One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. “Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the Lord. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh. 1 Samuel 23:15-18 NLT
The friendship between Jonathon and David is a legendary picture of camaraderie and commitment. The problem is most folks (myself included) visualized the two as equal in age. They were not. Jonathon was at least twenty years older than David. I know we read the stories and see two young twenty-somethings hanging out in the palace, dodging dear old king Saul as he went through his mental collapse. But do the math, Jonathan was in his forties!
Two things about these “hide-n-seek” scenarios with David that are amazing. One, God spoke directly to David when he needed an answer! Up a few verses David asks God if he should go and help a neighboring city fend off the Philistines. “Should I go?,” David asks. “Yes, you should go,” says God. Another time David asked God, “I heard Saul is coming obliterate Keilah because of me, and the leaders of Keilah will betray me – is that true?” God says “Yes they will betray you and yes Saul is coming.” Can you imagine this? David is running for his life and it’s looking like everything is out of control, yet God is right there with him! Would I want to walk through the crazy circumstances that David did, having the highest level of authority chasing me with a bounty on my head? No! But, wouldn’t it be wild to be on the run while having a two way conversation with the God of all things? Heavens yeah!
Two, the other aspect I love about these true stories is the fact that Saul’s own son, is besties with David, giving him the inside-man advantage. Between God telling David exactly what will happen and Jonathan providing Saul’s movements – it’s an exciting real life drama of good verses evil. Jonathan knows exactly where David is hiding out and goes to him to simply encourage him. Jonathan says, “don’t be afraid,” and “you will be king.”
There are so many stories and scriptures about the importance of having trusted friends encourage us when we walk through valleys with shadows of death. The Apostle Paul writes to the churches in Galatia (6:2), “share each other’s burdens…because in doing so you fulfill the law of Christ.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 says “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” A single-strand life is a constant struggle! Carrying a heavy load alone will kill you, but shared with a friend makes it lighter. We don’t need friends to fix things for us, we just need them to show up and bear the burden with us.
Be that friend that shows up! Be that friend that randomly texts encouragement when you know someone is struggling. Be the voicemail that leaves a prayer and a good word. You will be the friend that joins God and comes alongside in someone’s darkest, loneliest moments.
Prayer
Dad,
I truly believe the verse that says that there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother – and that friend is you! Through the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit, you are always there. You see, you hear, you know, what my life can bear. But, I also know what it’s like to have friends check in and let me know they are standing with me, available for whatever I might need. These friends are load-lifters and I am deeply grateful when they join in to carry the weight of emotions too much for me to handle alone. Thank you for them as well. Amen.