This week’s readings really spoke to me about the importance of a good friendship.  David and Jonathon had such a strong friendship and I think the reason it was so strong was because at the center of their friendship was God.   My bible said they have the deepest and closest relationships in the bible because they (1) based friendship on commitment to God, not just each other; (2) let nothing come between them – not even career or family problems; (3) drew closer together when their friendship was tested; and (4) were able to remain friends to the end.  I think all of these are great qualities to have in a friend.  There were several verses that described this relationship:
1 Samuel 18:3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself.

1 Samuel 20:8 Show me this loyalty as my sworn friend – for we made a solemn pact before the Lord – or kill me yourself if I have sinned against your father. But please don’t betray me to him!”

1 Samuel 20:42 At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.”  Then David left, and Jonathan returned to town.

1 Samuel 23:16 Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
This also makes me think about Saul and how he spent so much time trying to kill David because David was more popular than Saul.  1 Samuel 18:7 “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”  Why wouldn’t Saul stop and realize that David was being faithful to God and that is why God was with him and protecting him.  I know that I want my life to be more like David’s than Saul’s.  God really is faithful to those who are faithful to him. I love in 1Samuel 19 where God protects David and everyone starts prophesying including Saul.  I know that God has protected me and I am very thankful for that.
1 Samuel 18:14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him.
With God anything is possible. 

1 Samuel 22:18 Then the king said to Doeg, “You do it.” So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty five priest in all, still wearing their priestly garments.

This reminds me that even when we have God on our side it is easy to still mess up.  David told a small lie to protect him but in return innocent people died.  There is no reason we should lie.

This week a friend had called me and we were talking about the Lord.  He said that his friend asked him if God has ever let him down.  He said that no matter what God has never let him down.  Then he asked me the same question.  I thought about this and felt like God has let me down when he took my mother from me at such a young age.  I was really upset that I still felt this way.  I have been really dealing with my mom’s death a lot lately and I thought I was at a better place than this.  Then I went to church on Saturday.  My pastor was talking about David and everything David had gone through.  Then he reminded us of the footprint poem where he was going through a rough time in life and he was asking God where he was through all of it.  God said there was only one set of footprints because I was carrying you through it.  I can remember this being in my house.  This made me realize that He never left me. Although I had thought that I was all alone He was carrying me through every step of the way.  I think now when I come upon a tough situation I will remember David.  No matter what was going on in David’s life he would find strength in the Lord.  1 Samuel 30:6  But David found strength in the Lord his God.

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. 

Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was only one.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life,
When I was suffering from anguish,
Sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints,
So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord, if I followed you,
You would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
There has only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints,
My child, is when I carried you.”

David had so much patients also.  He waited for the Lord to make him king of Israel and spent the whole time running and hiding from Saul.  Even when Saul died he mourned Saul’s life and didn’t just celebrate that he was finally going to become king.  I have so much in my life that is going on right now that I want results from.  I find myself almost sabotaging situations because I want the result faster.  I need to remember to wait upon the Lord and serve Him as I am waiting.  That is why I picked this song this week.