David and Jonathan were godly close friends. Prince Jonathan took the lead in building their friendship. Godly friendships are great blessings. Such friendships are built on character and selfless love. If more husbands and wives were godly best friends, our world would have fewer broken hearts, divorce, immorality, and upset children.

Transition

This evening I want us to look at six blessings of having a godly friend as displayed by Jonathan and Samuel toward David.

A Godly Friend Will…

Warn of Danger (19:1-3)

  1. Jonathan told David of his father’s plot.
    1. Jonathan was a godly man. He delighted in David.
    2. Against his father’s will, he warned David of danger.
  2. A godly friend will see danger and warn.
    1. If a godly friend sees danger coming your way, he will warn you.
    2. Godly friends are prudent. (Proverbs 22:3) A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
    3. (Proverbs 13:20) He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
      A Godly Friend Will…

Defend Your Integrity (19:4-7)

  1. Jonathan spoke good of David to Saul
    1. He reminded the king how good David had been to him and how David had risk his life to kill the giant.
    2. He defended David’s innocence.
  2. Godly friend will defend your integrity
    1. He or she will defend your name when others try to tear it down.
    2. He knows you are not perfect, yet he speaks well of you. He will not desert you.
    3. (Proverbs 27:10) Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
      A Godly Friend Will…

Encourage You Spiritually (19:18)

  1. Samuel befriended David.
    1. Samuel was God’s prophet, the nation’s spiritual leader, the preacher in the land.
    2. We know nothing of their conversations, but certainly David’s time with Samuel spiritually encouraged his soul.
  2. A friend that does not edify is not a godly friend.
    1. You and I need friends that are godly. We need friends who will edify us spiritually. They need to be doctrinally sound. Truly wise people are not deceived by the Charismatic movement, CCM music, cultic ideas, or worldly philosophies. Choose your friends carefully.
    2. (Proverbs 14:7) Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
    3. They may be a nice person but if their doctrine is unbiblical, they will lead you toward their errors.
    4. (1 Corinthians 15:33) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
    5. On the other hand, if you have a friend who is biblically sound and walking close to the Lord, he or she will strengthen you in the Lord.
    6. (Proverbs 27:17) Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
      A Godly Friend Will…

Comfort and Confront (20:1-10)

  1. Jonathan listened and comforted David
    1. David shared his fears with Jonathan (20:3). Jonathan listened patiently He feared that there was just a step between him and death.
    2. David challenged Jonathan to kill him if he had sinned against God (20:8). He did not want Jonathan to cover for him if he was guilty.
  2. Godly friends comfort and confront
    1. One of our greatest needs is for a friend with whom we can share our fears and burdens. A friend who listens carefully is a treasure. If you are married, your spouse ought to be your very best friend. If that is not true, instead of blaming your spouse, get on your knees and beg God to change you and make you a better friend for your spouse. Learn to listen with all your heart. Try to see things from their view point. Only then can you share godly counsel and give them godly comfort.
    2. (Proverbs 27:9) Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
    3. A godly friend will also wound you when you are doing wrong. He will not act as though nothing is wrong. It is unkind to say nothing to a friend or loved one who is doing wrong. A true friend will confront the wrong and urge change. David expected this from Jonathan (20:8). We must be confronting friends and encourage our friends to be so also.
    4. (Proverbs 27:6) Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
      A Godly Friend Will…

Love You Selflessly (20:11-17)

  1. Jonathan put David before himself
    1. He promised to tell David if his father planned good or evil toward him (20:12-13).
    2. Jonathan made David promise that he would show the kindness of the Lord to him and his family even after David’s enemies were all dead (20:14-15).
    3. Jonathan knew that David would be the next king instead of him (20:30; 23:17). He unselfishly accepted this as God’s will.
    4. Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul (20:17). Because he truly loved David, he longed to be sure their covenant would never be broken.
  2. A godly friend will love with selfless love.
    1. True love is sacrificial and selfless. Such love is built on character not on greed. Many friendships are based on what one can get from the other rather than what one can give to build up the other.
    2. True friends will love in good times and in bad. It is as the marriage vow states, “for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
    3. (Proverbs 17:17) A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
      A Godly Friend Will…

Cry with You When You are Hurting (20:41)

  1. Jonathan and David shared mutual respect
    1. David bowed three times before Prince Jonathan.
    2. They both kissed each other. The word means to put together. This may have been a cultural kiss or a manly hug. The context certainly denies immorality.
    3. They cried together. David was hurting because he was running for his life. He would miss Jonathan’s close friendship. Jonathan was hurting because he hurt for David his dear friend.
  2. Tears are a powerful glue.
    1. Crying together with a friend during a trial acts as a powerful bond.
    2. God made crying an emotional release that gives courage when shared with a godly friend.
    3. (Romans 12:15) Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
    4. (Galatians 6:2) Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Conclusion

Are you a godly friend like we have seen here? If not, you can be if you will seek God’s help and work at it. Each of us needs a godly friend. It may be a peer, a parent, or a spouse. Your friends will either make you or break you, so choose your friends carefully. A close friend should never be the opposite gender unless it is your spouse. If married, your spouse ought to be your very best friend. If that is not the case, put your whole heart into becoming their best friend.

Song: Have Thine Own Way – 388
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Blessings of a Godly Friend
19 July 2015 PM – 1 Samuel 19:1-20:42 – Life of David – Scott Childs