Day 106-11

VII The Reign of Saul - 1065-1025 B.C. ~ cont.

B. Decline of Saul and rise of David (5 years) ~ cont.

2. David's dangers and flights ~ cont.

i. David in Ziph still sought by Saul - 1 Samuel 23:14-15; Psalm 13:-5

j. David's last meeting with Jonathan - 1 Samuel 23:16-18

k. David's betraal by the Ziphites - 1 Samuel 23:19-23

l. David escapes to wilderness of Maon - 1 Samuel 23:24-28; Psalm 54:1-7

m. David goes to Engedi - 1 Samuel 23:29; Psalm 17:1-15

3. David's mercy to Saul and his rise in popularity

a. David's mercy to Saul at Engedi - 1 Samuel 24:1-22; Psalm 57:1-1; 108:1-5

b. Death of Samuel (apx 88 years) 1 Samuel 25:1

{pages 468 - 472}

And they two made a covenant before the LORD: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house.  (1 Samuel 23:18)

I thought it interesting that Jonathan was not actively engaged in helping his father.  He knew where David was...yet he did not participate.  A true friend is a valuable asset.

Friend...what is a friend?  I know I posted a few days back on the friendship of David and Jonathan, but I did not take time to examine the actual word.

A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  (Proverbs 17:17)

Friend - H7453 - From H7462; an associate (more or less close).

• H7462 - A primitive root; to tend a flock, that is, pasture it; intransitively to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension to associate with (as a friend).

The next verses have a different Hebrew word for friend:

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  (Proverbs 18:24)

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.  (Proverbs 27:6)

H157 - A primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise).

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.  (John 3:29)

G5384 - Properly dear, that is, a friend; actively fond, that is, friendly (still as a noun, an associate, neighbor, etc.).

A couple to meditate upon:

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.  (Proverbs 27:17)

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.  (James 4:4)