1 Samuel 23:16

New International Version (NIV)

And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.

For Meditation

I thought he was my friend. Every Tuesday we met to pray in his office. We discussed issues and prayed over them. I kept nothing off the table because I respected him for all I knew about him. Then, trouble arose in the church. It took us all by surprise, but the church pulled together to confront it. So, what happened that made my friend side with the rebels? How could my friend leak one of our personal meetings to one of the men, causing him to come and physically attack me? What would a friend gain by working the Christian community against me – a move that led to many of the missionary community, leaving the church? What was my friend seeking by taking the entire youth and Praise and Worship team away to start a fellowship in his house – a fellowship that didn’t last? But that’s what I got from my friend at the lowest point of my ministry – the time I needed him most.

Solomon was right. “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24). My friend proved to be unreliable when the shaking came, but thank God I did not come to ruin. God upheld our position on the issues and the church is stronger today, after thirteen years.

Thank God David’s friend did not prove to be as unreliable as my friend. Jonathan was a true friend. He was the friend, maybe, his son Solomon referred to in this proverb. There were two friends I believe Solomon had in mind – Jonathan and Ahithophel. The latter deserted David when Absalom rebelled against David, but the former stuck closer to David than a brother throughout David’s fugitive years in the wilderness. At one point when King Saul got very close to capturing David at Horesh, Jonathan went to find David, “and helped him to find strength in God” (1 Samuel 23:16). That’s a friend indeed!

A true friend is one who brings you close to God. They stick around through thick and thin, affirm you when you’re right, but rebukes when you are wrong. Jonathan was a true friend because he loved David as himself (18:1; 20:16-17).

1. Do you have a friend like Jonathan?
2. Are you a friend like him?
3. Do you love like he did?
4. Do you stay true to your friend in difficult times?
5. Can your friend know you will help him find strength in Jesus when necessary?

I thank God that we have Jesus who is the best friend we could ever have – a friend who bears all our sins and griefs; a friend who loves beyond measure (Eph. 3:17-19).

So: May you find a friend in Jesus; and may your earthly friends prove to be those who stick closer than a brother, as you are to them.

Shalom