The Elbert County tribune., 1915-05-07

history OF literature winch so perfect
ly illustrates the conditions of friend
ship as this which is before us. JON
athan was every inch man; affection
| ate, sweet and tender. deeply pious
and withal loyal to both duty and
| friends. His rights, as the kings son,
he gladly set aside for David. whom he
loved as his own. soul" (ch. 1873;
20:1O. Jonathan is a great type OF
the surrendered life (ch. 23:1O.
!. David's Danger, w. 32-35. Three
times in the previous chapter wv. 5,
IA, 800 we read that David behaved
himself wisely" saul eyed David"
". 19) and his jealous anger grew as
he gave vent to his hate. Jonathan's
desires for David drew the anger OF
Saul (20:3 but 1t only put him more
upon his guard and made him more de-
termined. il possible, to save both
David and Saul
Following Dayid's escape QS:1S) he
consulted Jonathan regarding his
safety (201-10). They renewed their
covenant and swore fealty to each
other and to those of. their house,
holds tvv. HID. 1t is standing re-
buke that Christians treat so lightly
their covenants with the church and
with the world. David was safe at
Naioth u9:1S-24, for each company
sent after him. and Saul himself. were
hindered by the Spirit of Jehavah from
carrying out Saul's foul designs. This
seemed for the moment to humble
Saul teO:1; Ps. 97:D. Jonathan,
though great and mighty. was not
strong enough to deliver his friend
from the renewed wrath OF his father.
Vain is the help of man" "Our help
is in the Lord" Jonathan showed his
true friendship in that he told the ex-
act state of affairs to David w. 10).
When Saul became convinced that
Jonathan was taking Davids part, he
tried to kill Jonathan and reyiled the
mother who bore him ". 30). In his
loss of self-control Saul allowed David
to escape. Even so, sin overshoots its
mark. The contrast is dark one to
contemplate.
II. David Delivered, w. 35-42. JON
athan did not revile again ". 34) when
insulted and assailed by his father,
and his manifestation of just anger
(for his mother was reviled) was
quite different from that of his father.
Any attempt to reconcile Saul to Da-
vid ". 34) was useless exposure to
danger and for Jonathan to be seen
with his friend would imperil his own
life. This explains the expedient of
shooting arrows in the field Jonathan
shot his arrows beyond" l. e., David
must go beyond" and out of the reach
of Saul. David trusted Jonathan's fidel-
ity ". 23) when the test came, though
jonathan might have good reason for
| playing him false in order to promote
his own interests.
Dismissing the boy, Jonathan drew
near to David's hiding place, to the
south of the stone Ezel ". Al r. VI,
where most touching parting took
place between these two friends First
OF all David bowed ceremoniously
three times, touching his head to the
ground, perhaps to show his unshaken
loyalty to Jonathan as the kings son.
| This was but for moment; as men of
the East and friends. they rushed to
each others arms and wept for a long
time. These were the manly tears of
two brave men not afraid to show
their love and emotions. 1t has been
| suggested that Jonathan should have
accompanied David as Gods elect
(Heb. 1919. but we feel that duty
bade him to remain by the side of his
sin-stricken father
The Lessons of the Lesson. True
friendship costs. Gods love gave to
the world his Son. Jonathan's friend
ship for David was costly, but was
| given gladly. not grudgingly. True
! friendship neither forgets duty For
neglects its desire towards the object
of its love. It is not governed emotion.
ally. yet it disregards all other ties. IL
they are wrong. Not even father or
mother should lead us to wrong a
friend. When David came into power
he remembered the everlasting cove
nant made with Jonathan 1I Sam.
! $3.50. Our Son OF David" has made a
similar covenant with US (Acts 16:31;
2:39). True friendship is of slow
growth, but is. not easily killed.
chilled by reverses. nor frozen by ad-
versity Prdv. 1920. True friendship
is unsclfsh. 1t gives and does not
seek
True friendship is founded upon re.
h9io" anu the pest lriend, the IDEAL
friend. is Jesus Christ
That friendship which is based upon
oaths. ritual and dues. is not abiding,
nor true friendship, for it excludes all
who fail TO possess the same pass
word or sufficient amount of money.
That friendship which is based upon
expediency, or quid pro quo. is by
no means true friendship: it is as
ephemeral as the morning mist and as
frail as chain of sand.
The friendship which has as its com
| mnn cenfar Gods hast hnnn the friand