Friends

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 KJV)

I recently read that friends are the people we choose to be family. That feeling was recently reinforced by a blog written by one I consider a dear friend. The internet has allowed us to put our thoughts out for the world to see. Some places are truly not worth the effort to make the keystroke as we surf by them. Others open our minds to thoughts that uplift and enhance our lives. I’ve been fortunate enough to read the thoughts of people I’ve come to enjoy and appreciate.

I may have the opportunity to meet some face-to-face before I go home to our Lord. If not, I still will have been blessed by their presence. For those who believe as I do that God has much more in store for us, we will meet in the home He prepared for us. Until then, we build upon a friendship.

The Bible doesn’t mention a close friend of Solomon’s that might have been the example for the above Proverb, but surely he grew up knowing of his father’s friend, Jonathon. The rightful heir to the throne befriends the man God chose to take his place.

I Samuel tells of Jonathon fighting beside his father, a man mighty in battle.

And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. (1 Samuel 13:3 KJV)

Once Jonathan met David after his defeat of Goliath, they were friends for life.

And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (1 Samuel 18:1 KJV)

Jonathan protected David after Saul sought to kill him.

But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself: (1 Samuel 19:2 KJV)

Upon hearing of Jonathan’s death, David mourned for his friend.

Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him: And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword. (2 Samuel 1:11-12 KJV)

The friendship lasted past death.

And Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son … And his name was Mephibosheth. (2 Samuel 4:4 KJV)

What a friendship that would have been, to pass from one generation to another! There is more to the story in Second Samuel if you wish to read further. As you appreciate your friends, let them know – and give a prayer of thanks. May God bless them.