I remember years ago when I played high school football our team was watching films after a hard fought battle against a rival school. Our team was always graded on film after each game and it was in this film grade that I got to see in retrospect a play I had completely missed. The game was very aggressive and there were a lot of “cheap shots”. Especially from the other team! (Of course that’s the way I remember it). There was one particular play in the game in which I was waylaid after a play was over. A guy hit me from blindside right in the ear hole and knocked me out cold. All I remember was loud bells ringing and little birdies flying around my head when the play was over. The result of the play was that about half our bench emptied and theirs to. But of course I missed all that because I was on another planet at the time.
But when the film was played back I got an insight. Immediately after I was hit there was one player on our team who stepped in to get justice (notice how I don’t call it vengeance). He happened to be my best friend, and in his attempt to hit the guy who hit me, he was blindsided to! Our team had a big laugh playing that sequence of events over and over again at the films. It really was quite funny watching me get laid out, and then my best friend right behind me. Everyone was laughing in the film room but I sat there thinking about this verse:
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend but profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 17:6)
It wasn’t so much the “kiss” from the enemy that affected me; it was the moving experience of seeing on film in front of my whole football team that I had a friend in the world who “had my back”. I know it sounds somewhat simplistic and maybe a little profane, but the violent aftermath of that one play captured on reel to reel actually was very moving to me. I’ve thought about that event many times when reflecting on the blessings of friendship.
In our Bible study this week we see some examples of the attributes of Christian friendship in the relationship between David and Jonathan. We see that this kind of friendship embodies the teaching of Jesus to “do unto others as you would have them do unto you…” (Matthew 7:12). Jesus concluded this teaching by saying that this way of living actually “fulfills the law”. That can only mean that this is the way Jesus demonstrated His own love for us and that the work of Christ on the cross was the ultimate expression of this teaching. As you read through the passage this week, look for expressions of the gospel in the friendship between David and Jonathan.
This weeks Scripture: 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-7; 20:12-17
18:1 As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan (A)loved him as his own soul. 2 And Saul took him that day (B)and would not let him return to his father's house. 3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because (C)he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. (1 Samuel 18:1-4)
19:1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. (A)But Jonathan, Saul's son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” 4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king (B)sin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 5 For (C)he took his life in his hand (D)and he struck down the Philistine, (E)and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against (F)innocent blood by killing David without cause?” 6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, (G)“As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence (H)as before. (1 Samuel 19:1-7)
20:12 And Jonathan said to David, “The Lord, the God of Israel, be witness![a] When I have sounded out my father, about this time tomorrow, or the third day, behold, if he is well disposed toward David, shall I not then send and disclose it to you? 13 But should it please my father to do you harm, (N)the Lord do so to Jonathan and more also if I do not disclose it to you and send you away, that you may go in safety. (O)May the Lord be with you, as he has been with my father. 14 If I am still alive, show me the steadfast love of the Lord, that I may not die; 15 (P)and do not cut off[b] your steadfast love from my house forever, when the Lord cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth.” 16 And Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, (Q)“May[c]the Lord take vengeance on David's enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, (R)for he loved him as he loved his own soul. (1 Samuel 20:12-17)
Summary of Text: Jonathan and David are drawn together as brothers.
Memory Verse: 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend;
profuse are the kisses of an enemy. (Proverbs 17:6)
Monday: Read the passage. How does this passage point us to true biblical friendship? Why is important to have good Christian friends?
Tuesday: Read the passage. How did Jonathan’s friendship with David protect David? How do our Christian friendships provide protection for us? Are you the kind of friend who look after the good in others? Does your friendship protect? Why or why not?
Wednesday: Read the passage again. Memorize the memory verse. In what ways are the wounds of a friend beneficial? How was Jonathan wounded by his friendship with David? Friendship always involves risk. Why is it worth it?
Thursday: Read and memorize the memory verse. In order to have friends we have to be good friends. Are you a good friend? Why or why not?
Friday: Read the passage again. What qualities of friendship do you see in this story? What does it mean to love others the way you want to be loved? How does Christ demonstrate that quality to us?
Saturday: Read the passage. How can we find this kind love for others? How does walking in His spirit help us with this? What is it like to have friends like this?
Sunday: Make today a day of rest and worship. Pray for the right attitude and an open heart and mind today. Come to church.
No comments:
Post a Comment