Friendship That Overcomes

"And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh."
- 1 Samuel 23: 16-18

“What happened?” David asked. “Tell me.”
“The men fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead.”
Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I do?’
“He asked me, ‘Who are you?’
“‘An Amalekite,’ I answered.
“Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! I’m in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’
“So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”
Then David and all the men with him took hold of their clothes and tore them.
- 2 Samuel 1: 4-11

These Bible passages talk of a remarkable friendship, during the time that Saul was king of Israel.  As we know, David, a young boy, had been sent by his father to the battle site between the Israelites and the Philistines, to check on his older brothers.  What comes next is one of the most amazing battle stories of all time!  That little boy killed the champion of the Philistines with nothing more than a smooth stone sent flying from his leather sling!

But when David slew Goliath, king Saul became afraid of him.  Saul knew that the LORD’s power was with David and was afraid that David would likely kill him and steal his throne.

So, Saul began to devise ways to have David killed, either by constantly fighting Philistines or by ordering someone else to do so; but the exact opposite happened.  David was successful in all his battles because he loved the LORD and made sure that every move he made was approved by Him.  In the wake of all his successes in the service of the LORD and for Saul, the Israelites began to love David.

I guess this background of young David, who is destined to become the Israelite king, is important to understand the incredible loyalty, love and mutual respect that grew between David and Saul’s son, Jonathan.

Think about that?  Jonathan, Saul’s son, someone who loved his father, chose to become an incredibly close friend to David.  Was this because he hated his father, no, it was because he loved the LORD and knew that David was on a divine path that was laid out by our God.

So, Jonathan protected David on several occasions.  He loved David, as he loved himself.  More importantly, he loved the LORD and knew that David was destined to become king of Israel.

After studying these chapters and verses, I wonder if I would ever be able to defy someone I dearly loved, for the benefit or safety of a close friend.

So many times, we look at our friends and feel deep love for them.  But when push comes to shove, would we be able to intervene for them if a family member or another person we love was behaving in an un-Godly manner toward them?

I’d like to think so.  Sometimes we become consultants between close friends and consider ourselves “Switzerland” (not engaged in battle, but a safe space for both fighters to work through their struggles).  But, if one of my friends or loved ones behaves like Saul, straying from God’s plan for us, or  forgetting His commandments about loving one another, I must remember that without loyalty to God’s guidance, love and mutual respect for my LORD and all the people in this world He has created, I am nothing - least of all a good friend.