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In Order. Friends and Enemies

April 13, 2017. 1Samuel 18-20, Psalm 11 & 59

Friends and Enemies

If you want to know how to be a true friend, today’s passage from Samuel shows the steps to follow.  If you want to know how to deal with the trials that come from those who treat you like an enemy, David’s psalms give us guidance.

First how to be a true friend.  In the first four verses of our passage in 1 Samuel, we see the very foundation to being a true friend.  It involves three things: acts of love, faithfulness and humility. 

  • Jonathan loved David as his own soul. 
  • He and David made a covenant of faithfulness to one another because of this love.
  • Jonathan displayed humility removing all aspects of being heir to the king.

Throughout the rest of this passage, up to the very last words of Jonathan to David when he says, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’” we see one example after another of this love, faithfulness and humility. 

When Jonathan warns David (19:1), we see love, faithfulness and humility.  When Jonathan acts as peacemaker between his father and David (19:6-7), we see love, faithfulness and humility.  When Jonathan gives David a “blank check” declaring, "Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you" (20:4), we see love, faithfulness and humility.  When Jonathan follows through on what David desires, we see love, faithfulness and humility.

These are the acts of how to be a true friend: love, faithfulness, and humility.

But just like David is finding out, with king Saul, sometimes people will treat us like an enemy.  When this happens in our life, we can glean some guidance from David in these two psalms.  As we deal with the barbs from our enemy we need to remind ourselves of these truths:

Psalm 11

            1 In the LORD I put my trust;

7 For the LORD is righteous,

   He loves righteousness;

  His countenance beholds the upright.

Psalm 59

10 My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.

16 But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.

17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.

These are the acts when dealing with an enemy: Trust the Lord who is righteous and loves your “uprightness,” Who will come and meet you.  And as you trust, sing! 

Sing in your car, in your room, in the shower: Awesome God, We Believe, Your Love Never Fails, How Great is Our God, or make up your own Psalm to sing of His mercy and power.

Robert McClendon

Bob McClendon grew up in Pennsylvania, spent most of his adulthood in Colorado, and is now ready to learn how to be a Texan. He married his high school sweetheart, Tracy, in 1975. They have two...more