1 Samuel 18-23
Big Idea: You are made for friendship because you are made in God’s image who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who live in eternal friendship.
David and Jonathan were not good candidates to be friends, One was next in line to be king and the other had been annointed as the next king. Not exactly the greatest foundation for a friendship. Yet, their friendship is a powerful one that is something for us to aspire to.
Four Traits of a Good Friend:
- Committed To You (18:1-3) … Friends are committed to each other through thick and thin. David and Jonathan even went as far as to make a covenant with each other. Proverbs 17:17 tells us that a friend loves at all times.
- Wants God’s Best For You (18:4) … Jonathan was Saul’s heir-apparent, the crown prince. But he submitted his authority to David because God had chosen David to be the next king. Jonathan understood that and was willing to support David in fulfilling God;’s purpose for his life. John 13:13
- Stands Up For You (19:4-7) … Saul believed that David wanted to overthrow him and usurp the throne. Saul was jealous of how David was adored by the people and asked Jonathan and his servants to kill David. But Jonathan stood up to his father, his king, and showed him that David didn’t have any such plans to take his crown. David was waiting for God’s timing.
- Sticks By You In Hard Times (23:15-18) … Saul’s paranoia returned and he came after David again. Saul tries multiple schemes to kill David but is unsuccessful. Jonathan warned David what was coming and also pledged his allegiance to David. Jonathan was the type of friend Proverbs 18:24 talks about, staying closer than a brother.
Like David had a friend in Jonathan, we have a friend in Jesus.
- Jesus is committed to us. … Jesus won’t turn on us. He will keep His promises.
- He wants God’s best for us. … Like Jonathan, He gave up His throne to help us. He came down from Heaven and laid down His life for us.
- He stands up for us. … He stands before God as our advocate, showing that He has paid for our sins so that we may be saved and enter Heaven.
- Jesus sticks by us in hard times. … Jesus is not a fair weather friend. We make mistakes. We have difficult situations. We deal with sickness and financial crises. Jesus is always there. We can always count on Him.
Jesus is an incredible friend. But to have Huna as a friend, you first must accept Him as Lord and Savior. Let him wipe your sins away and be your friend and advocate.
For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message
- Great Lives: David: A Man of Passion and Destiny by Chuck Swindoll
- Preaching the Word Commentary
- Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary
- ESV Expository Commentary
- New American Commentary