Day 1147: The beauty of friendship - 1 Samuel 17 vs 52 – 18 vs 5

52-53 And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron. And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. 54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armour in his tent.

55-58 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.” And the king said, “Enquire whose son the boy is.” And as soon as David returned from the striking down of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

18:1 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. 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 3-4 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armour, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. 5 And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. 1 Samuel 17:52-18:5 English Standard Version

In vs 52-53 we see the joy of the Israelites that followed the death of Goliath. The man who'd taunted them so much was defeated, and the Philistines fled for their lives. Having pursued them, they then returned to plunder the camp of their enemy. All this would've taken some time. Verse 54 is difficult. After the battle David may have taken Goliath's head to Jerusalem, which had not yet fallen to Israel, as a warning to them. And we're told that David put Goliath's armour in his own 'tent'. The word for tent means a dwelling place. This describes what took place eventually after the battle.

But it's what immediately followed the battle that captures our attention. Saul described David as a 'youth' as he set off to fight Goliath. It may be that when David was brought to play the harp for him, in his shepherd's clothing, that Saul hadn't taken much interest in who it was that provided relief from the evil spirit. And David had returned to his father's house. Now Saul enquires as to whose son the young man was that was going out to fight Goliath. After the battle, Abner goes to David and then introduces him formally to Saul. (Still carrying Goliath's head!) And David explains that he is the son of Jesse the Bethlehemite.

Chapter 18 verses 1 and 2-4 then describe the start of a beautiful friendship. We read that “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.” Saul was also impressed with David, but that would soon fade away. But Jonathan loved David as his own soul! What a blessing it is to have such a friendship.

As we go into the world, such friendships can shape our lives. Proverbs 18:24 says: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that “a friend loves at all times”, and 27:17 says “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” But perhaps the best part of friendship is that “the wounds of a friend are faithful.” (Proverbs 27:6) Having a friend who will speak truthfully with us, even in pointing out our faults, is something to treasure.

Jesus said to His disciples “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends.” (John 15:15) How wonderful then that believers can sing: “I've found a friend, oh such a friend, He loved me ere I knew Him. He drew me with the cords of love, and thus He bound me to Him. And round my heart still closely twine those ties which naught can sever, for I am His, and He is mine, forever and forever.”