"It is in the shelter of each other that the people live."
The proverb is based on the truth that we need each other and that each of us play a very important part in the life of those around us. One of the goals of modern education was/is to produce the autonomous man. Man being used of the race and thus women are included. How often I have heard the enraged husband, the infuriated teen and the arrogant single utter, even scream to one who should be a loved one, "I don't need you or anybody else." They are sure that their statement is true, but it is not long before they are in the arms or clutches of others. And in time they will probably scream the same song to the new people in their life.
That we humans are not made for true autonomy is obvious from the very structure of our nature. If the Bible is true, and I believe it is, then we humans are as Pascal said, "Made for God," and thus for each other and our "brothers, fellow human' welfare is our concern.
That the institution of friendship is given to us to help others lighten their load along the path of life is a great gift.
The scriptures have a verse that is intriguing and instructive in the matter of enduring friendships. Without 'preaching' I will share it with you: 1 Samuel 20:42.
"And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, The LORD be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city."
In a later time David searched for and found Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth and showed him great kindness for Jonathan's sake, even to permitting him to sit at his table. And later in 2Samuel 21:7, this Mephibosheth's life is spared because of the covenant friendship of David and Jonathan. The verse reads,
"But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul."
We are told that the friendship of David and Jonathan was the kind we would call 'Soul brothers' in modern verbiage. 1Sam. 18:1. They were knit together. One of the grandest stories in the word on friendship is found in 2Samuel 9 the entire chapter is given to David searching for and finding Mephibosheth in order to show him kindness for the sake of his friendship with Jonathan. You missed one of the great blessings of the 20th Century if you never heard Dr. Harold Sightler preach on this event.
Jonathan had been killed in battle, but when the time came David demonstrated his eternal friendship for Jonathan by caring for the lame son of his dear friend.
Rarely, friendship can have the depth to transcend even death and express itself to the offspring or biblically, seed, of the person we loved as a friend.
Are any of your departed friend's children in need and could you do anything to lighten their load. Well?
