David's Friend

David: The Man of Prayer PART VI

Dr. Timothy Keller

17 May 2015

1Samuel 18:1-4; 19:4-7; 20:40-42; 23:15-18

18:1As 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.  2And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house.  3Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.  4And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.

19:4And 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.  5For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel.  You saw it, and rejoiced.  Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?"  6And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan.  Saul swore, "As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death."  7And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things.  And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

20:40And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city."  41And as soon as the boy had gone, David 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.  42Then 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.

21:15David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life.  David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh.  16And Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.  17And he said to him, "Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you.  You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you.  Saul my father also knows this."  18And the two of them made a covenant before the Lord.  David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

NECESSITY OF FRIENDSHIP

--Jonathan knows David will be king.

--David was in the most dangerous part of his life.

--The friendship bracketed out the danger surrounding David and contained the evil.

--Proverbs 17:17 - the friendship saves David.

--Adam was lonely in the Garden; although he was without sin, it wasn't enough.

--Adam was made in the image of God, so he needed friends.

ELEMENTS OF FRIENDSHIP

--Constancy - a friend stays; Proverbs 18:24

--A friend is not a user that just benefits.

--Transparency - open feelings.

--Open your schedule, decisions, and flaws to them. Proverbs 27:5

--Friends are sympathetic, compassionate, and share a common vision.

POWER TO BE A GOOD FRIEND
--Jonathan didn't use David or Saul for self interest, but was loyal to both of them.

--John 15: 9-17

--Through the faith of a transforming friendship of Jesus Christ.

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