1 Samuel 23

¹⁶ And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

The Refreshment of a Friend

As Saul was seeking David’s life and David was living as a fugitive, Jonathan encouraged David with kind and true words in the Lord.

Proverbs 27:9

⁹  Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart:

So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.

We may not be fugitives unjustly on the run, but there are all sorts of suffering in which a friend can be an encouragement.  Sometimes friends mean well but the encouragement that is given is not always truthful or rather empty of any truth value.  Jonathan encouraged David in the Lord, meaning Jonathan knew enough of God’s promises and of the truth to speak words that carried some weight.  His words were much more than “everything will be ok”.  Perhaps Jonathan reminded David of God’s goodness and His promise that he would one day be anointed.

¹⁷ And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

What a friend David had in Jonathan to lay aside the throne for his friend! That is an encouragement for David indeed. These were, after all, the promises of God made by the prophet Samuel.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus

¹⁵ Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  -John 15:15

We have a Savior who is the heir of all things who laid aside His crown to take up one a crown of thorns so that we might wear crowns of gold.  He doesn’t call us servants, but His friends and tells us all the Father’s will.  You may be a fugitive, perhaps you are running because of the consequence of your own sin.  You might be all alone without anyone like Jonathan to encourage you.  But your not without a friend in Jesus who suffered and died for you.  Meet with Jesus today, your friend. Everything He speaks to you will be truth and ointment to your soul.