Focus Chapters:
- 1 Samuel 20-21
- Psalms 34
Standout Verse(s):
1 Samuel 20: 14-17 NLT
And may you treat me with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. But if I die, treat my family with this faithful love, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.”
So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, “May the Lord destroy all your enemies!” And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
Observation (s):
- Jonathan and David’s friendship was built on a mutual love that exemplified God’s faithful love to us. Their love extended to each other and each other’s families, in death and life.
And may you treat me with the faithful love of the Lord as long as I live. But if I die, treat my family with this faithful love, even when the Lord destroys all your enemies from the face of the earth.”
- Jonathan wanted the best for David. His dearest wish was for God to destroy all of David’s enemies.
So Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, saying, “May the Lord destroy all your enemies!”
- Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
Application:
We should aspire to have friendships like David and Jonathan’s. David and Jonathan’s friendship consisted of three things:
- A self-love which could then be used as a model to love each other and love each other as how they love themselves.
- A love that was demonstrative of God’s faithful love. This was a love that was shown whether they were together or apart; alive or dead. They made a pact to remain friends, while apart, and to love the other’s family, in death.
- A desire for the other to prosper, through God’s protection. Jonathan’s fervent prayer was for God to rid David’s of his enemies.
We all want good friendships. However, like David and Jonathan, there is a critical ingredient that we must each have and display. The truth is, if we want to have great friendships, first, we must each be a great friend.
- Are you a great friend?
- Do you love your friends in the same way that you love yourself?
- If your love demonstrative of God’s faithful love or does your friendship only extend to your “friend” while he/she is near?
- Do you care about your friend’s family?
- Are you like Jonathan who had a strong desire for his friend to be free of his enemies and prosper?
A mediocre friend produces a mediocre friendship. Pull a few pages from David and Jonathan’s book and turn your friendships into meaningful relationships.
