The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Samuel — Section 341

instances we seem to hear discord ; faith only enables us to refer the discorrl to our defective organs of knowledge. But here, as in some other instances, we can trace the exquisite harmony between David's detention by Saul, involving his friendship with Jonathan, and David's subsequent entrance on the dnties and dignities fore- shadowed by the anointing by Samuel. Unquestionably, as seen in the history and in the Psalms composed during the period, David's trials and the public position arising out of this forced detention by Saul were, in their effects on his character and abilities, wonderfully harmonious with his pre-ordained kingship. Moreover, this providential opportunity for fanning personal friendship beautifully harmonises with both the cutting off of Saul's line ( eh. xv. 27-29) from the succession and the acquisition by David of the title, in virtue of his religious and general qualities. Such friendship, formed on the purest religious basis, and before developments with respect to the succession were made, would save both David and Jonathan from the possibility of regarding each other as rivals, and would also be a blessed counter- poise to David's unmerited sorrows during Saul's violent persecutions. Jonathan never lived to see the throne taken by another; but his life was not embittered by the griefs of jealousy, because of the deep love he had for his friend. David, while in the decree of God destined to be king, loved Jonathan too well to think of setting him aside. Beautiful providence that could insure a succession out of the line, and yet sweeten and ennoble the lives of those whose interests were involved in it I It would be easy for Jonathan to resign to David, should they both survive Saul's decease; for did he not love him with a love passing that of women? (2 Sam. i. 26). And it would be far from David's desire to set him aside, seeing the loving esteem in which he was held. Yea, wa,s there not an instinctive homage paid to David's cha- racter, as though the pure soul .saw in him the coming king, when Jonathan stript. himself of hie princely attire and placed it on David? Harmonies of Providence are constant, if only we had the eye to discern them. Paul's early training worked into hie life's mission, though at first tending another way. The flight of Mary o.nd Joseph into Egypt no doubt checked a premature notoriety of the child Jeans. II. AN ILLUSTRATION OF A •TRUE RELIGIOUS FRIENDSHIP. Friendship in some degree is a necessity of man's life. A perfectly solitary being, whose feelings cling to no one, and around whom no. one clings, is truly lost .. Ordinary friendRhips ar~ based on the existence of natural affinities and contrarieties. That similarity of mind is the basis of friendship is only·true in a limited sense, for one is drawn to another not only by the affinity of common tastes and qualities, but because of a recognition and admiration of qua1ities that are lacking in self. We seek to supple- ment the deficiencies of our own life by taking into ourselves, as far as possible, the- excellences of another life, and friendship is the means to this end. This is not indeed a full rationale of friendship, nor must it be inferred that cool calculation of personal profit enters into it. The love, tho sympathy, the tender, undefinable interest and absolute trust cannot be disentangled from the perception of qualities supplementary to one's own. The friendship of David and Jonathan embraced all that enters into ordinary friendship,-appreciation, love, confidence, tenderness, .fidelity, unsuspicioue intercourse,-with an additional religious element. This religious friend- ship may be considered as to-1. Its nature. In David and Jonathan we recognise, besides the usual essentials of friendship, the responsive action of a common faith in God and delight in his service. Each saw in the other, ns by a higher spiritual insight, a spiritual kim1hip. The circumstances of the age intensi,fied tliis mutual attraction. As holy, consecrated young men, they cherished a secret sorrow over the unhappy spiritual condition of their countrymen ; nnd their joy in the recent victories was joy in God and the holy cause for which Israel was chosen out from among the nations. Among Christians the same religious feeling operates in the formation and maintenance of friendships. , It is true that all are one in Christ, and each sees in every other a member of the household of faith: religiously there is a common interest in all (1 Cor. xii. 26, 27). So far, therefore, there is a friendship subsisting between each member of Christ's body and every other, as distinguished from his interest in men of the world. But affection needs for its own life concentration; and while, therefore, we are in general friendship with all Christ's people, and e.r~ con~cious of a blessed and indestructible bond, the necessities of our life lead to th~  THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [en. xvm. 1-30