Supernatural Friendship

Webster’s defines a friend as, “one attached to another by affection or esteem.” There is a particular passage of scripture that is a wonderful example of Godly friendship, and that is in I Samuel chapters 18-23.

David had already been anointed as the future king of Israel, but he would not ascend to his throne for approximately twenty-two more years. During that time he defeated the Philistine warrior Goliath, served in King Saul’s court as his armor-bearer, and played the harp to calm the King’s restless spirit.

It was during the early years, while David served at the King’s pleasure, that he met Saul’s eldest son Jonathan. It is my guess that Jonathan observed David during the time he was ministering to his father in the palace, as well as hearing about David’s conquest of Goliath in the King’s court. Saul decided that David would not return to his father’s house, but henceforth reside in Jerusalem with him.

I Samuel chapter 18 tells us in verse 1 that “the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David.” A supernatural friendship had been forged. Verse 3 says, “Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.”

Jonathan and David’s friendship was unique and God ordained. Theirs was a deep spiritual connection – soul to soul – that was sealed with a covenant to honor and respect each other’s office. Jonathan was next in line for the throne by virtue of his birthright. However, he relinquished his power and position by offering to David his royal robe and armaments. God had no doubt prepared Jonathan’s heart in advance of David’s arriving in Jerusalem. Jonathan exemplified all that is noblest in friendship – true affection, unselfishness, helpfulness, and loyalty. His steadfast belief in David’s divine ascension to the throne, and rule of all Israel enabled him to intervene when his father, the King, attempted to kill David on more than one occasion.

After one such attempt on David’s life, Jonathan went out into the field where David was hiding, and after dismissing his servant, reunited with his friend. After an emotional exchange, he said to David, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’” During David’s season of flight, while he was in the wilderness of Ziph, Jonathan met David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God. He assured David that his father, King Saul would not find him or prevent him from becoming the future King of Israel.

Sometime later King Saul, Jonathan, and his two brothers would be defeated and slain in a battle on Mount Gilboa. When word got back to David, he lamented Saul and Jonathan’s deaths, tore his clothes, and wept and fasted until evening for them. His sadness was amplified in his eulogy in song to honor their lives. He especially missed the close friendship he shared with a man of unquestionable integrity and honesty. The love he had for his friend surpassed even the romantic love he had experienced with the women he had known up to that time. That would even include his marriage to Jonathan’s sister, Michal. In the Near Eastern culture, the exchange of kisses by men upon greeting was simply an expression of deep affection between friends and family. David’s loss of his friend evoked strong, reflective emotions, matched only by the mourning for his beloved house of Israel upon losing their King at the hands of the Philistines.

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times…” And in Proverbs 18:24, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

To have a great friend, is to be a great friend...  (Anonymous)

Do you have a special God-given friend? I do and it is hard to put into words the love you feel for that dear friend. It truly is a spiritual friendship as well as a practical one. The bond is strong and eternal. Tell me about your soul-sister and what makes your friendship God centered.

This is one of my all time favorites from Michael W. Smith  -  "Friends"

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It was written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together.  Visit  http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

Supernatural Friendship

All About Purim - Lessons Learned from Esther

The Feast of Purim is celebrated by the Jewish people annually in remembrance of Esther. 

The Book of Esther is the last of the historical books written in the Old Testament.  The book was likely written about 400 B.C.  The author is unknown - but it is evident from the details within the text that he was well acquainted with Persian court life. The author might have been a young protege of Mordecai.

The name of this feast, Purim, is from the Persian word for lot: pur which refers to how Haman cast lot to decide on the date of the mass execution as referred to in Esther 3.

Esther was a Jewish orphan maiden in the city of Shushan. Esther's Hebrew name was Hadassah, which means "Myrtle". She and her cousin Mordecai were Jews who were carried captive from Jerusalem, and were now living in Persia under the rule of King Ahasuerus. Mordecai was her cousin and raised her as his own daughter. He was a minor official in the King's palace.

Through a series of events which included the King divorcing his wife Queen Vashti, a search was conducted to replace her. All the beautiful young maidens were summoned to the palace and presented to King Ahasuerus. Whomever he was pleased with would become the new queen.

When the King's chief minister Haman learned that Mordecai would not pay homage to him as was the custom, he convinced King Ahasuerus to issue a decree that would destroy all the Jewish people. Once consent was obtained the decree was written and publicized throughout the empire and a date was set through the casting of lots (pur).  Mordecai then sent word to Esther that she must plead for mercy on behalf of her kindred before the all powerful King.

