Blessing of Friends

Introduction

Good morning! Today is a tremendous day! Today is Nation friend day, and to all our guests, I want to say that it is a true honor that you are with us today. You’ve been invited here today because your friends love you and wish to worship with you today.

You know friendship is truly a beautiful gift. This beautiful gift comes in many shapes and forms.

I found some quotes about friends, some are funny:

1. Friends are like walls, sometimes you lean on them and sometimes it’s good just knowing they’re there.

2. A good friend knows all your best stories. A best friend has lived them with you.

3. Friends buy you food. Best friends eat your food.

4. The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.

It’s a great thing to have the blessing of friends. When we get together with friends, it’s a good time. For some of us, this time allows us for time to just unplug, and to talk about things going on in our lives. This time gives us an opportunity to rejuvenate and reflect. We get a change to bounce ideas off one another. And, for many of us, our friendship is something cherished; we develop a fellowship love with the other person.

This morning our text is going to take a look at a very special friendship bond between two great warrior’s. Our text this morning takes us to 1st Samuel. Here we are look the friendship of David and Jonathan. These two men shared common overlays, which helped their bond. But! Just because these two guys share a common overlays, this does not mean we can only have close friendships with people who we have something in common with. If you have your Bible’s with you today, turn with me into 1st Samuel chapter 18. If you’re taking notes, we’ll be reading verses 1 through 4.

1 Samuel 18:1–4 ESV

1 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.

Pastoral Prayer

David had just won the battle against Goliath. The people nearby were celebrating and rejoicing. The actions displayed by David were, what you could consider, agreeable. David displayed modesty, piety and courage in defeating such a huge person from an army of significant power. The friendship David and Jonathan is considered to be on of the closes in the entire Bible.

It’s interesting to note their friendship is not based on the circumstances of life. They were not looking to build a friendship that would offer advantage to one over the other.

When Saul goes off the rails, we continue to see Jonathan honoring the friendship:

1 Samuel 23:17 ESV

17 And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.”

This did not weaken Jonathan’s love for his friend what-so-ever. To Jonathan losing the throne was nothing in comparison to losing David’s friendship. So how did they get here? How did their friendship get to be so close?

Our answer lays here in the middle of verse 1. We hear the “soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.” The word knit is significant and powerful. It means to tie, bind together, fasten in union, join together.

We have two teaching aspects of the work knit:

1: Physical aspect: they began to spend time together. They went on campaigns for the kingdom of God together. They hunted together. They shared their families together. Every major moment of their lives were shared with each other.

2: Mental (heart) aspect: They loved each other. They were open with their hearts. They shared their hopes, dreams, disappointments, and discouragements. Even if what they had to say was hard to share, and or hear, they were always honest and open.

I have this friend named Brad Kelley. He is a close friend. We began our friendship some years ago. Brad, myself and a couple other men formed a small group. The small group is what you could think of as our small groups in this church, just on a smaller scale. We would meet every couple week for a Bible study. But! We would also meet as men. We would share things going on in our lives - the good and the bad. We would hold nothing back, because each of us knew the other would help keep us up. As the years passed, we could see other grow according to the Lord. And! I want you to know it was exciting. We had come a long way, not only as friends, but as men. We could see great things happening is each of our lives. The best part! We did not become jealous of God’s blessings. It was quite the opposite. We were proud as each person grew, we rejoiced.

This is a picture of an intimate heart among brothers. Jonathan and David had love for one another. Having an intimate heart, and being knit together, is a blessing from God. You will have many aquatints’ or buddies in life; but you will be blessed if you have 1 or 2 true good friends. I know some would say that’s just not true to only have just 1 or 2 true good friends, because I have thousands of “friends.” Now I’m not saying social media is a bad thing. If you have made it to your limit of approximately of 5000, how many of those 5000 people would come to your need. Would they drive a few hours to your need, perhaps get on a plane and fly to you, or fly you to them?

