The True Friend. “Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” 1 Samuel 18:1. God provided a friend for David in Jonathan who truly loved him and understood his struggles and triumphs. David could bare his soul to Jonathan and not fear being misunderstood or used.
All of us need a true friend, but too many people today don’t know how to be one.
- Faithfulness. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17
- Loyal. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, Proverbs 18:24
- Right motive. “He who loves purity of heart and has grace on his lips, the king will be his friend.” Proverbs 22:11
- Honest. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” Proverbs 27:6
- Encouraging. “The sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.” Proverbs 27:9.
- Remembering. “Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend.” Proverbs 27:10
- Forthright. “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17
The Threatened Leader. “Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, ‘They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?’ So Saul eyed David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 18:8-9. Saul, at one time, favored David, and David served Saul, the king. When Saul felt that David was destined for his throne, however, he changed his attitude to one of hatred and murder.
What do you do when someone you’ve honored and loved turns on you and tries to hurt you or cut you off? David gives us the right response. (1) Stay out of their way as much as possible. Avoid conflict. (2) Do not strike back. Retaliation against an authority figure never appears right to others. 2 Chronicles 16:22. (3) Leave it to God to make it right. Deuteronomy 32:35.
The Tale-Bearer. “So, David said to Abiathar, ‘I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father’s house.’” 1 Samuel 22:22. Doeg was an opportunist who sought to ingratiate himself with Saul by turning a good deed by the priest, Ahimelech, into a deadly bit of gossip. When David found out that the priest’s good deed led to his death, he was grieved. What was his response? He did not seek out Doeg personally and kill him. He modeled his response in Psalm 52.
Sooner or later, someone who tells tales will disrupt the flow of your life. Too many times people focus on who told, why they told, and then go to great lengths to deny or distort the truth. What should you do about gossip? (1) Deny it if it is untrue. (2) If it is true, admit it and accept responsibility for the outcome. (3) Forget about it. The more you make an issue out of the wrong doing of someone else, the more you cast the shadow of suspicion back on yourself. There are just enough gossips in this world to keep all of us on the straight and narrow.
The Fearless Prophet. “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man!’” 2 Samuel 12:7. Nathan, the prophet, appeared at the lowest ebb of David’s life when David had committed adultery and murder. Nathan did not vacillate just because David was the king.
Everyone needs a fearless prophet. It may be the pastor, but it could be another anointed servant of God. Never react with anger or resentment against someone who is inspired by the Holy Ghost to tell you the truth. If you do not permit someone to confront you, you never receive correction for your sins.