Monday, April 15, 2013

The Perfect Words, The Perfect Friend (1 Sam. 18-24; Psalm 7, 27, 31, 34, 52)


My plan was to talk about friendship today, but I can’t say a word about it without first mentioning the bombing in Boston today.  But what is there to say?  And then I opened my Bible for today’s reading and, as always, God (via David) had the perfect words, right off the bat: “Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me...” (Psalm 7:1); “Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies.  Awake, my God; decree justice.” (7: 6).  Verse after verse was exactly what we need after such a tragedy.  Let us just know, God will vindicate us.

God’s timing is so perfect to insert those chapters of Psalms into 1 Samuel just when we need them.  But before the Psalms, there was quite the exciting chase going on between Saul and David!  My favorite part of that story is Jonathan and David’s friendship.  Social media, as much as I love it (hey! Follow me on Twitter!) has really watered down the word “friend.”  I’m “friends” with people I haven’t actually had a conversation with in ten plus years.  I’m happy to stay kinda, sorta in touch with them, but come on.  I count at least three times in seven chapters that Jonathan loved David as himself.  They swore their friendship before God.  They were more than friends, they were blood brothers.
My cup runneth over with wonderful friends.  I can’t sing or cook, I’m not a genius, I’ll never win a gold medal, and I was in line for big thighs when God was handing out patience.  But at every stage of my life God has brought the perfect people to sustain me.  I’m certainly no David, but God has given me more than one Jonathan.  Jonathans who I know would help me escape the rage of an insane king, and for whom I would happily do the same.

1 comment:

Carla said...

You are a wonderful friend ... and humble as well!! You deserve a gold medal for cooking, singing, and runner legs!