Friendship Jonathon and David

Secular:

Men and Friendship

The secular definition might be – a person that let’s you borrow his tools or let’s you watch the big game on his big screen.

Utility
Shirt off his back
Gripe when I gripe
Workout
Play Sports

But when we look in Scripture we see a different view of friendship:

Friendship in Scripture seems to be based on something other than utility –

Intensity

Interceding

Integrity

Intensity:

NIV 1 Samuel 18:1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

NIV 1 Samuel 18:3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.

NIV 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

Close enough to know
Open to helping… no need to ask
Not casual but intentional
Interdependent not independent

This is the gift of Friendship God gives us

** Like the war movies… before TV and society said live for others.

NIV 1 Samuel 20:4 Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you."

Interceding:

NIV 1 Samuel 19:1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David

NIV 1 Samuel 19:4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly.

NIV 1 Samuel 19:6 Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death.” 7 So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.

Ready to stand side-by-side
Ready to stick your neck out
Ready to demand justice
Co-worker challenged on faith or opinion
Praying for each other and families etc.

Integrity:

NIV 1 Samuel 20:1 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?"

NIV 1 Samuel 20:16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, "May the LORD call David's enemies to account." 17 And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself.

NIV 1 Samuel 20:33 But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David.

NIV 1 Samuel 20:34 Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the month he did not eat, because he was grieved at his father's shameful treatment of David.

Supporting each other – integrity in relationship
Supporting what is right – personal integrity (do)

1 Sam 23:16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

Keeping Accountable – spiritual integrity (motive)
Rescuing as necessary – roll up your sleeves – friendship can be messy

Not the time to walk out!!

Sam 24:2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.

3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave.

4 The men said, "This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.'" Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe.

6 He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD."

7 With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, "My lord the king!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is bent on harming you'?

10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, 'I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD's anointed.

God gives good gifts – worth fighting for, worth investing in, worth maintaining

Friendship is a gift from God!