Reading
from the Bible:
14 And David abode in the wilderness in strong
holds, and remained in a mountain in the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought
him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand. 15 And David saw that
Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in
a wood. 16 And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and
strengthened his hands in God. 17 And he said unto him, fear not: for the hands
of the Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel,
and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. 18 And
they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and
Jonathan went to his house. 1 Samuel 23:
14-18
Summary:
Friendship is one of the life’s greatest gifts. True
friends seek a special kind of good for their friends: the highest good, which
is that they might know God and love Him with all of their heart, soul and
mind. German pastor and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “ The aim of
friendship is exclusively determined by what God’s will is for the other
person.”
Jonathan, David’s friend, is a sterling example of true friendship. David was in exile,
hiding in the Desert of Ziph, when he learned that “Saul had come out to seek
his life”. Jonathan went to Horesh to find David. The significance of this
scene lies in Jonathan’s intent: He helped David find strength in God or, as
the text puts it, he “strengthened his hands [grip] in God” (v.16).
That is the
essence of Christian friendship. Beyond common interests, beyond affection,
beyond wit and laughter is the ultimate aim of sowing in others the words of
eternal life, leaving them with reminders of God’s wisdom, refreshing their
spirit with words of His love, and strengthening their grip on God.
Pray for your friends and ask God to give you a word “in season” to help
them find renewed strength in our God and His word. ---David Roper
Dear
Lord, thank you for loving us. May your
Love
compel us to show love to others. Give us
Sensitivity
to your Spirit that we might know how
To
encourage them in their walk with you.
A true friend is a gift from God and one who points us back to Him.
