Faithful Friends

2 Samuel 19:1-8
Verse 7: "Now, get up! Go out and encourage your soldiers, for I swear by the Lord that if you don't go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the trouble that has come to you from your youth until now!"

Sometimes we need a true friend to speak to us about our attitudes. All of us have found ourselves in the midst of a pity party at one time or another. We may even have a genuine reason to feel sorry for ourselves! David sure did in 2 Samuel 19: not only had he failed his son in such a way that that son had turned against him, but now his son was dead and there was no longer a chance at reconciliation. Whether we have a reason or not, there comes a time to mourn and a time to get past it. We may not be sure when that time is, but a faithful friend will not only cry with us but help us up when the time comes to dance again.

Leaders must be careful about how they are leading, as Joab was trying to admonish David. The fact is, ALL Christians are leading someone: parents lead their families, teachers lead their students, bosses lead their employees. Someone may be looking to you and you don't even know it.

Many times over the years I have had those faithful friends who have "talked straight" to me and pulled me out of a pity-party. The blessing in it was that they never said, "You have no right," but rather, "God is not finished." Whether in marital difficulties, relocation issues, children's illnesses and accidents, or seasons of life, I have always had those around that kept me from lying in pits of despair. The problem with staying in the pit is that you keep looking down and seeing the pit instead of looking up to see the light and the way out.

Not only did Joab tell David what he needed to hear to return as King of all Israel, but David did not argue or put up a defense. David returned to his position as King and ruled with the same grace and mercy that he'd been shown by God and that characterized his monarchy before this incident. No retribution--no seeking vengeance--as we read in the rest of 2 Samuel 19.

Sure, his heart was still heavy over the loss of his son, but he knew he was annointed as the peoples' king by God and the words of Joab brought David back to himself.

Thank God for those few faithful friends who have been "real" in my life. May I be led by the Holy Spirit to be such a faithful friend to others without fear.