Friends
(NRSV) 1Sam 10:1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 2 Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting with friends not only from high school, but we also attended elementary school together. I had lunch with one of the ladies around ten years ago, but I had not seen the other two in over forty years. My twin, Cheryl, was supposed to join us but she was ill. It was so much fun reminiscing about teachers and events, and sharing pictures of kids and grandkids.
After returning home, I began to think about friendship in the Bible, and of course my mind went to the extraordinary friendship between David and Jonathan. David was still a teen when he felled Goliath, and Jonathan was probably ten years older. But they developed a covenantal relationship and it existed until Jonathan died on the battlefield.
Their friendship was not one that could have been predicted. Jonathan was the son of a king, while David was merely a shepherd. But what made the friendship even less likely was the fact that, as David grew, it became apparent that he, and not Jonathan, would inherit Saul’s kingdom. Rather than being envious of, and even threatened by David, Jonathan loved him, even to the point of trying to protect him from Saul’s unwarranted attacks.
People who retain lifelong relationships are so fortunate, and it occurs to me that such connections do not just happen—they take commitment and effort. I am so thankful to Lanita for reaching out to us so that we could renew old friendships, and as we parted we made the commitment to get together again soon.
As Christ followers, we each have a friend in Jesus, and neither time, nor distance, nor circumstances of life can ever separate us. For that blessed assurance I can say, “thanks be to God.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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