Covenants over Blood

I'm a family guy. I was raised with a strong sense of family. We met together often as an extended family. Most Sunday mornings we'd sit as a large family, taking most of 3 pews. There would be aunts, uncles cousins, grandparents and then the other extended family of second cousins and great uncles, etc. Many Sunday evenings someone would stop over at someone elses house for a shared meal, games, fun. Rarely did anyone move away, and even if they did it was only for a short time. Eventually most everyone came back. We were a rock solid family unit.

Then we moved away. (following the direction of God.)

Now it is true that we still feel connected to our family, but in a much different way. They are important to us and we to them, but we have discovered what David discovered in the wilderness of Judah (Judea), that covenants between friends can be just as important as family.

Many of you have heard me talk about the importance of our friendships. We depend on these friends every day to pray for us, encourage us, hold us accountable, love us and allow us to just be present with them and vice versa on all of these things. In many ways they are stronger than our family bonds.

David's friend Jonathan, Saul's son, was the true heir to Israel's throne. If anyone should have been an enemy to Jonathan it should have been David, a nobody who was put in line above anyone in Saul's family. Yet Jonathan loved David, defended David, befriended David. Maybe it was because he saw in David a great leader, or maybe it was a powerful warrior, but the scriptures simply reveal a deep sense of companionship and friendship. They were tight!

And that cost Jonathan the respect of his own family, because to Jonathan, the covenant he made with David was more important than blood that ran through his veins!

This is not to say that we should forsake our own families for greater friendships. Not at all! But we can seek those relationships that are the most productive for our lives. Family isn't always the best influence, neither are some friendships. But we can find which ones are the best for us and nurture them. Jon saw the struggles in his own family, the faithlessness and rebellion of his father and sought the influence of the integrity and faith of his friend David instead.

The right friendships can make all the difference in the world.

And not only was this friendship good for Jonathan, it meant life for David!

And for me.

Peace ><>
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