4 Characteristics of True Friends

Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men. —1 Samuel 22:2 (NLT)

These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite, who was leader of the Three—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle. —2 Samuel 23:8 (NLT)

- True friends

for you and with you

Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the Lord gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder! —2 Samuel 23:9-10 (NLT)

- True friends

with you when the enemy is near

Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely,
the one who shared my food, has turned against me. —Psalms 41:9 (NLT)

The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. —2 Timothy 4:16 (NLT)

Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.

David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. —2 Samuel 23:13-16 (NLT)

- True friends

themselves for you

So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord. “The Lord forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. —2 Samuel 23:16-17 (NLT)

- True friends

together

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