Purpose and power of God-given friendships
Do you have a God-given friendship in your life? How did you know it was God-given? Was it your instantaneous connection? Was it your shared loyalty to God? Was it the way you sharpen each other in discussions about the faith, like iron sharpens iron?
If you were to name one divinely orchestrated friendship in the Bible, which one would it be?
In this article, we will be talking about the power of God-given friendships, looking at the Biblical story of Jonathan and David. You’re encouraged to have fun sharing, reading, and/or talking about it with that God-given friend you mentioned earlier. As you read about Jonathan and David, let’s see how many things you and your friend can relate to based on your friendship together.
JONATHAN AND DAVID
Have you ever described your close friend as being like a brother or sister to you? Maybe you’ve even been to their house before, or vice versa, or one or both of you is fond of the other’s mom or dad. Maybe you are simply close to each other in a sisterly or brotherly way. That’s what David and Jonathan were like. The two were close, non-biological ‘brothers.’
David was “the young man”—as Saul, Jonathan’s father called him—who slayed Goliath. After they became friends, Jonathan’s father took David in. Jonathan was next in line for the throne in Israel. David was anointed king. Though there is a lot that could be said about their friendship and the throne, let’s talk about how Jonathan and David initially became friends.
“HE SPOKE TO MY FATHER WITH A GIANT’S HEAD IN HIS HAND”
It was after David slayed Goliath. David had just brought Goliath’s head back to Jerusalem and put his weapons in his tent. Having witnessed David’s battle, Saul, the then King of Israel and Jonathan’s father, was intrigued. (Read:1 Samuel 17:55-58)
David went to Saul, Jonathan’s father and King of Israel, with Goliath’s head in his hand. Jonathan was with his father when David approached him. Upon hearing his words and having witnessed David in battle himself, Jonathan’s heart was bonded to David’s. A psychological, emotional bond was established. By whom? By God. The two became knit together in soul (emotionally attached), and “Jonathan loved David as himself.”
JONATHAN’S SELFLESS LOVE FOR DAVID
The Amplified version of the Bible describes love as “an unselfish concern.” Jonathan loved David unselfishly, self-forsakenly. In selfless love, after the attachment and connection were formed, he immediately committed and pledged loyalty to David by making a covenant with him. In a significant act of unspoken honour and love for him, Jonathan clothed David with his royal robe and gave him his own weapons, unspokenly affirming him.
A Question —
For Males:
Would you do the same for the friend who is like a brother to you? Why?
For Females:
How do you think a male would answer the question above?
GOD-GIVEN FRIENDSHIP: JOINED TOGETHER ON PURPOSE
Have you ever seen a group of men pushing or moving something heavy? When strong men, carrying the same mission and heart, establish a relationship, something powerful happens— internally, emotionally, and through their united effort. Power is added to power; strength to strength. According to Biblical principles, if the Lord wills it, one man can chase a thousand in battle, but two can put ten thousand to flight. (Deuteronomy 32:30)
Do you think it by chance the Bible says the women sang, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David histen thousands”? (1 Samuel 18:7) By principle, if one man can chase a thousand, then David was only able to slay thousands on his own. However, as Jonathan and David fought battles together and in a unified way, David’s capacity increased to tens of thousands.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other; but woe to one who is alone and falls and does not have another to help.”
APPLICATION
God-given friendships are not established by accident or coincidence. God intentionally put you together with your friend for something so much greaterthan you are able to presently see. Just as Jonathan, being added to David, increased his strength, encouraged him, supported his faith, and enabled him to do mightier exploits than he could do alone in battle, so you have been added to each other to initiate and facilitate the fulfilment of God’s purposes and assignments through you both in the Earth. This may happen through shared emotional intimacy, wisdom, knowledge, interests, hobbies, etc. Over time, those assignments and purposes will become clearer to you.
If you can grasp it, your assignments and power are beyond ground-shaking. The Enemy is terrified of you and your friend because of Who you are through Christ. Tens of thousands in the Kingdom of Darkness tremble upon seeing you both together. God has banded you together on purpose, with purpose.
Do not be afraid to become intimately knit in soul with each other. Be vulnerable with each other; that’s one of the purposes of your friendship. Continue to love each other deeply and selflessly. Whenever your friend grows weary, spur him/her on, saying, “Don’t give up!”
If you are as close as Jonathan and David were, you probably already have a covenant of faithfulness to each other, whether unspoken or spoken. Fight for each other and ask God to help you to faithfully love as a Godly friend should.
If you do not have God-given friendships yet but desire them, pray for them. (Matthew 7:11) Ask God to help you be who you have to become in order for your desires to be fulfilled. God will answer your prayer, even if prayed with mustard seed faith. Godly friendships are important. You will have godly friendships in Jesus’ name.
As with David and Jonathan, the clang of swords in the battles they fought together parallels the sound of your iron sharpening iron in your God-given friendship— strengthening you today and preparing you for battles to come. Together, you will conquer the world.
Until next time!
Youth SOULdiers, out!
Youth S.O.U.L. (Youths Spiritually Operating Under The Lord) is a programme for youth, by youth, and with Jesus. Tune into Youth S.O.U.L. on Fridays at 6 p.m. at 88.5/9 FM. TBC Radio—The Breath of Change. This article was based on Season 3’s episode on Godly community and friendships. We hope it blesses you.