Finding Great FriendsSýnishorn

Many of us dream of having a friend that will stick with us through life’s ups and downs, a friend like Ruth was to Naomi, as told in Ruth chapter 1. A famine hit Israel, so Naomi’s husband packed up his family and headed for Moab to live. Unfortunately for Naomi, her husband dies then both her sons.

At this point, Naomi hears that her hometown is doing better, so she packs up to return to Bethlehem. As she leaves, she tells her two daughters-in-law to return to their families. One does, but not Ruth. This is when Ruth utters some of the most famous words about friendship. “Don’t urge me to leave you.”

Thankfully, these women aren’t the only example of godly friendship the Bible records for us. Maybe you are familiar with the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). David returns to the Israelite camp after killing Goliath, and King Saul’s commander-in-chief escorts David to talk to the king. Saul inquires after David’s father, and David tells him he is the son of Jesse of Bethlehem. 

This is where the story gets amazing yet is so simple that it is easily overlooked. 1 Samuel 18:1 says, “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.”

These two men forged a friendship with God at their center, and this allowed them to maintain it through the most difficult challenges. Even when David became hugely successful on the battlefield (1 Samuel 18:7). Even when Saul became insanely jealous of David and tried to kill him (1 Samuel 20). Even when Jonathan realized that God intended the crown not to pass to him, but instead go to David (1 Samuel 23:16–18).

After both Saul and Jonathan die in battle and David becomes king, he asks, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:1). A servant was found who knew of a son of Jonathan. The son was found and brought to David. Instead of killing him and his household as was the custom of the time to decrease the threat to the throne, David instead offers him grace. 

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.”

A focus on God’s plan rather than our own, even when it means our friend will outshine us. A loyalty to another in spite of familial objections when God’s favor rests on the friend instead of our family or their plan. Grace that supersedes the highest expectations. May we all aspire to be and find this kind of friend.