Genuine Friendship(2)

Experiencing David’s Challenges

Isgagan Ungyrov;ivn

“or2a-ov;ivnnyr Tavi;i Hyd

1 Sam 18:1-5

How ironic is that the Israelites won the battle with a young boy whose name is not known. Who is this boy? (They asked the same question about Jesus, whose son is this.)

David also did not reveal his name. He said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.” (1 Sam 17:58)

David did not reveal his name. It is not the right time yet to announce the newly anointed king’s name.

Let us study another character, who became a genuine friend of David’s.

Who is Jonathan?

To understand Jonathan, we should study his background. His father Saul was an egocentric man. He thought he could do anything he desired. On one occasion, he did not even wait for Samuel to do the offering for the Lord before going to war. Samuel said to Saul, “…your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Sam 13:14)

That was a turning point. God had a new plan for the Israelites and eventually for us.

Jonathan heard these statements about his father. Everyone was confused about their king. All the Israelites were afraid from the threats of the enemy around them. Saul was doing nothing.

JONATHAN, (the young boy) Jonathan was a man of faith (see 1 Sam 13-14).

He was a practical person. Like David, he was not afraid to face the enemy. Imagine, he and the shield –bearer moved on to fight the Philistines. They were only two; the enemy was an army. His faith towards God was strong. Everyone was terrified, yet he and his arm -bearer moved on to fight. Jonathan said:

“Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” (1 Sam 14:6)

They did win, and came back to Saul with the good news.

I see a man of courage here. I see similarities with what David said when he faced the Goliath. In both cases, we find the phrase “The LORD is with us.” That is the key of their victory. That should be the key of our victory.

When you are facing struggle (a giant), can you say, “The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid” ?

Genuine friendship is giving oneself to the other.

Jonathon loved David whole-heartedly

“As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (18:1)

“Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.” (18:3-4)

We see a commitment and loyalty in this relationship. As married couples give a ring to each other as a symbol of commitment, so does Jonathan to his friend David. Giving his robe and weapon is a sign of surrendering to his friend.

In Hebrew the way the author describes the scene of giving up the robe in a vivid way:

“…including his sword, and including his bow, and including his belt.”

The word including is repeated three times; Jonathan gave everything to his friend. It means you are putting everything you have at the disposal of your friend. This is a genuine relationship. This is genuine friendship.

It is amazing how we experience hospitality in Armenia and the Middle East. I have experienced hospitality in poor houses, where they have almost nothing, yet they offer their best. They offer everything they have including their home, including their time, including their scarce food, including their own bedroom.

Jonathan gave David his robe. It reminds me of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. When the son came back to his father’s house, the father welcomed him, took his robe and put it over his son, and gave him his ring (Luke 15).

This is the way God demonstrated his love and commitment towards us. Jesus gave up everything to save us. He gave up his “robe” (he emptied himself) so that he would give us the robe of salvation. Isaiah describes it best:

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness…” Is. 61:10

We were/are sinners like the prodigal son. When we go to our heavenly Father through Christ, He will give us new clothes, a new beginning, a new relationship, a new friendship. Jesus is my Friend.

How ironic that just the last thing before crucifixion the soldiers striped Jesus from his robe. Jesus was crucified without his ‘earthly robe’, so that he will give the resurrection rob.

Unlike the son who gave, Saul just took (control freak):

“And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house”(18:3a)

“And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war.” (18:5a)

Saul refused to send David to his father. Literally he did not give him permission to leave the court. “This is not your son, this is my son.” He kept him with there and gave him orders to do this or that. As if Saul had found a golden opportunity.

Even in this sad situation, God prepared a successful road for David.

“And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.” (18:5b)

How sad is it that instead of rejoicing with David, he controls David. Jonathan gave him everything. He made a covenant with his friend. Jonathan rejoiced, but Saul controlled with fear.

I have seen many Christian pastors, lay people in churches who fall in this trap. Instead of serving others, they want everyone to serve them. Instead of giving and surrendering to God, they want God and the church give to them and serve them.

How can we apply this in our lives?

Relationships require time, commitment, thinking about the other.

My example is Christ. He is my role model.

Why did Jesus ask Peter three times, “Do you love me?”

He knew that Peter (and we) can fall in the trap of being in control, the trap of being on the top of everything, yet our hearts could be empty. Instead of fellowshipping and building the body of Christ, our friendships will turn into just opportunities.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends...”  (John 15:13-15)

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16).

I need Christ to do this. I need Jesus to be in my heart in order to learn to be a genuine friend to you. I need Jesus to learn how to give up, surrender, and give.

May Jesus be your friend today. May he teach you how to surrender completely, (give your robe). May He teach you how to be a friend to the other, to the neighbor, to one who is hurting, to one who needs to hear about Him.

Amen