South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-05
ODD FELLOWS HEAR
SPECIAL SERMON AT
GRACE M. E. CHURCH
Rev. B. ID. Beck Selects Theme
Friendship of Jonathan and
David for Occasion.

80 - AVA 'NNN--hRAAr
The attendance OF 300 odd Eel
lows az Grace n r. church Sunday
morning was the occasion for a
sermon on The Friendship % David
and Jonathan" hy the pastor Rev.
=. D Beck.
Friendship" said the pastor "is
one Of the spiritual values that IS
better than silver and gold. To be
a friend IS 20 be great. To have
friends ls 90 Dc r.ch however little
else one may possess"
This story % the friendship Of
David and Jonathan differs from
the ordinary love story in that this
IS a story Of the love OF one man for
another man. While 30 Is many
centuries old II would be difficult to
improve on either the friendship or
che Story Of g. The way this
friendship formed was that the soul
Of Jonathan was knit with the soul
OF David Men may be associates
partners in business. members OF
the same lodge or church and not
De friends because their souls have
never knit together. Jesus had as
ISOLATED with the twelve for months
when one day He said. Henceforth
] call ye no more servants but
friends. Their souls had begun to
knit They had become friends
with Him"
THE friendship Of David and
Jonathan was friendship of un-
equals socially. Jonathan was a
royal prince; David was a shep-
herd But friendship cen bridge
just such chssms as that Many
fine friendships that would bear
fruit IN many ways 90 the good Of
society are hindered by false stand
ards OF society. Social and indus
trial castles are an abomination 10
the Lord and a curse 20 men Tn any
part OF the world Jonathan knew
how 20 deal with that barrier. He
took of his royal robe. his sword,
his bow and his girdle and gave
them 70 David David had no more
use for them than he had for
SauTs armor when he went out 10
fight Goliath. But the social differ
ences were swept away and the two
men stood on the same level"
mo one knows how strong his
friends friendship IS until IL has
been tried. David saw Jonathan's
friendship tested. After the COW
enant was made Jonathan learned
that David had been chosen OF God
10 be king instead Of Saul That
made David his rival 10 the throne.
But ne continued 10 love David.
David's friendship was better TO
him than the throne OF Israel a
further test is what it will do. The
Good Samaritan helped man
whom he had never known, a man
Of another and a despised race. How
much more is expected OF a friend
like Jonathan or David2 Jonathan
!ntercedes for David both before
The throne of God and the throne Of
Israel He encounters the wrath
of his father for DaHd's sake. He
warns him by means OF the arrow
where he hides and cheers his
heart"
David matches Jonathan with
equally fine acts. Years after Jo-
rathan's death. when David has be
come king he inquiries If any of
Saurs family are living 20 whom he
might show kindness for the sake OF
Jonathan. He learns or a crippled
son whom he invites 10 sit always
AZ the royal table and 10 whom he
rave all the land that SauTs family
ever owned"
such great friendship grew out
Of good characters. II takes good
souls 20 make good friends. The
foundation Of best character Is reli-
gion Tt was SO with both Jonathan
and David Both were deeply reli-
Eious from youth. Davids rudy
Countenance which was good to look
upon was not finer than his pure
heart which was acceptable to God.
Davids fine spirit that drew all
hearts TO HIM was attributed 70 the
Spirit Of God that came upon him
at his Amounting Saurs bad spirit
was traceabIe 10 the fact that the
Spirit Of God had departed from
him David's greath faith in his
God as his helper is seen when he
goes out 90 fight Goliath in the
raue and power or his God. But
This IS matched IN Jonathan who
with his armor-bearer goes into
the Phiustine camp believing tnat
there is no restraint 20 the Lord "a
save by many or few They struck
fear into the whole camp or the
enemy and set them Staying one an
other. II was Jonathan's faith IN
Gods wisdom than reconciled him
TO the plan Of David having the
throne II was best thus for him
and all concerned. His faith never
wavered that God would spare Da-
vid's life In the woods where Da-
vid hid Jonathan strengthened Da-
vid's hand IN the Lord In other
words he put Davids hand in the
LCri's hand anew. II takes just
such men as those 20 be such friend.
as they were"