"Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul." (1 Samuel 18:1)

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FRIENDS

Adapted from a family talk by Rev. W. Cairns Henderson
[T]he soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul…. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and give it to David… (1 Samuel 18:1,3,4).

We all need friends. You like to have other children come and play with you. You like to go and play with them, too. And you like your friends to say nice things about you, and give you presents, and help you to do the things you want to do. So it is very important that we have friends.

True friendship is where you forget about yourself and think only of making the other person happy. This is the kind of friendship the Lord wants us to have.

David and Jonathan had this kind of friendship. Jonathan was a prince, and usually he would have become the king. David was only a poor boy who helped to take care of his father’s sheep. Yet the Lord chose David to become the king.

Jonathan knew that the Lord wanted David to be king. He also knew that he could have been a good king, too, because he was brave and strong. But because what the Lord said meant more to Jonathan than what he himself wanted, he loved David and became his friend.

Because it was the Lord’s will, Jonathan gladly gave up his right to become king. Instead, he promised to help David become king, to fight for him and protect him, and to serve him faithfully. As a sign that he would do this, he took off his robe or coat and put it on David.

Later, when David was forced to go away and was chased by his enemies, Jonathan helped him. Jonathan was true to his friend David all through his life.

This is the kind of friendship the Lord wants us to have. If you remember the way Jonathan loved David, even though David became king and Jonathan did not, then as you grow older you will be able to understand more and more what it means to be a true friend.

Amen.

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