David's Samwise Gamgee?

Do you have a Samwise Gamgee in your life? What an odd question eh! Like, honestly, who even knows a person with the name of Samwise Gamgee in their life, let alone on their socials? To my Tolkien and LOTR (Lord of the Rings) fanatics you know who I am referring to. Samwise/Sam is the faithful sidekick of Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings series, who travels/helps/carries/protects Frodo all the way to Mount Doom to destroy the ring of power.  What are the qualities of such a person?  Well, I hate to brake it to you, there is nothing really outstanding about this hobbit; only his fervent loyalty to his friend and duty to help in whatever way he can. The only reason he got into this mess was that he was snooping about when he shouldn't have, but what made his stay was his promise to Gandalf and Frodo. "I made a promise Mr. Frodo. A promise! Don't you lose him Samwise Gamgee! And I don't mean to." Man, talk about taking a promise seriously! One line stood out to me from the series concerning Sam that came from Frodo. "Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam." It's so simple and yet, so true.  Sam was there through it all with Frodo and on the way back as well. Samwise Gamgee is the apex of what it means to be a best friend, a person who is there through all circumstances!

David's Sam was a prince by the name of Jonathan.  These bros had an instant connection in 1 Samuel 18 to the point of making hardcore vows to each other. But the bond does not stop there, it is put through the ringer when Saul wants to turn David into a pin cushion a few times (see previous blog about Saul). Not only does he almost kill David several times, but when he was angry that Jonathan was supporting David, Saul almost turns Jonathan into a pin cushion as well. Talk about awkward family dynamics! It was after this family altercation that Jonathan helps David escape from his father, never to see his brother-in-law (really his brother in heart) ever again (1 Samuel 20:35-42). This brotherly bond was so tight that when David did become king he kept the last surviving member of Jonathan's family in the palace alongside him and took care of his family as well (2 Samuel 9).  Now that's going the extra mile for your bro!

Do you have a Sam/Jonathan that is there both in the good times and on the journey to Mount Doom? We all need someone to come along side us in the battles we face and for the times we have our victories. Who have you seen around you that has the qualities of Sam/Jonathan in your life and how are you keeping in touch with them? How are you relying on the ultimate Sam (Jesus) who walks alongside you in your journey in life?

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 15, 2023 at 7:19 AM

    not to difficult to figure out why we love Samwise...a true and devoted friend...one who is there always...Jesus promises "never to leave us or forsake us"...a genuine promise through thick and thin, we can trust.

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