t is the secret of its beauty? First, it was beautiful in its
courageous loyalty. You know who Jonathan was. He was the King's son.
He was popular, handsome and courageous. So lithe, athletic and
graceful he was that they called him "the gazelle." He was a prince.
He was heir-apparent to the throne of Israel.

And you know, also, who David was. He was at that time in disgrace.
He was under the frown of the King. He was being hunted from one
refuge to another like a wild beast. To be his friend was to be the
enemy of the King. To smile upon him was to meet the frown of the King.

But notwithstanding the fact that these men were so far apart, one a
favorite prince and the other an outcast peasant, yet we find the
prince visiting the peasant. You say they were friends. Yes, that is
true, deeply true. But their friendship had started in other days.
When David and Jonathan first met they met under altogether different
circumstances. You know when Jonathan first saw David. It was when
David returned from his fight with Goliath, with the bloody head of the
giant in his hand. He met him amidst the hurrahs and the wild
enthusiasm of the people. He met him on one of the great red letter
days of David's life, when he sprang suddenly from obscurity to be a
national hero.

It does not seem so surprising, therefore, when we read that on this
day "the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David." David was
courageous. David had shown himself a hero. David was a favorite with
the King and a favorite with the people. It took no great effort to
love him then. It took no great courage to be his friend. But all is
changed now. The King no longer loves him, but hates him and seeks his
life. The sun of his popularity has gone into eclipse. We wonder if
Jonathan's friendship will stand the test.

And again we turn and read the text: "And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose
and went to David into the wood and strengthened his hand in God."
What beautiful loyalty. What fine fidelity. How blessed is David in
the friendship of a man who can love him in the sunshine and who can
love him no less in the midst of the shadows. How blessed he is in the
friendship of one who can stand by him when many lips praise him and
who can also stand by him when many abuse him, and many criticise him
and many lift their hands against him. Truly this man loves David for
himself alone.

Second, this visit is beautiful because of its fine