In Him We have true friendships
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Around three thousand years ago in a Valley named Elah a winner take all battle was under way between two nations who disliked each other greatly.
One nation was out for revenge after recently being defeated by the opposing nation.
They no doubtably were still dismayed and confused as to why they lost the previous battle after all they were the nation that had the clear advantage.
They outnumbered their enemy and to top it off their weaponry was far superior.
Not only did they have the finest weapons but their enemy only possessed two swords among all the army.
Not only did they not have any fine weapons but they couldn’t even make any if they wanted to because there was no blacksmith to be found through out the land.
Knowing that if they didn’t want to have a repeat of their last battle, they were going to have to come up with a better plan.
Knowing that their large army and better weaponry was not a good enough advantage, they thought they had found the one thing that would seal their victory once and for all.
If our large army and great better weapons can’t seal us a victory maybe their new found warrior could do the trick.
Confident in their new warrior the Nation of Palestine lined their men for battle on the hills above the Valley of Elah which was located fifteen miles west of Bethlehem.
Ready for battle the Philistines sent their new found warrior named Goliath, who stood over 9 feet tall down into the valley where he began shouting to the Israelite Army who had since gathered on the other side of the valley.
He shouted “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 1 Sam 17:8-9
He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”
If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.”
After hearing these words the Israelite army became dismayed and were greatly afraid.
Each day Goliath shouted these same words and waited for someone to emerge from the crowd and take him up on his winner take all challenge.
After a few days of waiting Goliath got his wish. A young teenage boy by the name of David emerges.
Seeing him from afar coming down the hill side into the valley of Elah Goliath notices that this youth is to small to even wear any armor. On top of that I can just envision Goliath laughing hysterically when he sees this young man reach down into the brook and pull out five smooth stones.
With a staff in one hand a a sling in the other David reaches Goliath only for him to hurl more insults at him by saying
1 Samuel 17:43–44 (ESV)
“Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.
The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.”
Not missing a beat David stands up to Goliath and proclaims one of the greatest war speeches of all time when he says
1 Samuel 17:45–47 (ESV)
“You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”
The battle of David and Goliath is one that never gets old. There are some many lessons that we can learn from this great story but this morning I have reminded you of this story to set the stage for what happens next.
You see, before David went up against Goliath Saul King of Israel promised that whom ever could defeat Goliath that they would receive great wealth and would be able to become the King’s son-in-law.
And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”
Not only this but it would have been pretty obvious that David, for defeating Goliath would become a great warrior among the people causing Saul’s son Jonathan to have to take a back seat to him.
Now most would expect this to cause Jonathan to resent David and to become very Jealous.
But as we have already learned from our scripture reading this morning the exact opposite takes place.
I would imagine that David would have been nervous to meet Jonathan expecting the worst, but instead I envision Jonathan extended his hand and then embracing him with a hug, and if this encounter would have happened today Jonathan could have quoted the theme song from Toy story by saying “ You’ve Got a Friend in Me”
Isn't it interesting that these to men as different as they were were able to become best friends?
Speaking of their differences one writer said this “David was a shepherd; Jonathan was a prince. Jonathan had his own armor; David had a harp and a slingshot Jonathan grew up in the palace and was trained in the art of war; David grew up in the “little town of Bethlehem” and was trained to tend sheep. Jonathan was the oldest son and in line to inherit the throne. David was the youngest of eight boys and anointed the next king in place of Jonathan. Jonathan was of the tribe of Benjamin; David the tribe of Judah. despite their differences, they were, arguably the best friends the world has ever known”.
This morning in the time that we have left I would like to look at some of the things that made Jonathan and David such good friends.
Because we as Christian not only need friends like Jonathan in our live abut we must be a friend like Jonathan to others and especially to those who are a part of this family right here at NW.
So what is it that makes a good friend? We could all come up with our own list but this morning let’s look and see what worked for Jonathan and David.
