FRIENDS FOR LIFE

Week 2 Day 3

Hurricane Michael was fierce last week.  While we are grateful that it did make landfall in Jacksonville, we are grieved to see the devastation it cause just a few hours from here.  Most all of Mexico Beach, Florida was wiped out.  But there was an interesting story of one beach home that was hardly damaged.  Did you see it?

This house was built to withstand the storms.  It has concrete pillars that go 28 feet into the ground.  It is fastened with steel and its windows are made to withstand hurricane strength wind.  Every other house is demolished around it.

David and Jonathan had this type of friendship.  One that withstand all the storms.

 

For a quick review :

Saul was King of Israel.

Jonathan, Saul’s son, was next in line to become King.

David, a teenager, was already chosen by God to be King.

David had just killed Goliath, the 9 foot giant.

 

 

Prayer:  “Father, God, teach me to pursue godly friendships.  Teach me how to be a great friend to others.”

 

Grab Your Bible:  Read 1 Samuel 17:55-18:5.  (again!)

 

 As Saul watched David going out to meet the Philistine (This is Goliath!!!), he said to Abner, commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is that young man?”

Abner replied, “As surely as you live, Your Majesty, I don’t know.”

⁵⁶ The king said, “Find out whose son this young man is.”

⁵⁷ As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine (So David just killed Goliath!!!), Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine’s head (David chops off Goliath’s head! – cool)

⁵⁸ “Whose son are you, young man?” Saul asked him.

David said, “I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”

18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. ² From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. ³ And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.

⁵ Whatever mission Saul sent him on, David was so successful that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the troops, and Saul’s officers as well.

 

Notice something we mentioned yesterday, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as himself.  And then we see that Jonathan took off his robe, tunic, sword, bow and belt and gave it to David.  All these times had to made special for the king’s son.  They would have carried a special honor.  They would have had special markings.  The bow and belt probably would have been more specialized than Batman’s belt!  Seriously though, this was a big deal.  And Jonathan just gives it to David.

 

If you want a godly friend that will withstand the storms of life, you have to honor, serve and love the other more than yourself.  You have to look to the interests and needs of the friend FIRST!  Wait a minute, that is just like Jesus did.

 

Prayer:  God help to have a friend and be a friend that will withstand the storms.  Help my friendship to be anchored and built in you!