Lessons from
the Life of David -- #5
On Having a
Godly Friend
We have
seen how Saul did not always fear God the way he should have. He was impatient with God, disobedient, and
vain. But what about his son Jonathan –
did he have his father’s attitude? In
this lesson we will look at the passages which tell about Jonathan, and his
friendship with David. Read 1 Sam 14:1-6. Which words of Jonathan show his trust in
God?
Read
1 Sam 18:1-4. When did Jonathan and
David first become friends? Perhaps it
was David’s strong statements of faith before his battle with Goliath (1 Sam
In
which ways does Jonathan demonstrate his strong friendship with David?
Which
new sin does Saul succumb to? 1 Sam
18:6-9
Read
1 Sam 19:1-7 What things does a close
friend do when the opportunity comes up?
Read
1 Sam 20:1-2 Why couldn’t Jonathan
believe his father was trying to kill David?
v
3,4 What does David offer as the reason
Saul has kept this from his son?
vv
5-17 David and Jonathan figure out a way
to determine Saul’s true intentions.
Jonathan is content in letting David become king some day instead of
him. But what promise does he get from
David, as far as what will happen when David becomes king?
v
17 On what basis does David reaffirm his
oath to Jonathan?
vv
18-29 David and Jonathan devise a way to
communicate the true intentions of Saul to David, without anyone else knowing
they are communicating.
30-33 What reason does Saul give for wanting David
to die?
What
does Saul do that convinces Jonathan that Saul wants David dead?
v
34 Saul had just tried to kill his own
son, yet what grieves Jonathan?
v
42 As David and Jonathan part, what
seems to be the most important part of their friendship?
1
Sam 23:15-18 records the last time David and Jonathan see each other. Saul at this time is pursuing David, trying to
kill him. What was one of the reasons Jonathan risked his life to see David at
this time? (v 16).
Even
though Jonathan has been right there with Saul during his pursuit of David, how
do we know Jonathan still accepts a secondary role to David?
In
1 Sam 31, Saul and Jonathan die together in battle. David composes a song of lament concerning
Saul and Jonathan (2 Sam 1:17-27). In
it, David says that Jonathan’s love for him was more wonderful than that of
women. What does David mean by this?
Is
this any different from Jesus’ words “Love your neighbor as yourself”?
Is
it more difficult for men to have close friendships with other men? Or are the friendships men have with men as
close as the friendships women have with other women, but just as not expressed
as openly?
Read
2 Sam 4:4 Jonathan had a crippled son,
Mephibosheth.
Read
2 Sam 9 In what ways does David continue
to show kindness to Jonathan?
Is
friendship about giving help to someone in need, or about receiving help from
someone when in need?
What
do the following proverbs teach us about friendship?
Prov
17:9 Prov
18:24
Prov
27:6 Prov
27:10
Jonathan
was willing to risk his life to be David’s friend. What risks was Jesus willing to take to be
someone’s friend? John 14:13
What
other risk was Jesus willing to take which is implied by the words in Matt
Read
John 15:9-17. Jesus tells us to obey his
commands. Is this obedience similar to, or
is it different from the way a slave obeys his master?
What
is the basis for our obedience to Jesus?
Does
our motivation to obey Jesus come from God’s Law or from the Gospel?
Paul
gives us advice on how we Christians should treat each other. Comment on various passages in Romans 12:9-21
which strike you as especially good advice.