They had a shared Love.
First we learn that they had a shared love. Not just a love for one another but more importantly a love for their God.
Jonathan as he watched David courageously take down Goliath he would have noticed that David shared the same love for God that he did when David said those famous word to Goliath in 1 Sam 17:46.
This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,
You see earlier in 1 Sam 14, Jonathan encountered the same Philistines and he went up to battle with them with the same faith and love for His God as Jonathan did when we said’
And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”
You see Jonathan new that David was going to make a great friend becasue of their shared love for their God.
Their love for God continued till the very end of their friendship.
Toward the end of their friendship David and Jonathan were able to meet together secretly without Jonathan's father knowing David's whereabouts.
What came from this meeting probably was one of the most important things David needed during this difficult time in his life.
Listen to what took place in 1 Sam 23:16-17
And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
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.”
Often times the greatest thing that we need from our friends is the strength to realize that God is in control when our lives seem to be spinning out of control.
We all need a Jonathan to remind us of our need for God.
2. Secondly because of their shared love for God Jonathan was willing to sacrifice for his friend.
Jonathan was willing to sacrifice his right to the throne.
Though Jonathan had every right to expect he would be the next King, when he met David after his victory over Goliath Jonathan practically gave David a coronation as the next King by giving him his royal robe, armor, and sword. On top of that he made a covenant with David pledging him his lifelong support.
You see most people would be insanely jealous of David but not Jonathan, he was willing to sacrifice and give up his inheritance for the sake of his friendship with David.
All throughout his life Jonathan had to make sacrifices in order to keep his friendship and covenant with David.
In chapter 20 of 1 Samuel Jonathan’s father tried to kill him because he stood up for his friend and would not let his father know of his whereabouts.
You see it is as if Jonathan already understood those famous words that would be spoken by Jesus some three thousand years later in John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
3. Lastly, because of their shared love for God Jonathan was willing to speak the truth to his friend.
In 1 Sam chapters 19 and 20 Jonathan does not hold back the truth from David that his father was trying to kill him, 1 Sam 19:2
And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself.
In chapter 20 Jonathan takes his loyalty a step farther by telling David that I will do anything for you so that you will be protected from my father. 1 Sam 20:4
Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
You see a true friend like Jonathan understands that the truth that causes one to go against their own family may hurt on occasion but it always saves.
We must realize like Jonathan did that we do no one, not even our closest friends, a favor when we withhold from them the truth.
Imagine how this bad news filled David with fear, confirming that Saul was out to kill him, but the truth was precisely what David needed to hear in order to save his life.
Let me ask you this morning are you willing to go to someone whom you consider a dear friend and tell them the truth know that it may hurt you you and or your relationship with others.
To often I think will make the excuse that it is not our place to warn our friends of danger in their lives. We think well its not my place. Or if I tell them than it might cause friction between me and my family or other friends that I have.
You see Jonathan understood the risk he was taking. The risk of going against his own father. But he didn’t care. Jonathan was willing to do whatever it took to save his friends life.
Church that must be our attitude as well. When our friends are in danger of hell fire we better be willing to speak the truth in love as Jonathan did for David.
I know of several here today who are eternally grateful for that person who was willing to tell them the truth about sin in their lives.
Church lets be friends who are willing to tell the truth at all times even when it hurts.
This morning there is so much more that we can learn about what it means to be a true friend so let me encourage you and challenge you this week to read through 1 Samuel and observe for yourself all the ways in which Jonathan was a true friend to David.
Church we all need a friend like Jonathan. And I am here to tell you that all though there are good people in this world you will not find a friend like Jonathan outside of the Kingdom of God. True Godly friendship is only found in those who are in Him.
True friendship is only found in those who are in Him becasue they are the only friendships were both parties share the same goal of eternal life with their savior.
And its because our love for our savior that true friends who are in him are willing to sacrifice for one another and are willing to tell the truth even when it hurts.