The Bond of Friendship

May 23

I Samuel 20-21

Psalm 64:7-10

Proverbs 14:13-14

John 13

The Bond of Friendship

“So Jonathan cut a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘May Yahweh require it at the hands of David’s enemies.’  And Jonathan made David swear again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own soul…when the young man was gone, David rose from the south side and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times.  And they kissed each other and wept together, but David wept more.  And Jonathan said to David, ‘Go in peace, inasmuch as we have sworn to each other in the name of Yahweh, saying, ‘Yahweh will be between me and you, and between my seed and your seed forever.’ Then he rose and departed, while Jonathan went into the city.” 

I Samuel 20:16-17, 41-42 LSB

David and Jonathan shared a bond of friendship that few people ever experience.  David was brought into Saul’s household as a teenaged boy to play the harp and help soothe the troubled king so he could sleep.  During that time, David and Jonathan became friends.  God blessed David and he became a skilled warrior fighting for Saul and defeating many of his enemies.  Saul eventually became jealous of his success, but Jonathan remained loyal to David.  Jonathan was Saul’s son and should be in line to become king, but David had been anointed as the next king.  Risking his own position, Jonathan protected David and helped him escape Saul’s attempts to kill him.  They made a covenant with each other, vowing loyalty and commitment to each other and to their descendants.  After Jonathan’s death, David kept his vow and took care of Jonathan’s disabled son, Mephibosheth, all the days of his life. 

Their friendship is a model for us of what true friendship should be.   These boys had nothing in common.  David was a shepherd, but Jonathan was a prince.  Jonathan grew up in a palace while David grew up in a small town tending sheep in a field. They could and possibly should have been rivals and yet they were the best of friends.  Their commitment to God was greater than their ambition.  They loved each other deeply and were willing to risk their own lives to protect the other.  They looked out for each other and looked to the other’s interests above their own.  True friends are a gift from God.  He blesses us with people in our lives who will support, love, and stand by us no matter what.  And He expects us to be that kind of friend to those He has placed in our lives as well.  In order to have good friends, you have to be a good friend.  Loyalty, commitment, and honesty are essential qualities in friends.  But the most important thing we should look for in a friend is someone who constantly points us to God.  No matter how good and godly a friend is, they are human.  They will at some point let you down.  They cannot be your source of strength, hope, peace, etc.  A true friend points you to the only One who is able to meet all your needs.  A true friend is someone who encourages you to grow closer to Jesus and will walk with you through the journey.  Do you have good friends?  Are you a good friend?  Ask God to help you be the kind of friend to others that David and Jonathan were.