Press the arrow to listen Rich Mullin’s Song “If I Stand” sung by Jars of Clay.

Scripture
David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. 2 Samuel 23:15-16

Observation
These names sound like the starting line up from a dragon-slaying video game: Jashobeam the Hacmonite, Eleazar son of Dodai, and Shammah son of Agee. These men were like the bronze heroes of Iwo Jima raising the flag under enemy fire. Each of them had done the deeds of heroes. But what gave them the honor of being known as THE THREE was not that they were heroes but that they were hearers of their leader.

THE THREE, were David’s closest men in battle. It was not their rank that brought them close to the king, but their heart. Sure they had proved themselves in remarkable ways by standing alone in the thick of battle. But what made them worthy of flighting beside the giant slayer David was the sensitivity of their hearing to the desires of the king. David sighed for water and they laid down their lives to get him a drink.

Application
Heroes are not helpful, hearers are. A leader like David needs more than heroes around him, because heroes can easily be in it to be heroic. The spotlight is about them and not their leader. A great leader needs hearers around him, who can lay down more than their lives but their self-interest to meet a leader’s needs.

Prayer
Father, save me from being a hero; help me to be a hearer who is helpful. Amen.

Press the arrow to watch a combination of Michael W. Smith’s classic lyrics on friendship as well as the epic friendship of Frodo and Sam from “Lord of the Rings”.

Scripture
“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

“Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.” 1 Samuel 14:6-7

Observation
I was listening to a commentator on the movie “Lord of the Rings”. The movie, he explained, is not about Frodo but about Sam, because the loyalty of the faithful friend enabled Frodo to succeed. The world needs more like Sam and Jonathan.

What made Jonathan such a good friend? As I reflect on the friendship with David, it was Jonathan who was the deeper friend who deepened David. Jonathan first offered is royal armor to David and pledged friendship at the start and then at the end of their days together and it was David who wept more than Jonathan when they parted. Jonathan was more than just a friend, he taught isolated people their need of having friendship.

What made Jonathan such a good friend was his indifference toward the insignificance of others and his significance as crown prince. In comrades, Jonathan did not look for blue blood, but hot blood. He searched for friends with get-up-and-go, love of country and fear of God. Jonathan was a man of the cause and he loved those who loved the cause of Israel. It didn’t matter to him if that person were a servant or a shepherd, for he did not care about who a person was as much as what that person believed.

Not only was Jonathan indifferent to the importance of others; he was also blasé about his own importance. He was quite happy to be the leader with his armor bearer and spearhead the charge up the hill. Jonathan was also just as happy to later lay down down all of his royal regalia on his first meeting of David and to give everything to him to become the future king.

Jonathan was indifferent about importance of others; he looked for lovers of the cause.
Jonathan was indifferent about his own importance; he could lay down everything for the sake of one friend.
Jonathan is always introduced with a best friend because he was the best friend anyone could hope for.

Jonathan’s name means “Yaweh has given” or simply, “God’s gift.” The young prince never strayed far from the meaning of his name, for he was a gift of God to others.

Application
Looking for lovers of the cause and then selflessly loving the cause of others, this is the formula for outstanding friendship. The world needs more Jonathans if there are to be more King Davids. I want to be a Jonathan.

Prayer
Father, I’ve had some in life who have been this to me; help me to be so to others. Help me to recognize Jonathan’s when I meet them and hang on to them. Amen.