A Need!

We need teachers. We need people who can offer us counsel from time to time. We need people who help us maintain a proper focus and direction in life. We need people. We need each other. We must seek to gain associations where such needs can be fulfilled.

Reading through the list of those who were leaders and given the oversight over various things during the time of King David reveals some very good organization was in place. The responsibilities ranged from oversight of those in charge of the donkeys to gate keepers to involvement in leading worship to priestly duties and everything in between. There were many individuals involved in service on behalf of David. However, toward the end of several chapters of such listings I was struck by a statement in the last three verses of 1 Chronicles 27.

“(32) Jonathan, David’s uncle, was A COUNSELOR, being a man of understanding and a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons. (33) Ahithophel was THE KING’S COUNSELOR, and Hushai the Archite was THE KING’S FRIEND. (34) Ahithophel was succeeded by Jehoiada the son of Benaiah, and Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king’s army.” ( 1 Chronicles 27:32-34 ESV)

Besides David’s uncle mentioned as a counselor because of his great understanding and his being a scribe, there was also mention of another as the King’s counselor. But did you note the reference to Hushai? He was noted as David’s FRIEND. (also mentioned in 2 Samuel 15:37) No matter what position one may hold there is always the need for a close FRIEND. Even Jesus seemed to have a closer relationship to Peter, James, and John than He did with the rest of the disciples, and besides that, an even closer one with John.

According to Strong’s Lexicon, the Hebrew word translated here as “FRIEND” is a designation which can refer to a “friend” or “companion” or “fellow”. It is a word used in conjunction with a close intimate relationship as well as a general reference to a fellow-citizen. Even in English we use the word friendship in the sense that we may have many friends (associations) while at the same time having a few who are very close and dear. The context here seems to imply, with regard to Hushai, that he had a close FRIENDSHIP with DAVID. How sad it is for those who have no one they consider to be a close FRIEND.

We can have teachers and counselors from whom we gain much in life, but there is just no substitute for the presence of a FRIEND who will be there for us through thick and thin. We need FRIENDS. We need close FRIENDS.
However, we need to seek for them to be godly FRIENDS for the relationship to be of maximum benefit. May we strive to be the kind of FRIEND others need while at the same time thanking God for the close FRIENDS who are there to pick us up when we are down and rejoice with us when we are up.

Have a great day APPRECIATING THE RELATIONSHIPS GOD PROVIDES!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Friendship