The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-07-09
LESSON FOR JYlLY II
JONATHAN BEFRIENDs DAVID

LESSUN run ""
JONATHAN BEERIENDs DAVID.
LESSON TEXT Sam. -.
G0I'DEN TExT-A friend loveth at all
times: and a brother is. born Tor adver-
sity.-Prov. 1911.
70 Urinary INA ToP1c-A Story Of Two
Friends.
observation-disclosures AND SENIOR TOPIC
Friendships That Are Wotth While
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADuLI iofiC
Fr;endship: What It IL and What 1t
Does "a ~ IS: t&f'' ~.
The friendship between Jonathan
and David is peculiar in that it &C.
CURED between two men of rival
worldly interests. Jonathan was the
crown prince, the heir to the throne.
David was the heir according to divine
choice and arrangement. Jonathan
knew this and magnanimously waived
his natural personal rights to the one
whom he knew that God had chosen.
Following the interview of Saul and
David after the victory over Goliath,
Jonathan's soul was knit with that OF
David. He loved him as his own soul.
while there was mutual love, yet this
pleasing trait stands out more IN Jona-
than than in David. because 1t meant
great loss to him-the loss OF the
throne, but immense gain to David
the ACQUISITION of the throne to which
he had no natural right. The genuine
friendship was shown:
|, By Giving to David His Court
Robe and Equipment $50.
These belonged to Jonathan as the
crown prince. Following the love-cove-
nant between them (18:3) Jonathan
strinned himself of these and gave
them to David This act was virtual
ahdication in favor Of David. s''Love
seeketh not her own" Il Cor. 1880.
II. BY Defending David Against the
FRENZY of Saul Il Sam. 1910.
According to oriental custom, the
women met David and his soldiers as
they were returning from their victory
over the Philistines, and with singing
and dancing they ascribed more praise
to David than to Saul. This stirred
IN the murderous envy OF Saul ana
moved him to thrice attempt to kill
David. In his third attempt Jonathan
defended David before his father and
evoked from him, the oath that David
should not be slain (19:6). Thus he
exposed himself to the anger Of his In
furiated father, for David's sake.
When one is willing to lay down his
life for another he proves That MS
friendship is real. Greater love hath
no man than this that a man lay down
his life for his friends" John 1919.
III. BY Revealing to David sauPs
Murderous Intent Il Sam. 2O:3O-4O).
The beginning Of new moon was
celebrated by sacrifices and feasting,
at which all the members Of the family
were expected to be present ". %.
David's excuse for absence was to 60
home to attend the yearly sacrifice OF
the entire family. This annual feast
was more important than the monthly
feast.
Matters were now SO serious that
they renewed the covenant between
themselves In its renewal the terms
were projected beyond the life OF
Jonathan wv. IA, 49,. Saurs anger
was now so fierce that for Jonathan
to be found in company with David
was dangerous thing, so he cleverly
plans. TO give David a sign by which
he could know Saul's purpose. We
prove our friendship by warning those
who are exposed to danger. Davids
heart responded to Jonathan's love by
pledging himself to deal faithfully
with Jonathan and his seed forever. I
Later history proves that this was
faithfully carried out III Sam. 9:7, ~.
Some observations on Friendship:
1. Friendships should be made while
the parties are young-while the
hearts are capable of being knit to-
gether.
2. Real friends are few; therefore
be careful in the formation of the ties
of friendship. Friends should be Sc
I lected. We should love everybody, but
we can have but few friends. .."
IN the temperaments In those who
would be friends. Friendships should
be formed for the purpose of mutual
ly helping each other. Both parties.
however, must possess real merit
4. Both parties must be God-fearing.
David and Jonathan both recognized
their obligation to the Lord and that
his help was essential to the welfare
of both. Without deep religious life
there can be no friendship. There are
times when one party must absolutely
renounce his interests in behalf of the
other. Genuine love is the basis Of all
friendship. e
Good Impulses. RS .
Few good impulses live long unless