Friendship
1Samuel 20
Jonathan and David were friends, and Jonathan loved David as himself in spite of his father, King Saul’s hatred of David. King Saul had been trying to kill David. Jonathan initially didn’t believe this, and on the eve of a festival dinner, they devised a plan to test King Saul. David was to be absent from the dinner under Jonathan’s permission, and Jonathan to observe his father’s response. Sure enough, King Saul was so angry at David’s absence, that when Jonathan asked what David’s wrongdoing was, the king hurled his spear at Jonathan, trying to kill him. Jonathan was grieved, and later hugged and asked David to leave permanently for David’s own safety, but never to forget their friendships forged under the Lord’s witness.