Why do we have friends? I Samuel tells an incredible story of true friendship of two young men named David and Jonathan who lay down their lives for each other. The Bible says that these men were willing to do anything for each other and then goes on to describe a magnificent story of camaraderie and brotherhood.
How did Jonathan and David become best friends? What was it that united them to each other? Jonathan was the son of King Saul, while David was a shepherd that had played music for King Saul since he was 12 years old, but it says in I Samuel 18 that Jonathan and David did not become best friends until after David fought Goliath. I Samuel 18 says that after David killed Goliath Jonathan became one in spirit with David, "As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine's head… After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." This was around five years after David began working for Jonathan's dad. Why was it on this particular day that they became best friends?
Remember that Jonathan was sitting next to his father, King Saul watching this entire battle take place. He was watching David as he stood against all odds when no one else would stand against the enemy. He heard David yelling at the Philistine, "You come against me with sword, spear and Javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied!" Jonathan watched David fulfill God's purpose that day and watched the power of God move through David to bring about a great victory. I believe that a miracle of friendship took place during this moment.
Just a few chapters back Jonathan faces a trial that I believe mirrors what David went through when he fought Goliath. During this time the Israelites are hiding in fear as the Philistines are surrounding them. No one is willing to stand up and fight. Finally, Jonathan, tired of the enemy, decides to make a difference. He looks at his armor bearer and says lets see if God will move on our behalf and go pick a fight with the Philistines. He tells his partner, "If the Philistines tell us to come up to the cliffs it is a sign from God that He has given them into our hands." So Jonathan and his armor bearer step out from hiding in the valley, the Philistines look down and the sign is given, "Come up here and we'll teach you a lesson!" Jonathan looks at his partner and says, "God's given them into our hands! Let's fight them!"
Jonathan and his armor bearer began climbing up the walls of the cliff with their bare hands. When they finally get to the top panic strikes in the entire Philistine camp and Jonathan and his armor bearer end up defeating the enemy!]
Now go back to the scene with David and Goliath. Think about what was going through Jonathan's head as he was watching what was taking place, "I know this man. I've have been in his shoes. He's just like me! He's standing against all odds when no one else would just like I did! He is standing up for God! He is fulfilling His purpose, the same purpose I have!"
What was it but the connection of a common purpose that united David and Jonathan? It was at this moment when their dreams touched that they became one in spirit! God gives us friends so that we can fulfill a common purpose.
We will not simply find our friends by having a common purpose though. David and Jonathan always had a purpose given to them by God, but it wasn't until they began to fight for that purpose that they discovered each other. This is just like men who go to war. When they first go to war they know their soldier mates only by name or code when they first go into battle with each other. But when they come home from war they refer to their fellow soldiers no longer as soldier mates but as brothers. Why is this? It is simply because when they finally fight for the common purpose (freedom, family, etc.) they realize they could never do it alone!
So why did God give us friends and how can we discover those friends? To live out a common purpose that God has given us but not just to live for it but to fight for it with all your heart!
