BE BOLD—BE STRONG
Friends Are Parted
“Saul and Jonathan-in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.”
-2 Samuel 1:23
 

                The life of David was filled with many problems that brought him closer to the Lord. As a young man, David knew he would be the next king of Israel. But there was already a king on the throne named Saul. Saul got to know David well after he slew the giant Goliath. David became very popular among the people, and Saul became jealous. Through the Lord’s plan, David spent many hours in the palace with Saul, playing soothing music on his harp. While in the courts of Saul, David became good friends with Jonathan, Saul’s son. They were such good friends they made secret pacts with each other promising to always be there for each other when they were needed. Their friendship was one of the greatest friendships of the Bible. As the years went by, Saul began to hate David more and more. Saul’s mind grew ill, and there were times when he tried to kill both David and Jonathan.  Eventually Jonathan and David needed to part ways to spare David’s life.
            One day the Philistines fought against the Israelites. King Saul led his army into battle, and his sons Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua went with their father. But the battle went terribly bad. All three sons were killed, and Saul was wounded and eventually took his own life. The Israelites lost their leader and his sons who were to be next on the throne. What a horrible day for God’s people!
            It didn’t take long for word of the battle to reach David. A man arrived at David’s door and said to him, “The men fled from battle. Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are dead” (2 Samuel 1:4). David’s heart was broken. He had lost his closest friend, Jonathan.  The Bible says he mourned and wept for Saul and Jonathan. Finally David decided to write a song about these brave men and told the people to learn the words so they could join in singing it. The song began with the words, “Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen” (2 Samuel 1:19). The song went on to say, “Saul and Jonathan, in life they were loved and gracious, and in death they were not parted. They were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. . . I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother, you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful” (2 Samuel 1:23,26).
            How beautiful it is to see strong friendships like the one between David and Jonathan. They enjoyed each other’s company, and cared for one another as brothers. Perhaps some of you have a wonderful friendship like these two men. Perhaps you know of someone who would stand with you through thick and thin. That’s what makes a great friendship.
            Earthly friendship can be a wonderful thing. But it is even better to have a friendship with the Lord and Savior. Might it ever be possible to be a friend of Jesus? That answer is given in John 15:15 when Jesus says, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). And again Jesus said how far he would go for us, his friends, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
 
In Christ, Mike Allard, Principal @ St. John’s