1 Samuel 23:14-18 
David stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hills of the Desert of Ziph. Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands. 

While David was at Horesh in the Desert of Ziph, he learned that Saul had come out to take his life. And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this.” The two of them made a covenant before the Lord. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh. (NIV)

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There is a friend who stands closer than a brother. 

Solomon’s collection of proverbs records this truth in Proverbs 18:24:

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, 
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
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The Message paraphrases this verse with these words:

Friends come and friends go, 
but a true friend sticks by you like family.
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I wonder if Solomon got this proverb directly from his dad. I’m sure David told all of his children about his good friend Jonathan. Jonathan was as good a friend as there can be. His loyal friendship and his deep affection for David are truly exemplary. His life shines like a diamond against black velvet.

Having a true friend like this is like having an extra life. 

A person has only two or three friends like this at a time over a lifetime. There are few people indeed that you can pour out your whole heart to without fear of what they might say or do. There are few people indeed you can trust with your very life. 

Too many friends can lead to ruin. One true friend is more like family than many of our family members. 

Who’s your friend? 

If you’re broken down on the side of the road at 2 a.m. on a cold, rainy night, who are you going to call? This question narrows the list pretty quickly, doesn’t it?

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Another proverb like this, which Solomon collected, is found in 17:17.

“A friend loves at all times, 
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

The New Living Translation renders the first part of this verse, “A friend is always loyal.” 

There are a few action steps we should take in response to what we have learned here today:

1. Count your truest friends.
2. Give thanks to God for them.
3. Be the kind of friend you need at 2 a.m. on the side of the road when it’s cold and rainy.

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I will give thanks to God for my truest friends and seek to be the kind of friend they are to me.

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Our Father, thank you for the wonderful friends you’ve placed in my life. I could never have achieved anything without their encouragement, assistance, wisdom, and confidence. Make me the kind of friend to them that they are to me. Amen.