Good Friends

Perhaps the most famous friendship in the Bible is between David and Jonathan. Jonathan’s father hated David, David would be king instead of Jonathan, and yet they still are faithful, good friends to each other. What can we learn from their friendship? Let’s briefly look at 1 Samuel 20.

Good friends can speak honestly with each other

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 kill me?” ~ 1 Samuel 20:1

Good friends are willing to act on the other’s behalf

Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.” ~ 1 Samuel 20:4

Good friends are concerned for the other’s well being

 “Never!” Jonathan said. “If I had the least inkling that my father was determined to harm you, wouldn’t I tell you?” ~ 1 Samuel 20:9

Good friends are unselfish

But if my father intends to harm you, may the Lord deal with Jonathan, be it ever so severely, if I do not let you know and send you away in peace. May the Lord be with you as he has been with my father.  But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live, so that I may not be killed, and do not ever cut off your kindness from my family—not even when the Lord has cut off every one of David’s enemies from the face of the earth.” ~ 1 Samuel 20:13-15

Even though Jonathan would not be king himself, he did not hold it against David. He saw that David being king came from the Lord.

Good friends love truly

And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. ~ 1 Samuel 20:17

Good friends are loyal and steadfast

 “Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” Jonathan asked his father. But Saul hurled his spear at him to kill him. Then Jonathan knew that his father intended to kill David. ~ 1 Samuel 20:32-33

It takes great courage to stand up to an angry, spear throwing king!

Good friends feel for each other

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

Good friends hold us and cry with us when words are not enough

 After the boy had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone and bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground. Then they kissed each other and wept together—but David wept the most. ~ 1 Samuel 20:42

Good friends bless us

 Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.’” ~ 1 Samuel 20:42

How can we have good friends? Perhaps, the best way to have a good friend is to be a good friend.

Photo by Brent Ninaber on Unsplash