The Power Of Two

Read: 1 Samuel 20:12-17, 41-42

Jonathan again caused David to vow, because ... he loved him as he loved his own soul. --- 1 Samuel 20:17

The Bible In One Year:
1 Kings 14-15
Luke 22:21-46

In G.K. Chesterton's novel The Man Who Was Thursday, an undercover policeman infiltrates a lawless group that is dedicated to throwing the world into chaos. He is gripped with fear until he discovers an ally within the group.

Chesterton writes of the policeman's feelings at finding a friend: "Through all this ordeal his root horror had been isolation, and there are no words to express the abyss between isolation and having one ally. It may be conceded to the mathematicians that four is twice two. But two is not twice one; two is two thousand times one."

When David was being pursued by the jealous and irrational King Saul, he had a friend who risked great danger to stand with him. Jonathan, Saul's own son, pledged his loyalty to David and warned him of his father's intention to kill him [1 Samuel 20:31-42]. Later, when Saul pursued David into the wilderness, Jonathan "arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God" [23:16].

What a wonderful gift we give by standing faithfully with a friend in need! There is incredible encouragement and power when two people are allied in life. Whose hand can you strengthen by being a friend today? --- David McCasland

Lord, help me be the kind of friend
That makes my friend secure;
So he can find new strength and hope
His trials to endure. --- D. De Haan

A TRUE FRIEND HELPS YOU KEEP GOING WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP.