A Friend Like Jonathan - April 30 Readings: 1 Samuel 19-20, Luke 19:1–27, Psalm 55:1–4, Proverbs 12:1-2

Links to Today's Readings

I sometimes wonder how David kept his sanity. He was a man after God's heart, but throughout his life he had one person after another coming after him for no good reason. Saul, consumed with jealousy, sought to destroy David. He tried to kill him more than once. But through all of this David just carried on in the Lord's power.

There are a number of reasons for this, but one of the main reasons was a man named Jonathan. He was Saul's son but he was also David's friend. Their bond was deep - the kind of friendship we all need.

All we need to get through life is the presence and power of God. If everyone turns away from us we can depend on our "friend who sticks closer than a brother" to be there to bear us up. He's all we need. But navigating life's trials is much easier when you have a friend like David's. Jonathan helped him face the hurt in his life as Saul pursued and persecuted him. 1 Samuel 20 describes that friendship in detail, and from that story we can see some of the things that made Jonathan such a great friend.

A "Jonathan" seeks your good even at his own sacrifice. Jonathan was due to ascend to the throne until Samuel anointed Jesse's son. He could have been jealous and angry. He could have joined his father's campaign to protect his position. But he did not. He sacrificed his own position for the sake of his friend. True friendship requires people who are willing to lay down their lives for one another.

A "Jonathan" is not governed by the opinions of others about you. No matter how much trash Saul talked about David, Jonathan remained loyal to his friend. He was not swayed by the opinions of others.

A "Jonathan" makes such a difference in life. No matter what life throws at us, it is easier to handle when someone is walking along the path with us.

But here's the twist. As we read this, we all think how great it would be (or is) to have a friend like Jonathan. And it is! But we must not read this and pine for friends like this, but ask how we can become a friend like Jonathan to others. We must focus more on BEING Jonathans than on finding them. Those who give friendship like Jonathan did are much more likely to find the kind of friendships that they seek.

Father, I thank you for loyal friends. But help me to lay my life down for others and to be the friend I need to be.