Bible
In the Bible there are stories of friendship, like that between Jonathan and David or between Ruth and Naomi. The latter has given us verses full of emotion:
"Whither thou go est I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; Your people will be my people and your God my God; where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.
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Friendship in the Bible
The Lord wants to punish me as, if anything but death separates you and me"(Rt 1.16 to 18). With this insistence Noemi understood what a gift it was Ruth in her his life, so they set out together for their trip.
David sings the song just after learned the news of Saul's death suicide, the first king of Israel, was defeated by the Philistines on Gilboa mountains, and of the end of his son Jonathan two whom David was tied by deep friendship. One who will be the successor of Saul is abandoned to the jet of the emotions and words, reported by the Second Book of Samuel (1.19 to 27), is three times marked by the eternal "Why?" That the suffering to rise heaven when you are faced with a tragedy: "How are the mighty?" (1,19.25.27) have fallen.
The Old Testament invites us also to be on guard to detect if indeed the true friend is the one who "is loving all the time, you as a brother in the sad days" (Prv 17:17). The Book of Siracides devoted to friendship a part of the cap. 6, and says: "The sweet talk multiplies friends and affable language is welcome. Before you make a friend, put it to the test, do not confide to him right away. A faithful friend is solid shelter, whoever finds one has found a treasure. Some are friend when it's convenient, but will not stand in the day of trouble. There is also the friend who changes into an enemy and discover in your disgrace quarrels. There is the friend companion at the table, but will not stand in the day of trouble. For a faithful friend there is no price, there is no burden for its value."
"Even if you used the sword against a friend, do not despair: you can return any friends yet. If you have criticized a friend face to face, do not worry because you can reconcile; instead if you arrogantly insulted if you betrayed her confidences or you attacked treacherously, any friend will leave".
(Sir. 22.21 to 22).
"A friend loves at all times; He was born to be a brother in adversity." (Prov 17:17), but "the crooked man gives birth to discord and who defames divides friends" (Prv.16: 28), and even "Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart and the sweetness of a friend that comforts the soul."
(Proverbs 27.8).
Although it seems impossible, a man can become God's friend. Abraham it became. If Abraham had only acted formally as man and God had acted formally as God, the two would never have been able to become friends. He puts it to the test by asking him to sacrifice his son, however, once overcome, God gives his love unconditionally.
He emphasized the friendship between David and Jonathan that encompasses the ideal of love. We are already in the revelation and begin to have the connotations of Christianity, although not possessing the supernatural Messiah.
"When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was already so closely associated with the soul of David, that Jonathan loved him as himself. Jonathan shook a pact with David, because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the cloak he was wearing and gave it to David, and he added his clothes, sword, bow and belt".
(1Sam.18,1; 3.4).
How beautiful and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together! It is like the precious oil upon the head that descend to the beard, on the beard of Aaron, which then flows to the edge of his robe. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down from the mountains of Sion. Is there ordered the Lord for his blessing, an endless life (Ps 133). Where there is friendship, there is love and then the blessing of God the Father.
In Exodus we read how Moses spoke to the Lord, entering the tent of meeting, that is, the place of their friendship, and when it came it was shrouded by the cloud of the divine presence, that is the Holy Spirit.
If in Sirach: "A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure" (6:14). In Isaiah 41.8 God calls Abraham "But you, Israel, my servant! Jacob, whom I have chosen, offspring of Abraham, my friend", while in Exodus 33:11 it says, "The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his neighbor" that as the friend with the friend.
A friend loved at all times; He is a brother in adversity (Prov 17:17). There are friends who send in ruins but other are closest friend than a brother (Proverbs 18:24).
If you opened your mouth against his friend, not fear, because there is reconciliation. But outrage, arrogance, secrecy and betrayal unveiled make the friend go away.
(Sir 22:22).
A faithful friend is priceless, there is no measure for its value. Who fears the Lord is cautious in his friendships as he is, such will his friends.
(Sirach).
