“… the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” (1 Samuel 18:1)
Friendships come in different shapes and forms, depending on circumstances and the characters of the people involved. Some friendships last a lifetime, others are only temporary. But true friendships have one thing in common: they are based on unconditional love.
A good example of this is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Jonathan was the Israelite crown prince, predestined to succeed king Saul. David was a successful soldier in Saul’s army, and considered a rival of the throne. It would have been logical for these men to become enemies. But the Bible tells us that they became best friends! They loved each other and were concerned about each other’s well-being. Jonathan did not try to defend his right to the throne, but accepted that God had anointed David as king. He warned his friend when king Saul was plotting to kill him. In his turn, David swore to show Jonathan and his descendants steadfast love when he became king. When Jonathan eventually died on the battlefield, David mourned for his friend: “your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women.” (2 Samuel 1:26)
Do you have a good friend?