Daily Devotional for Sunday, August 6

A Loyal Friend

“So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies. And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul,” (1 Samuel 20:16-17).

Have you ever had a true friend that you could call on no matter what the problem was or what time of day or night you called and needed them, that they would be there for you? Everybody should have at least one such good friend in their life. I have been blessed with a few friends that fit this description. David also had such a friend in Jonathan that would do whatever David needed him to do to keep him safe from his father, King Saul.

It is easy for people to say they love someone or that they are a friend, but a real friend who loves you will be there when you need them, especially when it is inconvenient for them. Sometimes our loyalties are tested like Jonathan’s was towards David (1 Samuel 20:5-8) but they made a covenant with each other to show their loyalties to each other (1 Samuel 20:16, 17). When we go through hard times with true friends, we not only help each other get through the adversity but we help them to become better people because of it, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend,” (Proverbs 27:17). To show how a true friend would show his love, Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13). David was putting his life in his friend’s hands and Jonathan showed his loyalty to him. It would be great if we all had such a friend as Jonathan was to David?

JUST A THOUGHT: What kind of friend are you to those that call you a friend? Remember, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity,” (Proverbs 17:17).

Tim Chambers