By Jim Roberts
Sometimes being a friend can be frustrating. What does it take to weather the storms in a relationship?
Jonathan sprang from his place like a cat! The spear swished through the space where he'd been standing, piercing the wall with a sickening thud.
Horrified, Jonathan watched the spear until it stopped vibrating. Then he stared at Saul in disbelief.
Saul, his own father whom he loved and respected, had hurled that spear! Jonathan turned and left quickly. He now realized the danger of being David's friend.
Until recently, it had been easy being friends with David. After he defeated the giant Goliath, David led King Saul's army in repeated military victories. Not only that, but he was the king's personal musician, and the king's son-in-law. David was a national hero.
How quickly all that changed. Because of David's heroics, he became more admired and popular than King Saul. This created a big problem for Saul's ego. His jealousy and envy quickly grew into fear and ultimately hatred.
Saul convinced himself that to gain back his prestige and popularity, he must get rid of David. First he tried to arrange David's death by circumstance. Next, he made personal attempts on David's life.
When these efforts failed, Saul sought the help of his servants and captains. At last, he told his son Jonathan of his intent.
"Find him and kill him!" Saul ordered. David became public enemy No. 1.
Caught in the middle
Jonathan had a lot of thinking to do. Storm clouds had gathered over his friendship with David. How would he handle the foul weather?
David has been his best friend for some time. They were closer than brothers. They had a lot in common. Jonathan, too, was a heroic and valiant warrior. He had similar courage, and faith in God (I Samuel 14:6). Once he attacked and routed an entire enemy camp with only the help of his personal assistant.
Jonathan had been impressed with David ever since he'd seen David defeat Goliath with only a sling and a stone. His admiration and affection for David grew so much that he gave him his own weapons, and the royal garments off his back. This action by a prince was among the highest honors awarded.
The love and respect was mutual. The two had made a special agreement not to let anything come between their friendship. But now this! Jonathan's own father hated David. He even told Jonathan to bring David in so he could be killed! How could Jonathan be loyal to both his father and his friend?
There was an even bigger issue in Jonathan's mind. The prophet Samuel had said that God had chosen David to be the next king over Israel. This meant that Jonathan, although he was the son of the king and was being groomed for the throne, was odd man out.
Jonathan had every human reason to cooperate with his father's murderous scheme. David's death would lock up the throne for him. The friendship was no longer serving his personal interests, so why fight his father's plan?
There was foul weather, all right. There was also intense peer pressure from many who tried to sell Jonathan on his father's plan. What was Jonathan to do?
By befriending David, he received ridicule, shame and accusations of treason. And now the personal attack from his father.
Jonathan thought it through. He knew David was innocent. He'd behaved himself loyally and wisely at all times. He'd broken the stranglehold of the enemy Philistines, and restored Israel to a position of dignity. David hadn't tried to grasp the throne from Saul and was loyal to him.
Besides, Jonathan loved David as his own life. Yet he loved his father also. He knew Saul was rebelling against God. But he wasn't going to rebel against Saul.
Still, Jonathan could not support this unjust treachery against David. That would dishonor God. It was a real dilemma.
Loyal to both
Jonathan had faith in God. He must have spent time talking to God about all this. He finally came to a decision. Jonathan would not forsake his friend. He would loyally serve his father except in the scheme against David.
While Jonathan wrestled with his predicament, David's continued. Things went from bad to desperate. Saul began to ignore otter affairs of kingship for an almost daily pursuit of David. It was increasingly dangerous to have contact with this fugitive.
Yet, when Jonathan heard where his friend was hiding, he took the risk of meeting David. It was to be their last meeting.
David was feeling particularly down in the dumps at this time. Just when he needed him the most, his friend showed up. What a welcome sight!
Jonathan comforted David and renewed their special agreement. He gave needed encouragement, assuring David there was no way Saul would succeed in his plot. He told David he knew God had reserved the throne for him, and pledged his support.
Jonathan and David were closer than brothers. They shared everything, good or bad.
In this last encounter, Jonathan claimed no personal aspirations for the throne. His commitment to the friendship was more important than being king.
Jonathan didn't use this friendship only for what he could get out of it (Proverbs 19:6). Instead, he willingly endangered his own life for David's future (John 15:13). Even in the face of great personal loss, Jonathan gave the support and encouragement needed by his friend.
The story of Jonathan is both happy and tragic. You can read it in I Samuel 17 through II Samuel 2.
As David's death remained Saul's top priority, the Philistines again became aggressive and Israel had to go to battle. Israel was badly beaten in battle and Saul was killed. Tragically, Jonathan and two of his brothers were also slain. Jonathan died loyal to both his father and his friend.
Even with Saul dead, David held no victory party. Instead, he fasted and mourned.
He wrote a sad song then. It's a lament about the tragic death of Saul, and an ode of honor to his friend. In the song, David wrote: "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me: your love to me was wonderful" (II Samuel 1:26, New King James Version).
Without friends, none of us is likely to become much of anything. Jonathan and David teach the value of friendship.
Good friends are worth more than material possessions or position. David and Jonathan each demonstrated the key to true friendship: selflessness. In a word, love.
Many "friendships" are based on what each party can get out of the relationship. True relationships are based on what each can give to the other.
Jonathan didn't worry about getting the kingdom. The choice he made was selfless: his friend's welfare above his own.
Sure, it was tough being David's friend. But Jonathan stuck with it no matter how tough it got. He was no fair-weather friend (Proverbs 17:17).
By being like Jonathan, we can become something rare and special--a true friend, even in foul weather.
