Close Friends
Read 1 Samuel 18:1–20:42
1. After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.
2. From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home.
3. And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.
4. Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt.
5. Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike. 1 Samuel 18:1-5
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Do you have any close friends? That’s a tough question for many people. Everyone has acquaintances. Most have friends, too. But many cannot say that they have a close friend, someone who will sacrifice for them. Such friends don’t come along every day.
In this reading, the young and popular warrior David meets young prince Jonathan, and they immediately become close friends. This friendship is good for them and for Israel, but it quickly becomes tested, as most friendships do. As you read, look for what makes a quality friendship.
In addition, each main character in this passage illustrates something else: how to handle popularity (David); obedience to parents (Jonathan); and the futility of trying to resist God’s will (Saul).
When David and Jonathan met, they became close friends right away (1 Samuel 18:1-4). Jonathan, the prince of Israel, later realized that David, and not he, would be the next king (1 Samuel 23:17). But that did not weaken his love for David. Jonathan would much rather lose the throne of Israel than lose his closest friend. They stayed loyal to each other throughout their lives.
Their friendship is one of the deepest and closest recorded in the Bible: (1) they based their friendship on commitment to God, not just each other; (2) they let nothing come between them, not even career or family problems; (3) they drew closer together when their friendship was tested; and (4) they remained friends to the end.
What can you do to be that kind of friend to another?
