Daily Worship

Friendship and Transitions

Gordon Kennedy May 21, 2014 0 0

1Samuel 20: 35-42

In the morning Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and with him a little boy.  And he said to his boy, "Run and find the arrows that I shoot." As the boy ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.  And when the boy came to the place of the arrow that Jonathan had shot, Jonathan called after the boy and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?"  And Jonathan called after the boy, "Hurry! Be quick! Do not stay!" So Jonathan's boy gathered up the arrows and came to his master.  But the boy knew nothing. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter.  And Jonathan gave his weapons to his boy and said to him, "Go and carry them to the city."  And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most.  Then Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, forever.'" And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

Prayer
O God,
who in Jesus the Christ and the Lord
no longer calls us servants but friends,
let us hear this word today.

We have been rebels and enemies to you
but in your great love you make us friends.
Such friends as are drawn deeply to one another,
such friends as neither time nor distance can diminish,
such friends as would seek the best good of the other rather than our own self-interest.

Under the sun
as you have been Friend to us
may we be friend to others.
Gifts of love, encouragement, strength,
from you to those who need us to be friend.
Bless us we pray
with such friends
for daily we know our weakness and our need.

 

by Gordon Kennedy, Craiglockhart Parish Church