Friendship (Part Two)

This week we are looking at the friendship of David and Jonathan to see what characterizes a strong friendship—something desperately needed by men and women in ministry. Yesterday we saw the value of having a “kindred spirit.” Today we add to that:

The Making of a Covenant

• Symbols. “Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and bow and belt” (1 Sam. 18:3-4). Vows are usually sealed with symbols. A vow to serve in the military is symbolized with a uniform. Marriage is identified by wearing rings. In the past, a “friendship ring” sent the message of friendship. Jonathan, son of King Saul, was next in line to be king. But he recognized that God had anointed David as the future king, and so he generously stepped aside, even to surrendering his armor. But more important than symbols are the words of a covenant.
• Words. Jonathan said to David, “ ‘And you shall not only show me the kindness of the Lord while I still live, that I may not die; but you shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever, no, not when the Lord has cut off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.’ So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, ‘Let the Lord require it at the hand of David’s enemies’ ” (1 Sam. 20:14-16).

The word kindness is the Hebrew word chesed, which means covenant loyalty and love. David took their covenant seriously. In 2 Samuel 9, we read the story of King David showing kindness to Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, who was invited to sit at the king’s table because of that covenant.

In the last few weeks, I have been considering Leonard’s three children (now adults) and what the implications are for me to make sure of their welfare on the basis of friendship and chesed.

A Willingness to Pay the Price of Friendship
Jonathan was caught between his father’s jealous rage at David and his love and loyalty for David. It meant confronting his father and verbally defending David. It meant hearing angry words like these from his father, Saul: “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, you shall not be established, nor your kingdom. Now therefore, send for him and bring him to me, for he shall die” (1 Sam. 20:30-31).

What was Saul saying with these harsh words? “Your mother’s nakedness: Saul suggested that Jonathan and his mother with him were shameful because of Jonathan’s apparently despicable behavior. Aware of David’s increasing popularity, Saul knew that David would likely displace Jonathan from the throne. Here, Saul demonstrated his selfish concern for his family’s welfare over God’s sovereign will” (footnote in the Nelson Study Bible, p. 487).

Jonathan not only had to endure the violent and harmful words spoken by his father, but he also had to dodge his “meant for killing” javelins (1 Sam. 20:33). Jonathan paid a terrific price for his deep love for his friend David.

And my friend Leonard paid a deep price for his love for the Lord and loyalty to the assembly of believers, where he found spiritual friends. Because his conversion was looked upon as forsaking the traditional religion of his family, his parents put him out of their home. Later, thank God, both his mother and dad became born-again Christians and welcomed him home.

Tomorrow we will see two final characteristics of a strong friendship.

One Response to “Friendship (Part Two)”

1. kadoshkudus says:

   February 1, 2011 at 6:04 pm

   “And my friend Leonard paid a deep price for his love for the Lord and loyalty to the assembly of believers, where he found spiritual friends.”

   This corrsponds to

   Luke 18:29-30 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.