While writing “East of Eden,” John Steinbeck began each day’s work with a letter to Pascal Covici, his friend and editor. Those letters served to warm him up for his day’s work and became a kind of…
Behind Albrecht Durer’s famous etching, “Praying Hands,” is the story of two friends. They were very poor and had to work to support themselves, training as artists in their spare time. “In…
The measure of Jonathan’s commitment to David was his willingness to give up the throne that was rightfully his. The measure of David’s commitment to Jonathan was his refusal to do anything to make…
When Jonathan gave David his royal robe (1 Samuel 18:4), it was a symbolic gesture depicting his willingness to give up his right to the throne; a right that he would renounce in favor of David again…
When Jonathan gave David his weapons—his sword, his bow, and his belt—he made himself vulnerable. He was at David’s mercy. He had no way to defend himself. So it is in a true friendship. When we share…
When Jonathan disrobed, he made himself transparent to David. It was his way of saying that he had nothing to hide, that he wanted David to know the real Jonathan. A friendship built on anything else…
Jonathan understood that if his friendship with David was to survive it had to be a covenant relationship. Better than anyone he understood his father’s jealousy and his rages. He realized it was only…
1 Samuel 18:1 says, “Jonathan became one in spirit with David…” That oneness of spirit might well be called chemistry, and it plays a vital role in all great friendships. Yet chemistry alone cannot…
When I think of friendship Jonathan and David immediately come to mind. There are several things we can learn from them, things that will enable us to build better friendships. 1) It is impossible to…
While it is important to learn from others we must never try to be someone we are not. If David had tried to be Saul, he would have failed miserably. King Saul was a warrior while David was a…
