Today in church, our pastor talked to us about "covenant relationships", particularly friendships...next week is spouses. I was intrigued and his sermon left me thinking, a lot.
1 Samuel 18:1-5
"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. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 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. And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants."
The story in context: By God's grace, young David has killed the big bad Philistine, Goliath. The whole nation loves him for it and all the sudden he is famous. King Saul already has a son in line for the throne, Jonathan. But, before Saul has time to even address the issue, something comes over Jonathan and he suddenly knows and understands his rightful place is not on the throne, he hands it to David (see the above excerpt).
The way Jonathan loves David thereby leads to Jonathan's Father accepting and loving David as his own. And Jonathan makes a "covenant" (an eternal everlasting bond, he bound himself to David) because he loved him "as his own soul." And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe (his "rightful" royal position) and his armor, even his sword and bow and belt (his protection from the enemy, security, comfort, defense) leaving himself unclothed of royalty and safety, he was left with nothing but trust in this friendship. David had every opportunity to humiliate, embarrass, even kill Jonathan and Jonathan knew that. He was willing to trust David with everything he had. Sound like a familiar story? cough–JC–cough
What a beautiful parallel of God the Father loving us because Jesus loves us as "his own soul." I could go on and on at how this friendship so perfectly displays the story of Jesus Christ leaving his royalty and heavenly throne for us; how He became as vulnerable as a baby and trusts us with all of Him; how He offers us his royal robe and lays down his royal life for one of a "nobody" in earthly terms; but in more relevant terms, I want to talk about how this challenges us to think more deeply into relationships, particularly friendships.
"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you." John 15:15
If Jesus allows us access into the state of the most intimate fellowship with Himself, we must also have access to that in the form of friends.
The companionship between David and Jonathan seems like the deepest anyone can go in a friendship, that is the side by side relationship versus the face to face spouse relationship. There is deeper between a man and a woman, especially when you get into the sexual bond...but this conversation is about friendships first, we will address spouse level at another time! David and Jonathan understand each other and they connect in a deeper way; they share a similar vision of the world. I love this because I think I can relate to this type of friendship. It is the friendship between two true believers in Christ. I think in our culture we have a hard time letting people in and letting ourselves out. Most of the time, unconsciously, we are looking for the Jonathans. When really, we were sent here to be the Jonathans'. We were sent here to sacrifice whatever we may have acquired on this Earth to show others the love of Christ. Jonathan approaches David first, and immediately expresses vulnerability without question.
"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one`s life for his friends" John 15:13
The proverb reminds me of how many "companions" I have and how little they know of how deeply Jesus loves them. I am certain I have too many "companions" who really do not know how much I may care, how much I love them. Laying down your life for others means putting them first and making their need more important than your own. The verse is about being selfless and sacrificial in your actions towards others rather than selfish. How many people around you do not truly know the depth of friendship you have to offer them? How do we get there with these friends?
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