True Friends

Wednesday, January 18

True Friends

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Jesse, the father of King David, had eight sons, David being the youngest (Read 1 Samuel 16 and 17). But there is no record in the Old Testament of David being particularly close to any of his brothers. In fact, there is no record of any personal relationship with any of them. God’s Word in I Samuel 17:28 speaks of one of his older brothers acted harshly toward David, so it can be assumed maybe there was no relationship. Yet David found a friend who epitomized the words of Solomon in Proverbs 18:24, “A friend who sticks closer than a brother.” That friend was Jonathan, the son of Saul.

Loyalty, provision, protection, and sacrificial love—these were not something always found in brothers by birth. David was a shepherd; Jonathan was a prince. Jonathan had his own armor; David had a harp and a slingshot. Jonathan grew up in the palace and was trained in the art of war; David grew up in the “little town of Bethlehem” and was called nothing bigger than a shepherd boy. Jonathan was of the tribe of Benjamin, David the tribe of Judah. Despite their differences, Jonathan and David made a mutual covenant between them, and they were, arguably the best friends the world has ever known.

Let this be an encouragement as we look for that quality in friends. Choose those who help you find strength in God. Those who can correct you when you are wrong but lend an encouraging word when you need it the most. Let Christ’s loyal love for you set the standard for how you love others. Be the friend who sticks closer than a brother.