Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:35-42
I read the account this week about an English publication that had a contest offering a prize for the best definition of a friend. There were thousands of answers submitted. Some spoke of one who multiplies joys and divides grief.
Another submitted that a friend was a watch that beats true for all time and never runs down. Maybe you can come up with a number of ideas of what the best definition of a friend is. Webster’s dictionary defines it as a person whom one knows well and is fond of.
Today, many of us talk about the number of friends that we have on Facebook.
I looked to see what my account said I had. It says that I have 1,365 friends. That is amazing. In fact, I have never met the vast majority of them. Many became friends because of other friends that I have.
In the lesson we are studying, David had a true friend in Jonathan. From the time that David killed Goliath, Jonathan was ready to stand by his side. Jonathan was a warrior, and he saw a warrior’s heart in David.
He also saw one who would be true to him.
David and Jonathan developed a deep lasting friendship that went past family ties.
This week’s Family Memory Verse of 1 Samuel 18:3 says, “Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself.”
Jonathan was willing to set aside the possibility of being the King of Israel in lieu of David becoming the king. When Saul sought to kill David, Jonathan was willing to take up for David. Later, after Jonathan met his death, David sought to find any of his kin that David could honor because of his friendship with Jonathan.
Back to the original story that we started this article with, the definition that won the prize from that English publication was that a friend was someone who comes in when the rest of the world goes out.
I think that sums it up pretty well, how about you?