Heart of Friendship

But covenant is a weighty theme that dominates Scripture: it’s good to get an idea of what it means in the

Bible.

1 Samuel 2:1-5

INTRODUCTION

As we continue through Samuel and our study of Becoming God’s Person, I hope this has been something that has

changed you, challenged you, or at the very least shone you areas you need to change. I want to remind you of the

definition of the term “my person”.

It is being that person God goes too, because He knows you will follow his desire. That person who cannot live without

him. That person who knows God wont stay mad at us, but wants to forgive us. It’s that person God supports in everything.

We started with having a heart of repentance, submission, confidence, caution, understanding, peace and now this week

Having a Heart of Acceptance. And the last three Weeks we have been Looking directly at Davids Heart. He was a man

after Gods own Heart, and He had a Heart of Service, a Heart of Composure. This week as we look into Jonathan’s Heart

of Friendship. Please open to 1 Samuel Ch 18. As you open I have a joke for you.

A group of friends went deer hunting and paired off in twos for the day. That night one of the hunters returned alone,

staggering under an eight-point buck. “Where’s Harry?” he was asked. “Harry had a stroke of some kind. He’s a couple of

miles back up the trail.””You left Harry laying there, and carried the deer back?” “Well,” said the hunter, “I figured no one

was going to steal Harry.”

BIBLE VERSE

1 Samuel 18:1-5 (ESV)

’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. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. 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

The Covenant

EXPLANATION

When we want to indicate that a son has much in common with his father, sharing many of the same character traits and

skills, we often call the son “a chip off the old block.” As we read the history of Saul and David, we find that we certainly

cannot refer to Jonathan, Saul’s son, in such a manner. In contrast to Saul’s cowardice, selfishness, and madness, Jonathan

stands out for his bravery, selflessness, and wisdom (1 Sam. 13-14). Ligonier.org

“Covenant” is one of those words that just keeps coming up when you read the Bible—and certainly when you study it.

When we hear of “covenant” today, it sounds like lofty legalese for “contract,” or “agreement.”

But covenant is a weighty theme that dominates Scripture: it’s good to get an idea of what it means in the Bible.

What is a covenant?

When the Bible mentions a covenant, it’s referring to a strong, solemn agreement between two parties. However, biblical

covenants are very different from the kinds of agreements we make nowadays:

Covenants make two into one. When two parties make a covenant in the Bible, they are joined together and identified

with each other. They may exchange coats (1 Sa 18:3-4), have a commemorative meal (Ex 24:11), and erect a long-

lasting memorial to their promise (Gn 31:46). At every covenant’s core, there is a change in relationship.

Covenants involve promises. People don’t just join together at random: the agreement usually includes some kind of

practical application. Sometimes it means not harming one another (Gn 31:50). Sometimes it means protecting one

another (1 Sa 20). Sometimes it means agreeing not to obliterate a weaker people group (Jos 9:15). In some cases, it

can have everlasting consequences—we’ll get to those later.

Covenants involve families and bloodlines. In the Bible, two parties may make a covenant that is intended to last for

generations. The following generations are automatically included in the covenant, and they share in the duties and

benefits. David makes this covenant with his friend Jonathan, but after Jonathan died, he still cared for Jonathan’s

relative, Mephibosheth (2 Sa 9:7).

Covenants are spiritually charged. When Jacob and Laban agree to keep the peace, they don’t just say, “I’ll do this,

you’ll do that. OK?” They call God as witness (Gn 31:50). David and Jonathan call God as witness between them, too (1

Sa 20:17). Covenants are taken seriously, and for good reason: two people are joining together based on little more

than their words. They trust a divine being to hold them accountable, which means ...

Covenants are not easily broken. The people making covenants often slaughter animals to demonstrate what should

happen to the one who breaks the covenant. To break a covenant is a serious thing. Jonathan calls on God to kill him

if he does not alert David of danger (1 Sa 20:13). When Saul breaks a covenant his forefathers swore to the

Gibeonites, God punishes Israel with a three-year famine (2 Sa 21:1-2). by Jeffrey Kranz

God lead these two in this covenant. He knit these two together and like all true covenants, like the marriage and this here

of friends, is not only between two people but God is in the middle of it all.

ILLUSTRATION

One example of friendship remains with me as vividly as the moment I first heard of it as a boy. In his first seasons with the

Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play Major League baseball, faced venom nearly everywhere he

traveled; fast balls at his head, spikings on the bases, brutal epithets from the opposing dugouts and from the crowds.

During one game in Boston, the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak. In the midst of this, another Dodger, a

Southern white named Pee Wee Reese, called timeout. He walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at

second base, put his arm around Robinson’s shoulder, and stood there with him for what seemed like a long time. The

gesture spoke more eloquently than the words: “this man is my friend.”

