Thinking About Old Friends

This morning in my devotional reading I read 2 Samuel chapter 1. This chapter records David receiving the news of the death of King Saul and his son Jonathan. David's response is heartfelt, genuine and powerful. 

As I usually do, I recorded my thoughts and reactions to this passage of Scripture. I felt that I should share them with you. 

David's heart was broken by the death of Jonathan. The two men shared a friendship that was deep and affecting - and one-sided by human standards. A study of their friendship shows just how disparate these two men were; one a royal prince, the other a simple shepherd. Jonathan had before him all the glories and riches of a kingdom, David watched sheep and played the lyre.  One was schooled by the finest minds in the kingdom, the other went to Vo-Tech and got a degree in shepherding. These two men could hardly be more different in position and background. 

But Jonathan and David shared something that is not learned by instruction alone: they shared a godly character. These two young men exemplified what godly character is all about. Their hearts were bent towards the LORD, each with a desire to honor Him. Their character was forged in the heart. True character is not a matter of instruction alone...almost all of us are taught right and wrong, but few of us seem well versed in its proper application. Character development requires more than instruction, it also requires demonstration. David probably had character modeled for him by his father and Jonathan may have seen character demonstrated for him by the prophet Samuel. Regardless of who it was, someone demonstrated godly character to these two when they were young, and the result was a life of blessing. 

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of their friendship was the selflessness that both of these men demonstrated. Each put the other's welfare ahead of their own. They were willing to lay their lives down for the other without regards to the cost. They each sought better for the other than they sought for themselves. In this sense they serve as an example of another who sought the benefit of others above his own:

Philippians 2:5-8
⁵  Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
⁶  who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
⁷  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
⁸  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

These two men weren't perfect, far from it, but they demonstrate what is possible between men when the Spirit of God fills both. The best of human relationships are fallen and none of us are capable of Christlikeness on our own, but when the Spirit of God lies within the hearts of both amazing things are possible. 

It occurs to me that one of the problems in American society in our day is that we lack true character (not characters, there are plenty of those). Our leaders, in churches and in especially in politics, seem less concerned with character than with personal advancement. Perhaps that is why we seem to be so...lost.

I believe that what we need are more men and women of godly character. Leaders willing to sacrifice self for others, willing to love with a sacrificial love willing to follow the example of Christ. I have been blessed to know men and women with that character, and I am blessed to have friends with whom I share a friendship like that of Jonathan and David. Oh that our country would know more of that.