With friends like these…

2 Samuel 15:32
“While David was coming to the summit, where God was worshiped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat torn and dirt on his head.”

We all need friends. I know there have been times in my life where I did not make new friends because of previous hurts and pain. I still had my wife and five children to keep me company, but a friend is a totally different relationship.

Friendship is voluntary!

You have a choice to be a friend (a true friend) and choosing to spend time and get to know that friend shows immense value in yourself and them.

Friendship will be tested!

There is a saying that starts out, “The true test of friendship is…” Friendships are always tested. In high school, it may have been one of your friends who talked about you behind your back or your best friend taking something that you really wanted and they knew about it. Or together you faced tough challenges but overcame them— as friends.

In 2 Samuel 15, David, the King, is fleeing for his life. It isn’t the normal kind of fleeing-for-your-life scene, he’s fleeing to save the lives of other innocent bystanders. You see, David had done a despicable act — taking another man’s wife and then killing that man to cover up his deed.

Now, God’s judgment was playing out in his life and the life of others. David was fleeing his son, Absalom, who was making a move to take over his father’s kingdom by force. He knew that by fleeing and giving up the city, he would prevent bloodshed.

David, escapes out of Jerusalem, with his wives, children and servants. While crossing over the larger mountain behind Jerusalem, he was met by Hushai the Archite.

Hushai is only mentioned one other place in the Bible, in 1 Chronicles 27:33: Ahithophel was the king’s counselor, and Hushai the Archite was the king’s friend.

Now, with disaster raining down on David’s life, his friend showed up.

Calamity is a true test of friendship. Will your friend be there when they don’t have to? Worse, will they show up in your trouble when showing up in your life might put them in danger?

2 Samuel 15:32 tells us that Hushai, David’s friend, met him as he reached near the top of the Mount of Olives. Hushai had his clothes torn and dirt on his head. In that ancient culture, when you wore torn clothes it was one of two reason. Either you were impoverished or you were expressing painful emotion.

For Hushai, he ripped his own clothes and poured dirt on his own head as a symbol of the pain he was experiencing for his friend’s painful experience. He didn’t come with a sword ready to fight the King’s enemy, he came with friendship, ready to comfort a wounded soul.

Do you have a friend like Hushai in your life? Are you a friend, like Hushai to someone else?

God has created us as relational people (friends) who need the presence of other people in our lives to help us become stronger followers of Jesus Christ and better spouses, parents and friends.