True friends (1)
… Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 1 Samuel 18:3
Read 1 Samuel 18:1-5
David and Jonathan became friends for life. From the very first moment that Jonathan met David, he opened up his heart to him. And so it was Jonathan who desired to become friends with David. This is remarkable, especially when we consider that class distinctions played an important role in those days. Jonathan was the ‘crown prince’ while David was the son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite. 1 Samuel 17:58. Jonathan was the son of the king while David was merely the son of a servant. But Jonathan crosses this great barrier. He did not allow friendship to be governed by the question whether David was wealthy and influential or not. Instead, he made his evaluation by what he saw and heard; he considered the person rather than his background. Sometimes the question is asked by locals from a village: Where are you from? What is your background and to which family do you belong? It’s not that such inquiries aren’t important but they are wrong when they become ‘all important’. There are instances where children and grand children are pigeon holed in a certain category because of the status of their parents or grandparents. Since grandpa or grandma had a bad name, the children and grandchildren cannot be virtuous either. This position, however, is not Christian. Just consider the words of the prophet: The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father; neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son. Ezekiel 18:20.
Jonathan accepted David as he was. He did not ask: “What can I expect from him?” Moreover, he did not expect to receive any favors from David. Instead, he respected and esteemed him. Is that not the basis of all true friendship?
Thought: The basis of true friendship is not what he or she has to offer me, but what may I be for him or her.
Psalter 1:1, 3, 5 (based on Psalm 1) That man is blessed who fearing God, From sin restrains his feet, Who will not stand with wicked men, Who shuns the scorner’s seat. That man is nourished like a tree, Set by the river’s side; Its’ leaf is green, its fruit is sure, And thus his works abide. The Lord will guard the righteous well, Their way to Him is known; The way of sinners, far from God, Shall surely be overthrown.