1 Samuel 18:1-4

Religious friendship.

The facts are—

1 . Jonathan, on becoming acquainted with David, forms a strong attachment for him.

2 . Saul, to show his gratitude for David's aid, constrains him into his service.

3 . Jonathan and David enter into a solemn covenant of friendship. It is obvious that David desired to retire to the quietude of rural life, thus displaying simplicity of purpose and freedom from the ambition charged on him by Eliab ( 1 Samuel 18:28 ), as also superiority to the temptation of success. Saul's will that he should "go no more home to his father's house" was fraught with a long train of consequences which told on the development of the higher qualities of the coming king. The first of these was the formation of that beautiful friendship with Jonathan, which shines as a welcome light amidst the gloom of the last years of Saul's reign. There are in this section two matters deserving special attention.

I. AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE HARMONIES OF PROVIDENCE . On a priori grounds we may conclude that always, in all things, however apparently clashing, there is an interior harmony in the ordinations and unfoldings of Providence. In many instances we seem to hear discord; faith only enables us to refer the discord to our defective organs of knowledge. But here, as in some other instances, we can trace the exquisite harmony between David's detention by Saul, involving his friendship with Jonathan, and David's subsequent entrance on the duties and dignities foreshadowed by the anointing by Samuel. Unquestionably, as seen in the history and in the Psalms composed during the period, David's trials and the public position arising out of this forced detention by Saul were, in their effects on his character and abilities, wonderfully harmonious with his pre-ordained kingship. Moreover, this providential opportunity for forming personal friendship beautifully harmonises with both the cutting off of Saul's line ( 1 Samuel 15:27-29 ) from the succession and the acquisition by David of the title, in virtue of his religious and general qualities. Such friendship, formed on the purest religious basis, and before developments with respect to the succession were made, would save both David and Jonathan from the possibility of regarding each other as rivals, and would also be a blessed counterpoise to David's unmerited sorrows during Saul's violent persecutions. Jonathan never lived to see the throne taken by another; but his life was not embittered by the griefs of jealousy, because of the deep love he had for his friend. David, while in the decree of God destined to be king, loved Jonathan too well to think of setting him aside. Beautiful providence that could insure a succession out of the line, and yet sweeten and ennoble the lives of those whose interests were involved in it! It would be easy for Jonathan to resign to David, should they both survive Saul's decease; for did he not love him with a love passing that of women? ( 2 Samuel 1:26 ). And it would be far from David's desire to set him aside, seeing the loving esteem in which he was held. Yea, was there not an instinctive homage paid to David's character, as though the pure soul saw in him the coming king, when Jonathan stript himself of his princely attire and placed it on David? Harmonies of Providence are constant, if only we had the eye to discern them. Paul's early training worked into his life's mission, though at first tending another way. The flight of Mary and Joseph into Egypt no doubt checked a premature notoriety of the child Jesus.

II. AN ILLUSTRATION OF A TRUE RELIGIOUS FRIENDSHIP . Friendship in some degree is a necessity of man's life. A perfectly solitary being, whose feelings cling to no one, and around whom no one clings, is truly lost. Ordinary friendships are based on the existence of natural affinities and contrarieties. That similarity of mind is the basis of friendship is only true in a limited sense, for one is drawn to another not only by the affinity of common tastes and qualities, but because of a recognition and admiration of qualities that are lacking in self. We seek to supplement the deficiencies of our own life by taking into ourselves, as far as possible, the excellences of another life, and friendship is the means to this end. This is not indeed a full rationale of friendship, nor must it be inferred that cool calculation of personal profit enters into it. The love, the sympathy, the tender, undefinable interest and absolute trust cannot be disentangled from the perception of qualities supplementary to one's own. The friendship of David and Jonathan embraced all that enters into ordinary friendship,—appreciation, love, confidence, tenderness, fidelity, unsuspicious intercourse,—with an additional religious element. This religious friendship may be considered as to—

1 . Its nature. In David and Jonathan we recognise, besides the usual essentials of friendship, the responsive action of a common faith in God and delight in his service. Each saw in the other, as by a higher spiritual insight, a spiritual kinship. The circumstances of the age intensified this mutual attraction. As holy, consecrated young men, they cherished a secret sorrow over the unhappy spiritual condition of their countrymen; and their joy in the recent victories was joy in God and the holy cause for which Israel was chosen out from among the nations. Among Christians the same religious feeling operates in the formation and maintenance of friendships. It is true that all are one in Christ, and each sees in every other a member of the household of faith: religiously there is a common interest in all ( 1 Corinthians 12:26 , 1 Corinthians 12:27 ). So far, therefore, there is a friendship subsisting between each member of Christ's body and every other, as distinguished from his interest in men of the world. But affection needs for its own life concentration; and while, therefore, we are in general friendship with all Christ's people, and are conscious of a blessed and indestructible bond, the necessities of our life lead to the formation of personal friendships in which all ordinary feelings are intensified and beautified by the infusion of a spiritual element. Some modification of the view just given is requisite in considering the friendship of Christ for John and the family at Bethany. But although the perfect Saviour saw not in others qualities deficient in himself, he did see in the ardent John and the tender sympathy and fine appreciation of the family at Bethany that which he was so eagerly in quest of in this rough, unspiritual world. His weary heart delighted to rest in such pure love and sympathy, and he returned the affection a hundredfold.

2 . Its maintenance. The noblest form of friendship needs culture if it is to be permanent. How David and Jonathan nourished theirs is a matter of history, and should be noted. Few things are more sad to reflect on than a broken friendship—it means the embitterment and sad solitariness of two human beings. No detailed rules can be set for nourishing that which in its very nature overleaps all formalities and rigid lines. Ordinarily we may strengthen our friendships by cherishing a conviction of their sacredness— not to be rudely handled and lightly thought of; by making it a point to secure sufficient intercourse or interchange of feeling ( Proverbs 18:24 ); by a studied respect for the minor differences which advancing age and changed circumstances may develop; by prayer for the blessing of God on each other; and, if possible, by sharing in some common work for Christ. Why should not friendships continue through life?

General lessons : —

1 . Knowing the force of impulse and the growth of interest when once aroused, we should be careful in placing youth in such circumstances as may lead to the formation of true and lasting friendships.

2 . It should be a question for each how it is that Christian feeling does not enter so fully as it ought into the friendships of some professedly religious people.

3 . It would be an instructive study for young and old to trace out in history some of the achievements in religious work and fidelity promoted by the maintenance of strong personal friendships.