A True Friend
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 (1 Samuel 16:10-11; 17:12). But there is no record in the Old
Testament of David being particularly close to any of his brothers. In
fact, one of his older brothers acted harshly toward David (1 Samuel
17:28). 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.
Friend
had a
covenant connotation. Jonathan and David made a mutual covenant between
them; Abraham was the covenant friend of God. What did that mean?
Loyalty, provision, protection, and sacrificial love—these were not
something always found in brothers by birth. It should come as no
surprise that Jesus, during His last meeting with His disciples,
declared them to be His “friends” (John 15:13-15) by displaying the most
telling trait of true friends: a willingness to lay down one’s life for
another. All who walk in covenant with Jesus Christ are assured of His
loyalty, provision, protection, and sacrificial love.
Let Christ’s loyal love for you set the standard for how you love others. Be the friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Dr. David Jeremiah
No comments:
Post a Comment