Friendship

“And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood.
"And Jonathan Saul’s son arose and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.” 1 Samuel 23:15-16

Many wise and intelligent scholars, doctors, and scientists have studied the subject of relationships for years. A chemical in the brain is said to trigger the level of response and the type of love for those who share a bond. The interesting thing about this is that it’s not unique to humans. Animals feel love too.

They can have relationships with other animals and with humans. Our Lord has instilled that emotion in all creatures.

Friendship is probably the best word to describe how the seed of love grows to become a relationship. As it grows, it will branch out into different paths. Some friendships last for a season during a time of transition, such as school or a job. Others will last a lifetime through many seasons of good times and hard times. We need all levels of relationships in our lives, but the truest reflection of God’s love is biblical friendship.

The story of the bond between Jonathan and David is an excellent example of such friendship. Love, stronger than a blood kinship, knit these two men together. They shared a love for God and recognized the role each of them would play in the Lord’s plan for the Israelites.

Biblical friendship isn’t limited to the Old and New Testaments, however. Here are three defining characteristics of a biblical friend:

Be present. Provide an arm to lean on, an ear to listen, and a heart to care. Just as Jonathan was there to support David, present in his time of trouble, we can give that presence too.

Pray every day for your friend. Talk to God on your friend’s behalf. God already knows the needs, but this keeps you aware of it, too. The more you share the burden, the lighter the load will become.

Protect through reassurance. Encourage your friend with the knowledge that all is possible with our Lord. Many times, the stress of life will cause one to retreat into a world of isolation.

Jonathan was there to help David through one of the darkest times of his young life. He was present. He prayed and protected his friend. The love of God was reflected in his actions. We can follow this biblical friend’s example in our own lives.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the biblical friends in my life. Help me to follow the example of Jonathan and David with all my friends.