TRUE FRIENDSHIP
November 3 | Dave Morton
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I Samuel 17:55 - 18:5
55 As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” 56 And the king said, “Inquire whose son the boy is.” 57 And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
David and Jonathan's Friendship
18 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
In the aftermath of David’s miraculous victory over Goliath, his fifteen minutes of fame will stretch into years. In the larger arc of God’s work in human history, David is in waiting to rule as the next king of Israel, where God will covenant with him with a promise of the Messiah and everlasting Kingdom to come. This Kingdom will be proclaimed and inaugurated in Christ, the “Son of David,” and will one day come in fullness.
In the coming years, Jonathan will be a side character, but a crucial part of David’s story and eventual rise to power. The friendship that begins here can remind us of our need for friendship, how God uses friendships and of the friendship of Jesus.
WE NEED FRIENDSHIP
We live in the midst of a loneliness crisis in our country and in much of the modern western world. Our individualism has led to isolation. Living in large communities, suburbs and cities has not produced more connection, but a greater sense of being surrounded by strangers. But Jesus’ design for His people is to live in deep, familial community. Our God “sets the lonely in families” (Ps. 68:6), adopts us into His family (Rom. 8:15), makes us citizens with God’s people, members of His household (Eph. 2:19-20) part of the same body (1 Cor. 12:26). We are made for relationship and Christ’s church is meant to be a rich web of relationship.
GOD USES PEOPLE
God had purposed to protect David from harm and eventually setting him on the throne of Israel. Jonathan would be used by God to aid in that purpose and to be an “encouragement in God” and God’s calling on David’s life (1 Sam 23:16-17). Still today, ministry flows through relationships. God loves to partner with people to accomplish His purposes, to be a conduit of love and care and to bear fruit for His Kingdom.
JESUS IS OUR FRIEND
Jesus told His disciples, “No longer do I call you servants… but I have called you friends” (John 15:15). Our master, teacher, creator and Lord calls us friends. Any human love is but a partial shadow of the immense love of God for us. If Jonathan is the ideal friend, Jesus is that multiplied. If the love of a mother is nurturing, Jesus’ is infinitely more. If the love of a spouse is passionate, Jesus’ love is exponentially more. Our God IS love, and invites us into deep relationship, even complete unity with Him (John 17:11, 22).
There’s not a friend like Jesus. No, not one.
Discussion Questions
Have you ever had a friend like Jonathan? Have you ever been a friend like Jonathan? How did God use you or use others in your life?
How can you actively pursue deep relationships with others in this season of your life? What is the Spirit’s invitation to you right now?
Do you see Jesus as a friend? When do you get together? Do you speak as friends? How might you deepen your friendship with Jesus this week? (See John 15:1-15 for ideas)