October 06, 2023
Daily Devotion:
"A True Confidant"
1 Samuel 23:14-18
New International Version
14 David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day, Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. 15 While
David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that[a] Saul had come out to take his life. 16 And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” 18 The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
Friends give each other complete freedom to be themselves. When you've got a friend that is that knitted to your own soul, you don't have to explain why you do what you do. You just do it, and your friend understands.
When your heart is broken, you can bleed all over a friend like this, and he won't be offended. He won't confront you in your misery or quote three Bible verses, then tell you to
straighten up. When your good friend is hurting, let him hurt. If she feels like weeping, let her weep. If a good friend needs to complain, listen. An intimate friend doesn't bail; he's right there with you. You can be yourself,
no matter what that self looks like.
True friends are a constant source of encouragement. "Now David became aware that Saul had come out to
seek his life while David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. And Jonathan, Saul's son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God" (1 Samuel 23:15–16).
