1 Samuel 19:1-7 | Biblical Friendship Part 2

David is the one who single-handedly saved all of Israel. After David strikes down Goliath, the tide turns against the Philistines. And now when David is leading men out to fight, Israel is finally seeing victory in battle. They're no longer living in fear as they were when Saul was single-handedly fighting against the Philistines. So with all that in mind, Saul then, from simple jealousy, is now trying to kill the man who is instrumental in delivering Israel from the Philistines.

So Jonathan, knowing this, and knowing his father's instability, And he's probably also seen that the presence of God has left Saul. He still decides to intercede on David's behalf. Here he's willing to risk his familial relationship for the sake of his friend. Jonathan also must have realized the predicament that he was in. But instead of choosing this pragmatic path of self-preservation, the one which Saul was prompting him towards to seek David's death in order to protect his claim to the throne, Jonathan is choosing the path of covenant loyalty.

First and primarily, he's loyal to God because he realizes that God has anointed David as king. David is God's man. But flowing from that, he is also loyal to David, because God has chosen him. And therefore, Jonathan is loving him as his own soul. So if God has set his love on David, then Jonathan, who is sharing that same divine love, is now willing to risk it all for David.

Speaks a friend's defense

So how much more for us then, as believers, who now share in the same love that is flowing from the final son of David, God's anointed Messiah, Ought we not then to share in each other's joys, not just to share in each other's joys, but also to share each other's sorrows and burdens, willing to put ourselves out for the sake of our friend. So Jonathan here isn't just looking out for himself in this friendship with David. He's not just seeking to absorb in this relationship, but he's willing to sacrifice courageously for the sake of his friend. Second, notice that biblical friendship speaks a friend's defense. In verses four through five, notice how Jonathan speaks well of David. Biblical friendship demands that since we share in this commonality of love for the Lord, because God has set his covenant love on this person, we are now called to value that person as God sees them.

We're called to see him not primarily as sinners with a long and varied rap sheet, but now as redeemed sons who are being transformed into the glorious image, the image of Christ. So Jonathan commends David, his friend, but he also is confronting Saul, his father. And notice how he does it. First, he confronts the sin. Jonathan is calling out the sinful hatred of Saul. Jonathan has done nothing to merit Saul's animosity. So Jonathan is confronting Saul's attitude of opposing himself to the Lord's anointed.

Also notice the king and servant language here in these verses. The king is supposed to provide for his servants and bless those who are laboring well for him. He's not to try to kill those who sacrifice daily and sacrifice their safety for the king.

So here Jonathan is confronting Saul's distorted view of reality. But also notice Jonathan is commending the good. He commends David. David hasn't sinned against Saul. He's not trying to usurp his kingly authority. More than that, David is a net positive to the kingdom. David has sacrificed the life he had back in his hometown with all his family and friends. He has sacrificed that for faithful service in the king's court.

Also notice how Jonathan conveys the blessings of David. Jonathan points out all the blessings that the faithfulness of David has brought to Israel. It is because of David's faith and complete trust in God in the face of insurmountable odds. that brought about the deliverance of Israel as David defeated Goliath. And Jonathan points out here that not only was Israel saved, but also Saul rejoiced. Jonathan reminds Saul that he was overjoyed at the bravery and faith of David.

And finally, Jonathan cautions the repercussion. Jonathan ends his intercession here by cautioning his father Saul not to engage in such a vile act of wickedness to kill the one who has blessed him the most, not to turn against the one who has delivered him from the hand of his enemies.

Seeks a friend's restoration

So for us tonight as we reflect on Jonathan, do we have a view towards friendship that we see the good that God is working in others? And do we see the blessings that flow from their faithfulness? And do we value that? Are we willing to stand up and intercede on their behalf? Are we willing to oppose, for the sake of others, the forces of the world, the forces of the flesh and the devil, that are working against those who belong to Christ? Because a friend in time of need is a friend indeed. Thirdly, notice that biblical friendship seeks a friend's restoration. In verses six and seven, Jonathan wants his father and his friend to be reunited.

