Restoration Series: 10 Characteristics of a Godly Friendship | March 8, 2023

In the book of 1 Samuel, we read about a beautiful friendship between David and Jonathan. For our purposes here, we will read a few significant parts of their story. What characteristics do you notice about this relationship? Specifically, how does Jonathan treat David? How does he feel about him?

1 Samuel 18:1-3 ESV

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. ² And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. ³ Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

 1 Samuel 19:1-4, 5b-6, 9-11a ESV

And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. ² And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. ³ And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” ⁴ And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you… Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?” ⁶ And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, “As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” … Then a harmful spirit from the Lord came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre. ¹⁰ And Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall. And David fled and escaped that night. ¹¹ Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him, that he might kill him in the morning. 

1 Samuel 20:1-4, 41-42 ESV

Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” ² And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” ³ But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” ⁴ Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” 

In 1 Samuel 20:5-40, Jonathan seeks to protect his friend David, making sure his father King Saul no longer wants to kill him. But when he learns that he does, Jonathan goes to warn David. We continue the story in verse 41 when David and Jonathan meet:

 ⁴¹David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. ⁴² Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

 Here are 10 things I noticed about the friendship between Jonathan and David, (how Jonathan treated David and how he felt about him):

1. He loved him as he loved himself (18:1, 20:17)
2. He was committed (18:3-4, 20:16-17)
3. He delighted in him (19:1)
4. He spoke well of him (19:4)
5. He was loyal to him (20:4)
6. He was honest with him (20:9,12-13)
7. He defended him (20:32)
8. He cared about him (20:34, 41)
9. He kept his secrets (20:39)
10. God was the bond of their friendship (20:42)

May we be inspired to live out our relationships like this! What is one characteristic you can act on today?