Jonathan sprang from his place like a cat! The spear swished through the space where he'd been standing, piercing the wall with a sickening thud.
Horrified, Jonathan watched the spear until it stopped vibrating. Then he stared at Saul in disbelief.
Saul, his own father whom he loved and respected, had hurled that spear! Jonathan turned and left quickly. He now realized the danger of being David's friend.
Until recently, it had been easy being friends with David. After he defeated the giant Goliath, David led King Saul's army in repeated military victories. Not only that, but he was the king's personal musician, and the king's son-in-law. David was a national hero.
How quickly all that changed. Because of David's heroics, he became more admired and popular than King Saul. This created a big problem for Saul's ego. His jealousy and envy quickly grew into fear and ultimately hatred.
Saul convinced himself that to gain back his prestige and popularity, he must get rid of David. First he tried to arrange David's death by circumstance. Next, he made personal attempts on David's life.
When these efforts failed, Saul sought the help of his servants and captains. At last, he told his son Jonathan of his intent.
"Find him and kill him!" Saul ordered. David became public enemy No. 1.
Caught in the middle
Jonathan had a lot of thinking to do. Storm clouds had gathered over his friendship with David. How would he handle the foul weather?
David has been his best friend for some time. They were closer than brothers. They had a lot in common. Jonathan, too, was a heroic and valiant warrior. He had similar courage, and faith in God (I Samuel 14:6). Once he attacked and routed an entire enemy camp with only the help of his personal assistant.
Jonathan had been impressed with David ever since he'd seen David defeat Goliath with only a sling and a stone. His admiration and affection for David grew so much that he gave him his own weapons, and the royal garments off his back. This action by a prince was among the highest honors awarded.
The love and respect was mutual. The two had made a special agreement not to let anything come between their friendship. But now this! Jonathan's own father hated David. He even told Jonathan to bring David in so he could be killed! How could Jonathan be loyal to both his father and his friend?
There was an even bigger issue in Jonathan's mind. The prophet Samuel had said that God had chosen David to be the next king over Israel. This meant that Jonathan, although he was the son of the king and was being groomed for the throne, was odd man out.
Jonathan had every human reason to cooperate with his father's murderous scheme. David's death would lock up the throne for him. The friendship was no longer serving his personal interests, so why fight his father's plan?
There was foul weather, all right. There was also intense peer pressure from many who tried to sell Jonathan on his father's plan. What was Jonathan to do?
By befriending David, he received ridicule, shame and accusations of treason. And now the personal attack from his father.
Jonathan thought it through. He knew David was innocent. He'd behaved himself loyally and wisely at all times. He'd broken the stranglehold of the enemy Philistines, and restored Israel to a position of dignity. David hadn't tried to grasp the throne from Saul and was loyal to him.
Besides, Jonathan loved David as his own life. Yet he loved his father also. He knew Saul was rebelling against God. But he wasn't going to rebel against Saul.
Still, Jonathan could not support this unjust treachery against David. That would dishonor God. It was a real dilemma.
Loyal to both
Jonathan had faith in God. He must have spent time talking to God about all this. He finally came to a decision. Jonathan would not forsake his friend. He would loyally serve his father except in the scheme against David.
While Jonathan wrestled with his predicament, David's continued. Things went from bad to desperate. Saul began to ignore otter affairs of kingship for an almost daily pursuit of David. It was increasingly dangerous to have contact with this fugitive.
Yet, when Jonathan heard where his friend was hiding, he took the risk of meeting David. It was to be their last meeting.
David was feeling particularly down in the dumps at this time. Just when he needed him the most, his friend showed up. What a welcome sight!
Jonathan comforted David and renewed their special agreement. He gave needed encouragement, assuring David there was no way Saul would succeed in his plot. He told David he knew God had reserved the throne for him, and pledged his support.
Jonathan and David were closer than brothers. They shared everything, good or bad.
In this last encounter, Jonathan claimed no personal aspirations for the throne. His commitment to the friendship was more important than being king.
Jonathan didn't use this friendship only for what he could get out of it (Proverbs 19:6). Instead, he willingly endangered his own life for David's future (John 15:13). Even in the face of great personal loss, Jonathan gave the support and encouragement needed by his friend.
The story of Jonathan is both happy and tragic. You can read it in I Samuel 17 through II Samuel 2.
As David's death remained Saul's top priority, the Philistines again became aggressive and Israel had to go to battle. Israel was badly beaten in battle and Saul was killed. Tragically, Jonathan and two of his brothers were also slain. Jonathan died loyal to both his father and his friend.
Even with Saul dead, David held no victory party. Instead, he fasted and mourned.
He wrote a sad song then. It's a lament about the tragic death of Saul, and an ode of honor to his friend. In the song, David wrote: "I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; you have been very pleasant to me: your love to me was wonderful" (II Samuel 1:26, New King James Version).
Without friends, none of us is likely to become much of anything. Jonathan and David teach the value of friendship.
Good friends are worth more than material possessions or position. David and Jonathan each demonstrated the key to true friendship: selflessness. In a word, love.
Many "friendships" are based on what each party can get out of the relationship. True relationships are based on what each can give to the other.
Jonathan didn't worry about getting the kingdom. The choice he made was selfless: his friend's welfare above his own.
Sure, it was tough being David's friend. But Jonathan stuck with it no matter how tough it got. He was no fair-weather friend (Proverbs 17:17).
By being like Jonathan, we can become something rare and special--a true friend, even in foul weather.
Taken from Youth 90 magazine
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