Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah.
Friends Who Fail
Aristotle claimed that a friend is "one soul dwelling in two bodies." Others have defined a friend as "a person who knows all about us and still likes us." Newspaper columnist Walter Winchell suggested that a friend is one "who walks in when others walk out." However you define a friendship, it is obvious that when a friend fails us, the pain can be devastating.
In his latter days, David experienced the failure of not just one friend but two. One was Joab, David's nephew and the commander of his armies; the other was Abiathar, the high priest. Both of them sided with Adonijah, David's son and brother of Absalom, when he decided to exalt himself as king. These men had served faithfully with David. Abiathar had been with him as far back as the days when David first fled from Saul (1 Sam. 22:20). And Joab had been the genius behind much of David's success as king. The pain of their treachery must have been excruciating for the aging and ailing king.
How often, even among Christians, do friends fail us. Sometimes they deliberately turn their backs on us; other times they simply vanish from our lives due to unforeseen circumstances such as moving away, sickness or death. Ultimately, all of our friends fail us in some way and we feel hurt. We must know, however, that there is a friend who never fails. The Book of Proverbs says, "There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother" (18:24). That friend is Jesus. He promised us, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20).
Are you experiencing the pain of a failed friendship? Has your best friend moved away and left you friendless? Or worse, has someone turned against you and you feel betrayed? Then turn to Jesus. He will understand (His friends did the same to Him), and He will stand by you whatever your circumstances. Jesus is a friend who never fails.
When all other friends fail you, your friend Jesus is faithful.