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Friendship with the Divine

Set apart the friend you want and need to be

When pondering deeply on some of the most essential aspects in life, friendship often comes to the surface. We value friends, who helped us through the difficult times, higher than those who we only share good times. These friends are set apart than the others because they are precious.

One such friendship can be found in the Old Testament’s select chapters of first and second Samuel. This is the story of the friendship of Jonathan and David, who were deeply challenged by the negative attitude of King Saul (Jonathan’s father) towards David. They shared a certain kind of friendship which manifested the following characteristics: perseverance, love, protection, kind, patience, humility, sacrifice, gratefulness, generosity, and compassion.

To David, Jonathan was a friend who persevered. He proved that he was strong in the face of the difficulties after knowing that David was not accepted by his father, who did not recognize David as God’s anointed and appointed next in line to the throne.

Because Jonathan loved David (1 Samuel 18:1–4; 20:16–17), he warned and defended him. Jonathan told David about Saul’s plan to kill him (1 Sam 19:1–3). He even attempted to change his father’s mind concerning David; he succeeded but only for a brief time (1 Sam 19:4–9). After being convinced of Saul’s evil intentions, Jonathan warned David in a previously agreed upon signal (1 Sam 20:1–40). The beloved friends said goodbye (1 Sam 20:41–42). Saul cursed Jonathan for befriending David and attempted to kill his own son (1 Sam 20:30–33).

Apparently, both were able to serve in the Israelite army. They easily established rapport with other people, especially to their fellow soldiers. They were gracious, and they knew how to patiently and attentively listen to the needs of the others. David and Jonathan shared the same faith—fear and obedience to God. They believed that the spirit within King Saul was not right with God.

David in turn humbly accepted the help that only Jonathan—a friend who truly loves in self-sacrificing way—could extend. When Jonathan along with his father and two of his brothers were killed in a battle with the Philistines (1 Sam 31:2–6). David was brokenhearted; he said he grieved of Jonathan’s death and that his love for him was more wonderful than that of women (2 Sam 1:26). David brought the bones of Jonathan and Saul, and he buried them near Jerusalem (2 Sam 21:11–14).

David manifested his grief and gratefulness by being generous and compassionate to the poor son of Jonathan named Mephibosheth, who became crippled after an accident at the age of five (2 Sam 4:4).  David ensured protection from the Gibeonites who demanded the blood of all Saul’s descendants for past injustices. (2 Sam 21:7)

The poem “My Friend is the One Who…” described the same qualities and behaviors of a precious friend. The said poem is available online at https://mihaelahegstrombooks.com/.