What does it take to become friends? It takes time and effort to really establish a relationship.

Look at what is said about the two in:

1 Samuel 18:3 ESV

3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

Johnathan and David were very loyal to each other. They wouldn’t let rumors, others, or anything come between their friendships. Their friendship was based on a covenant.

To make a covenant means to make a compact; to bond, or make an alliance, or an agreement

It’s important to note this covenant wasn’t made before others or anyone else. It was a covenant made between two men that loved and cared for each other’s wellbeing, witnessed only by GOD.

Even when Jonathan’s own father, SAUL, demanded that David be killed; Johnathan remained loyal to his friend. Nothing on earth could break their bond; not kings or kingdoms, riches or glory, women and drama, or even the sovereign king of the land and family. These two men had a great friendship because they understood loyalty.

Outside Brad and my wife, Wade Peck would be another example of a brother in Christ who I’d trust my life and family with. These men would never bring me harm or see to hurt me. I have not reservation in my heart when it comes to these men and how they feel about me. I love them as much as a man could ever love another man in the sight of God. These men have proven to be loyal, and I will stand loyally by them to Christ calls me home.

We see this kind of love demonstrated by Jonathan in verse 4.

1 Samuel 18:4 ESV

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.

The crown prince of Israel gives us one of the classic examples of self-humbling for the glory of God and the welfare of His people that we have in all of Scripture. Jonathan’s humility is remarkable! When Jonathan took off his robe and gave it to David, he was transferring his own status as an heir to the throne to David.

This is an example of sacrificial love for another. Jonathan’s action in stripping off his royal insignia, and his royal armor and weapons, only to give them all to David, was more than spontaneous generosity, to meet the need of his new-found friend. This meant everything Jonathan had was also David’s or would be surrendered freely. Jonathan was willing to give his all, even his right to the throne, for ‘he loved him as himself.

Now think about this for a second: “In our political world, where power plays such an important role, what would be thought of a prince who voluntarily renounced his throne in favor of a friend whose character and godly faith he admired?” Could you imagine how social media and the new coverage would blow up?

This would be like Prince William, who is the eldest son of Princess Diana, surrendering all royalties to Richard Nunez. The head lines could read: “Prince William, because of his godly faith and brotherly love for Richard Nunez, surrenders entire estate.”

You see once Jonathan understood David would be king, he never fought or stood against it. There was nothing that David needed that Johnathan would not sacrifice for him; even His own life. Over in Chapter 20 we see more examples of Jonathan’s selfless love. David met with Jonathan to ask for help. We can read about how Jonathan agreed to signal David in the field if his father again planned to kill him.

The Bible says over in Proverbs:

Proverbs 18:24 ESV

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Conclusion

This friend who sticks closer than a brother is JESUS! Jesus is the kind of friend who might not eat your food, but will live your best stories with you. He is kind of friend who is like a wall, when you lean on, or just know that is He is there. Jesus is the kind of friend who loves you and laid down is life for you and for me.

John 15:12–15 ESV

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 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.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He was rejected time and time again! Jesus had many opportunities to step back into the infinite heavenly realm, and just say they are a lost people. There is no hope. He had every reason to give up on you! Instead, He stayed LOYAL and TRUE to the very end fulfilling prophecy as He went.

Jesus gave it all! He sacrificed it all!

Like Jonathan, Jesus did not hold anything back.

Jesus gave His perfect body to mob as he was be dragged away for your salvation!

Jesus gave His back to the flogging for your salvation!

Jesus gave His brow to the crown of thorns for your salvation!

Jesus gave His hands and feet to the cross for your salvation!

He gave his life for your eternal security!

It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross, it was His love for sinners like you and like me.

I believe that are some here today who can sure use a friend like this. If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and savior, today can be that day. If you’re here with a friend today, or see a friend sitting across the isle, I invite you up to give thanks and pray with your friend or friends

Closing Prayer

Thank You For Worshiping With Us Today May God Bless You