Ep 679 – 2 Samuel 23:8-23

There is a lot said about friendship in the Bible. And in the story of the life of David, we are told about the friendship between David and Jonathan, the son of King Saul. When Jonathan was killed in battle against the Philistines, David mourned his loss. But 2 Samuel 23:8-23 makes it clear that David had other friends and companions along the way. His circuitous journey to the throne of Israel was not done in a vacuum. From the very moment he fled from Jerusalem, seeking to put some distance between himself and Saul, David found himself surrounded by men who not only loved him, but were willing to die for him. And these men would stick with David through thick and thin, all the way to the bitter end. Even when he made the ill-fated decision to seek refuge in Philistia, they refused to abandon their friend and leader. The godly life is difficult, and it only becomes harder if we attempt to live it without the help of friends who share our faith and are committed to our growth.