1 Samuel 20:1-4 – Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah, and came and said to Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my iniquity? And what is my sin before your father, that he is seeking my life?” He said to him, “Far from it, you shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. So why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!” Yet David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and he has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But truly as the LORD lives and as your soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death.” Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
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The thing that catches my attention here is the friendship between Jonathan and David. David feared for his life, because he knew that Saul, Jonathan’s father and king of Israel, was out to kill him. In a previous encounter, Jonathan knew that his father had it in for David, but he told Jonathan about it. So, when David came to Jonathan with his fears, Jonathan tried to comfort him by telling him that he had not heard anything about his father planning such a thing. David, however, had already been chased by Saul, and knew that he was in great danger.
The point that caught my attention is verse 4, where Jonathan tells David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” Jonathan was not yet convinced that Saul was out to kill David. He wants to keep David safe, but he needs to find out the details of this situation for himself. However, even though he does not think David is correct about his father’s motives, he agrees to do whatever his friend needs. He lets David know that, without question, he will be there to help him, even if he is not fully convinced David is in danger.
What a joy it must be to have a friend like Jonathan who vows to you his help without even knowing the danger! Jonathan is right there to help his friend, and will do so regardless of personal cost. This is not, of course, to say that Jonathan would have sinned against God for David’s sake—such a thing would not be righteous or admirable. Jonathan was, however, willing to help his friend, even before being convinced of the facts.
You and I could use more friends like this. And, honestly, the way to have more friends like this is to be friends like this. We need to ask God to help us to become friends who love like Christ loves. We need to be willing to receive our friends in their time of need, and to sacrifice whatever we must to help them so long as that sacrifice is not sin. Let us remember that we do not live for ourselves, but for the glory of God. We most certainly can do a better job of glorifying God in the way that we stand alongside our friends in their time of difficulty.
LORD, I thank you for this picture of true biblical friendship. I praise you that you have designed us for such relationships. I thank you that you show us what real friends do when one is in need. I ask that you will first make me into a real friend for others. Help me to be the kind of man who willingly gives and serves to meet the needs of my friends in need. I also ask that you would give me a few friends like this, who will stand with me whenever troubles come my way. Make me a friend and give to me friends who will pray, protect, serve, and sacrifice for one another. Of course, please never let me be motivated to sin for my friends, but help me to always honor you above all. Please glorify your name in my friendships.
Pastor Travis Peterson 