Real Friends
After the death of David’s friend, Jonathan, he wrote the “Song of the Bow” (2 Samuel 1:17-27). The song is a beautiful “lamentation” of Saul and his son. One personal note within the song is, “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; You have been very pleasant to me; Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women” (1:26).
The homosexual movement would, unfortunately, like to alter the meaning of this simple statement. They would like for it to say, “I am distressed for you, my lover Jonathan...Your sex to me was wonderful, surpassing the sex of women.” But, this is not what the passage says!
Instead, verse 26 is merely a heartfelt note of grief to David’s best friend. People of the same gender can have friendships without it having to involve sex.
So, instead of perverting the passage, think about what made the friendship of David and Jonathan so “wonderful” and “pleasant.”
First, they had a common faith in the Lord’s power. Jonathan, as he challenged the Philistines, believed he could win because the “Lord will work for us” (1 Samuel 14:6). This attitude must have made it easy for him to appreciate David. After all, as young David faced Goliath, he did so knowing “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:45-47).
Second, they gave of themselves freely to each other. Jonathan gives David his armor before David goes out to battle (1 Samuel 18:4-5). Yet, he also provides David with pertinent, life-saving information (1 Samuel 20). Even further, he is unafraid to show and share his sympathy and grief to his worried friend (20:41).
Third, these two men were honest with each other. Some friends never are willing to tell the honest truth. These are weak friendships (see Proverbs 27:9,17). David implies Jonathan is being naïve about the situation with David and Jonathan’s father, Saul (1 Samuel 20:1-3). Jonathan listens to his friend’s counsel and the blinders are removed (20:4,28-34).
Finally, their friendship lacked possessiveness. Sometimes the hardest thing for friends or family to do is to let go. It would be easy for Jonathan to lie to David in order to keep his friend near the palace. Yet, he knew it was in David’s best interest for him to leave the presence of the jealous King (1 Samuel 21:42). The two are never seen together again.
Got real friends? Think about it.
March 2009