Daily Office - Friendship Strengthens Your Hand

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)

2) Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 23:15-18
David was in the Wilderness of Ziph at Horesh when he learned that Saul had come out to seek his life. Saul's son Jonathan set out and came to David at Horesh; there he strengthened his hand through the LORD. He said to him, "Do not be afraid; for the hand of my father Saul shall not find you; you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be second to you; my father Saul also knows that this is so." Then the two of them made a covenant before the LORD; David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home. 

3) Devotional
No one succeeds alone- not even the one God called “a man after My own heart” (Acts 13:22), and “the apple of my eye” (Ps. 17:8). Yes, even David needed his Jonathan.

In the dark days when he scrambled from cave to cave to escape the murderous threats of King Saul, David turned to his friend, Jonathan, for strength and encouragement. At great risk to himself, Jonathan warned David and told him to hide out for a time (I Sam 19:2). Jonathan, hoping to pacify his father and reconcile the king to his friend, spoke well of David. And for a short while Saul relented, promising that David would not die by his hand.

Soon the old animosities reasserted themselves, however, and Jonathan once again risked his life to help his dear friend (20:30-32). Even though he knew that God had chosen David-and not him- to rule Israel, Jonathan remained faithful to his comrade until the very end of his life. One verse in particular describes Jonathan’s invaluable ministry to David: “Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God” (23:16)

4) Questions to Consider
Do you have someone who “strengthens your hand in God”?

I long for every person at Stonecrest to have a good friend or two within the church family, with whom they can loyally and faithfully and consistently strengthen one another’s hand in the things of God.

5) Prayer
Lord God, I realize that life is not a journey I am to walk through alone. Please help me to make the adjustments necessary in my life to make time for deep friendship and also soften my heart to allow others in to my life and my hurts, so that through them I might help them in theirs. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)