Now we can stand on the other side of history, on the other side of the story, and ask if that was really a wise thing to desire. Because we see the fullness of Saul's fickleness in opposition to the Lord's anointed. But in the moment, for Jonathan, it made sense. Saul, for a while, really did love David and appreciate him. He seems sincere. And notice here that Saul is so convinced that he will never again try to kill David that he swears an oath to that effect, which ironically he will go on and break just four verses later when again he tries to kill David.

But here Jonathan is interested in the best good of his friend. And so you see him here masterfully navigating the trickiness of his familial love for his father, but also for his deep and spiritual friendship with David. Here his family and his friends are at odds. And Jonathan is working courageously to bring them both back together.

Jonathan is not just interested solely in the safety of his friend, but also in his well-being. So for us, are we willing to sacrifice to make peace, to see friendships reunited, to see friends laying down their weapons for the sake of Christ and his kingdom?

Kind of the sad note of this story is that in the following verses, verses 8 through 10, after this attempt of Saul to kill David, This is the last time that David lives in Saul's house. So from here until the death of Saul, David lives as a fugitive. So here in our text, this is a pivotal moment in the life of Saul. And this really ends up being his last opportunity to show kindness to David in his house. David is never again close to Saul.

Come to Christ

So the call for us tonight, especially if you have not turned to Christ in faith, don't follow the example of Saul. Don't continue to oppose the Lord's anointed. Don't continue to shut your door on your friendship with Jesus. Maybe you find yourself in a similar situation this morning, or this evening, sorry. You're on the fence about Christ. You're wavering in your view of Christ. One day your heart opposes him, the other day your heart wants to be near him. Let the story of Saul be a warning to you. Come to Christ. Lay down your weapons of opposition and come to Christ by faith. Maybe you think that, does Christ really want to be friendly?

Well, notice how David never opposed Saul. He never hated Saul. David was never disloyal to Saul, even though Saul sought the death of David. But Christ being the true and better Adam is so much more to us. So if you still have not come to Christ by faith, Christ is not opposed to you.

Christ isn't pushing you away. Instead, Christ is beckoning unto you to lay down your weapons, to lay down your fears, and to come to him. And only in Christ will we find sweet relief for our souls and of a hope and sure foundation that answers all of our doubts. But if you are in Christ this morning, the call of this passage is to be encouraged in the true anointed son of David, who is our true friend. Christ, the one who speaks and acts courageously on our behalf.

A friend in the heavenly courtroom

Jesus speaks courageously to the Father about you. Jesus is claiming you as his own and interceding before the Father on your behalf. He's interceding for our sins and for our doubts, so much so that we have a friend in the heavenly courtroom who is nothing but our best interest in mind. But Jesus is not only speaking a good word about you, but he's also enabled our very reconciliation to the Father.

So because we have Christ as our mediator, we are now able to go before the presence of God. And we can go with boldness before the Father. And we can follow that perfect way that Jesus has won for us into his presence. And so because of the work of Christ, our friend on our behalf, we no longer have to stand at a distance from God, but we can enjoy perfect communion with God on the other side of the veil, behind in God's presence in the place that Christ has won for us.

But also we get to enjoy this communion with God now through his word and through prayer. And so he's speaking to us as our friend through his word. And it is through his word that we see the love of our Heavenly Father. And it is through prayer that we get to respond to that love.

And so because of Christ's atoning work, we are now adopted into God's glorious family, never to be turned out, never to be disinherited from the inheritance that awaits us. And so be encouraged this evening that Christ speaks a better word. The blood of Christ speaks a better word than all the blood of bulls and goats, than all the good works that you and I can muster. Christ in his atoning work speaks the better word to the Father. Courageously, he stands up in the face of all our sin and rebellion against him, and Christ is claiming us as his own. Christ is declaring us to be righteous in his sight, so that on the last day, we can stand up with confidence, as the Apostle John says, and say that we truly do have a friend in Jesus.

Will you pray with me? Gracious God and Heavenly Father, thank you that you have sent your son, the anointed one, the final son of David, who's come to free us from our bondage to our doubts, from our bondage to sin, from our bondage to our insecurities. Thank you that you have won for us a glorious inheritance. O Lord, give us the strength to live as your children. O give us the strength, O Lord, to love one another with the great love that you have shown us. O Lord, help us to be faithful friends even in times of adversity. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.