had everything he could possibly want in a comrade and coworker. Jonathan was a selfless friend and ally (see 1 Samuel 19:1-2), a courageous warrior (see 1 Samuel 14:7-14), and a man of unshakable faith (see 1 Samuel 14:6). He humbly stood back and rejoiced as his friend rose to the prominent place God had planned for him.

How willing are you to stand back and let others shine as they take their places in God’s plans? If you were Jonathan, who would your David be?

God has put you in the place where you can best suit his purposes at this time. Do you believe that? How can you lend your love, support, and loyalty to those he has called to what may seem like a higher place—even a place you might not mind occupying yourself?