True Friends (2)
And David said to Saul, Let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:32
Read 1 Samuel 17:32-37
David could not offer Jonathan anything of any real value. He was and remained a servant of the king. What then attracted Jonathan to David? In the first place, it was his humility. David slew Goliath resulting in the defeat of the Philistines. As the enemy fled, they experienced many casualties and Israel gained a great victory. This was all due to David, yet he remained humble and did not become puffed up. Neither did he try to exact personal gain or demand some kind of reward. Instead, he pointed to God; the Lord had gained the victory for His people. This was the second reason why Jonathan was attracted to David. Besides being humble, he was also God-fearing. In this discussion, have we also characterized your friends? Are they always ready to speak up, taking the lead in order to help others? Or do they look down on others? Do they befriend you for their own advantage? Or, is it perhaps the reverse? Why are they your friends? Do you chum around with them only because they’re interesting and popular?
If Jonathan was looking for interesting and popular friends, he would not have focused on Bethlehem, a poor farming community. He could have stayed close to home, in and around Jerusalem, where there were many people in positions of power and influence. But Jonathan had no desire for such friendships. He wanted a genuine friendship and not a pretentious one. Why? Because Jonathan feared the Lord! You see, before God we do not need to pretend that we are better than we are. Why do we do so when it comes to our friends? You and I must realize that humility and simplicity in the service of the Lord is the basis for a life-long friendship.
Thought: Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are.
Psalter 328:1, 4 (based on Psalm 119) Thou art my portion, Lord; Thy words I ever heed; With all my heart Thy grace I seek, Thy promises I plead. All those who fear Thy Name Shall my companions be; Thy mercy fills the earth, O Lord; Thy statutes teach Thou me.