APPLICATION

The kind of covenant loyalty seen between David and Jonathan should characterize our relationships in the body of Christ.

We are in covenant with God and with one another, so we should be seeking one another’s good. Let us seek the benefit of

our brothers and sisters in Christ and endeavor not to harm them through our words and actions. Ligonier.org

The Sacrifice

EXPLANATION

Joel Baden says, Saul feared and despised David because he sensed—quite rightly—that David was a threat to his throne.

But aside from Saul, the other person in Israel who had the most to fear from David’s success and popularity was Jonathan.

Jonathan had been a successful and popular military leader before David arrived, thus positioning himself as ready to

ascend to the throne after Saul. In fact Jonathan may have had even more at stake than Saul: Jonathan’s succession would

be the most important indication that the newly inaugurated kingship in Israel was a lasting proposition. Any challenge to

Saul’s reign was equally a challenge to Jonathan.

And yet the Bible does not present Jonathan as someone who fears or is threatened by David. On the contrary, Jonathan is

said to have loved him. He defends David to Saul, he protects David from Saul, he even conspires with David against Saul.

And throughout it all, in the biblical account, Jonathan effectively abdicates his natural right to the throne in favor of David.

In their first scene together, Jonathan and David make a covenant and, though it is unclear what the contents of the

covenant are, the ceremony by which they cement it has great importance: “Jonathan took off the cloak and tunic he was

wearing and gave them to David, together with his sword, bow, and belt” (1 Sam 18:4). Though this may seem a rather

strange thing to do, remember that Jonathan is not any youngster—he is the king’s son, the crown prince, the presumptive

heir to the throne. His clothing and equipment would not be that of the common man or soldier. He would be wearing royal

garb, equipped with royal arms. Giving these to David is highly symbolic. It is simultaneously an act of abdication and of

anointment. David, not Jonathan, is dressed as the next in line to be king.

ILLUSTRATION

One example of friendship remains with me as vividly as the moment I first heard of it as a boy. In his first seasons with the

Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson, the first black man to play Major League baseball, faced venom nearly everywhere he

traveled; fast balls at his head, spikings on the bases, brutal epithets from the opposing dugouts and from the crowds.

During one game in Boston, the taunts and racial slurs seemed to reach a peak. In the midst of this, another Dodger, a

Southern white named Pee Wee Reese, called timeout. He walked from his position at shortstop toward Robinson at

second base, put his arm around Robinson’s shoulder, and stood there with him for what seemed like a long time. The

gesture spoke more eloquently than the words: “this man is my friend.”

APPLICATION

Friendship like this should be something we seek and sacrifice for

Jonathan really sacrificed in this decision

What is Love?

Love is a decision. It is a choice we make to put someone higher than ourselves. It is a daily choice to foster a relationship

with another person. It can have very different manifestation depending on the type of relationship, but ultimately is still

based in the desire to form a relationship with another. I believe this is why Paul says in Philippians: Do nothing from selfish

ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Paul in 1 Corinthians defines it as patient, kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self­

seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Because that is how we can express that decision to one another. Jesus says greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. Made that choice to lay down his life. It’s not a feeling to me. It’s a decision and covenant.

As the great music artist on the 90’s said Love Is A Verb

Friendship like this should be something we understand

Today many probably see this friendship as more than friendship. We either confuse the love these two men had or ignore

that men should have this kind of relationship.

Friendship like this should be something we have with God

The New Covenant

ILLUSTRATION

A story is told about Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton who become friends. Darnay, a young Frenchman, is thrown into a

dungeon and faces the guillotine. Carton, a wasted lawyer is finishing his life as a loose-living individual in England. Carton

hears of Darnay’s imprisonment and through a chain of events gets into the dungeon and changes garments with Darnay

who escapes. The next morning Sydney Carton makes his way up the steps that lead to the guillotine. As the writer tells his

story he says, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friend” (John 15:13). A classic example of

the ultimate in Friendship.

EXPLANATION

The New Covenant (or New Testament) is the promise that God makes with humanity that He will forgive sin and restore

fellowship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, and His

death on the cross is the basis of the promise (Luke 22:20). The New Covenant was predicted while the Old Covenant was

still in effect—the prophets Moses, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all allude to the New Covenant.

APPLICATION

Friend of God - Gods person - best friend - Greys

John 15:15 ESV

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all

that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

James 2:23 ESV

And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was

called a friend of God.

John 15:14 ESV

You are my friends if you do what I command you.

Exodus 33:11 ESV

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp,

his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

John 15:13 ESV

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Christ Sacrificed for his friends

Through this friendship we can have forgiveness and restoration

CONCLUSION