Friends God Sends

1 Samuel 17:55–56 (ESV) As soon as Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this youth?” And Abner said, “As your soul lives, O king, I do not know.” 56 And the king said, “Inquire whose son the boy is.”

1 Samuel seems to contain a contradiction. Earlier in 1 Samuel 16, when Saul's servants seek out a man to play the harp for his terrifying spirit, Saul is made well aware of whose son David is and he even sends word to Jesse to keep him in his service. So this question after the Goliath event sounds contradictory. Didn't Saul already know this? 

This is not hard to explain, however. In the first instance, Saul was looking for relief for a terrorizing spirit. Now having received that relief he may have altogether forgotten how it came about that David was taken from Jesse's house. Another reason he asks for this information here is that of the promises he now has to keep for David's sake: the hand of his daughter, tax-free living, riches, and honor. Now with skin in the game, Saul is more concerned as to how these promises will affect his kingdom. So we can clearly see that Saul is human. He was suffering mental affliction before, now relieved and presented with great cost to himself, he wants certain clarification.

But the text is not really about Saul. It's about Jonathan in the next chapter.

1 Samuel 18:1 (ESV) As 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.

Jonathan could not be more different than Saul if he tried. In David, Jonathan finds a partner who is one in spirit for God's purposes and the Nation's welfare. Saul is concerned with what this victory will cost him. Jonathan is simply joyful that someone else has the guts to stand up for the glory of the Lord.

The story is proof positive that we do not have to be defined from the family we come from and that God in His grace and mercy will bring David's into our lives who will share a kindred mindset around the purposes of God. 

One of the great struggles for pastors and leaders is loneliness. There have been a few suicides lately amongst notable Pastors which proves that many men in ministry have no one to rely on when it comes to the burdens and pressures of a public occupation that's often critiqued from various voices and diverse audience members. 

It is not only Pastors who struggle. It is every child of God who feels like they are the only one who concerns themselves with God's purposes. Remember, Jonathan was the only one believing God for deliverance no matter how many soldiers were in the fight. Remember too that at one point Saul was ready to kill Jonathan. No wonder Jonathan instantly takes to David. For the first time in perhaps his life, Jonathan has someone in his life who "gets" the mission, who shares his passion. 

The sad reality for Jonathan is that this kinship with David will cost him the relationship he presently has with his father. But that relationship was already on shaky ground - again - Saul was willing to kill him over a foolish vow he broke. 

Here's how this applies to us. You may feel alone in the work God has assigned. You may feel the strain of relationships that should normally be peaceful. This is the burden of many Christ-followers who say "No" to normal life in pursuit of the pleasures and plan of God. But we have a better David named Jesus. And when you commit to His plan, He finds you a friend. I've seen this in my own life and so here's my advice: Keep your eyes open. That "David" friend may not be someone you expect. He may not come from your tribe (David was from Judah, Jonathan from Benjamin). But God can send them into your life at the right time. And when he shows up, shower them with friendship.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 (NLT) Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.