FRIENDSHIP - Iron Sharpening Iron (Draft by June Hunt)

Can you imagine: this young man has it all. He comes from a powerful family and is heir apparent to the family fortune. Everyone knows that one day he is destined to take his father's place as head of the business. Fortunately, he has the temperament and giftedness to fill his father's shoes. Plus, the daily exposure to his dad's personnel and dealings have prepared him for the responsibilities so that he will be a sure success.

Yet this talented son is willing to sacrifice everything for another capable man -- actually, his closest friend whom he believes is God's choice to run the financial empire.

He is the son of a king ... but is remembered far more as the most faithful of
friends.

Where there could be contention ... there is instead undying commitment. Where there could be rivalry ... there is genuine respect. David is God's anointed, and Jonathan does everything he can to support the one who will rightfully rule -- including protecting David from Jonathan's own murderous father ... the reigning King of Israel.

"Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in
God." (1 Samuel 23:16)

Jonathan is willing to sacrifice everything -- even the throne -- for the higher good of his friend. He enters into a covenant relationship with the man God has chosen as king instead of himself, and he intends for their sworn oath of friendship to have impact for generations to come.

*DEFINITIONS*

Jonathan has to at least know of him, he serves in the palace courts, and has quite the reputation. A servant assesses, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the harp. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him." (1 Samuel 16:18)

But the day David slays the giant, Goliath, whatever relationship he and Jonathan may have had deepens dramatically ... to what can only be characterized as diehard devotion. David, with the giant's head in hand, has just finished talking with King Saul, Jonathan's father, when a strong spiritual bond seems to suddenly connect the two young men.

"Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. And
Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself."
(1 Samuel 18:1,3)

**What Is a Friend?**

Like father, unlike son.

Saul and Jonathan cannot be more different in their attitudes and actions toward David. Although David has brought honor to the king through one military victory after another, it is the refrain of a song that galls Saul and has him seeing green where David is concerned. The words credit Saul with slaying thousands, but David,
tens of thousands.

"And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David." (1 Samuel 18:9)

Jonathan reveres David ... Saul reviles him. Soon Saul's emotions churn with murderous hatred. The maniacal monarch attempts to try to kill David -- time and time again. So while Saul tries to take David's life, Jonathan tries to protect it, the commitment to God's will and the covenant bond of friendship being far stronger than the blood tie of family through his father.

* A friend is a person united to another by feelings of affection, loyal
support and time interaction.
* Friend in the Greek is philos, which is a term of endearment.
- Philadelphia means "brotherly love."
- Philanthropy means "the love for man, benevolence."

Jesus said,
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his
friends." (John 15:13)

* Friend in Old English is the word freond, which means "friend, lover,
relative" and freogan, which means "to love." Thus the basis for genuine
friendship is love. That is why the Bible says ... "A friend loves at all
times" (Proverbs 17:17)

(June Hunt, Hope For The Heart 2009)