The book of Esther records how God used a young Jewish girl 

to save His people from annihilation.

Here are 3 lessons we can learn from Esther...

1.    Esther had no control over her life's plans and direction -

Like many Hebrew children, Esther (Hadassah) was left an orphan following the forced exodus from Jerusalem some 400 years before Christ. She and her cousin Mordecai were in Shushan when Queen Vashti was banished from the palace at Susa. The circumstances surrounding the collection and grooming of young virgins for the King's selection was beyond her control. Her submission to the process and favor with the custodian of the women were God ordained. Esther underwent months of beauty preparations and instruction prior to her required visit to the King's palace. She would not go in to the King again until she was personally requested by name.  Her fate was not in her own hands.

2.    Esther prepared for the worst, and hoped for the best -

When the turn came for her to go in to the King, she relied solely on the counsel of Hegai the King's eunuch, as he had favored her above all the others. With his advice she entered with nothing more than herself. The King was smitten and loved her more than all the others. She obtained grace and favor as she captured his heart. During this time she concealed her background and did not reveal her kindred and her people to the King as Mordecai had charged her.  Her cousin had informed her of a plot to kill the King, and after hanging the offenders, the incident was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the King.

When Mordecai learned of the plot to destroy God's people through the wicked plans of Haman, he lamented and put on sackcloth and ashes, and cried out bitterly in the midst of the city. When Esther's maids and eunuchs told her about Mordecai she was devastated. Her attendant approached Mordecai, who in turn gave him a copy of the written decree for their destruction. The Queen had a plan... but it relied solely on the King's grace. She must risk death in order to approach the King to ask for mercy on behalf of her people. 

3.    Esther allowed God's plan to unfold on His timetable -

Courage is something that comes from within. Mordecai plainly told her that she could either rise to the occasion or let someone else approach the King and forgo her destiny. Her wise plan was to have the Jews in the city fast for her for 3 days and nights in preparation for her visit to King Ahasuerus. Without being summoned - she risked death if he did not extend his scepter to her.

After she slipped into her royal robes, she cautiously approached the King's house and stood in the courtyard until he saw her and motioned for her to come close. As she found favor in his sight, she touched the tip of his scepter and he inquired what she would ask of him - up to half of his kingdom. She delayed her true request by asking for Haman to join the King and herself in a banquet to honor them. This was repeated again by divine design.

In the meantime Haman plodded ahead to build gallows from which to hang Mordecai whom he loathed. As Haman's pride rose - so did his eventual demise. Pride goes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18). 

By allowing God to move in the background, and through a restless night in which the King read of the incident in which his life was spared by Mordecai's deeds, Haman was indicted and found guilty of pandering to the Queen in a dishonorable and inappropriate way. The King's wrath demanded he be hung from the very gallows he built for Mordecai, and the decree for the Jews destruction was counter signed and enacted. The Jews eventually rose up under Esther & Mordecai's direction and defeated those who had relished in their downfall and ruin.

The Book of Esther reveals how God can promote someone who is venerable and innocent to a position of honor and authority. Much like Joseph's life - Esther was used by God to preserve His people from Satan's evil plans for the destruction of the Jewish nation.

God can take your circumstances and orchestrate an ending that is just as dramatic and life-saving as He did for Esther... He is no respecter of persons and He will use your life's scenario to bless you and bring glory to Himself.

For more information about PURIM and how it is celebrated 

in the Jewish culture now visit Purim 101

Deborah is the author of a Christian non-fiction book titled “Mission Possible”. It is written for women who love the Lord Jesus, but their spouse doesn’t share their passion.  It will encourage and challenge the reader to embrace God’s promises for their spouse and future together. 

Visit  http://www.spirituallyunevenmarriage.com

If you have been encouraged by this post - please take time to share it with others.

All About Purim - Lessons Learned from Esther

Guest Author Sheryl Young Shares About Christian & Jewish Parallels

How Much do Christians Know 
About the Jewish People?

How can Christians gain a fresh, love-filled perspective toward the Jewish people today?

What makes a person consider him or herself Jewish?

Why are Jewish people hesitant to accept the Gospel message of Christ as  Messiah?

How can "The Church" speak up for Israel's existence?

And the often-debated question: "Do Jewish people really need to be “converted”?

These are just a few of the topics Sheryl writes about in her book:

               

             "Click Here to Purchase"

"What Every Christian Should Know About the Jewish People" 

Sheryl shares three things with us about herself and her book

   

    As a Jewish person, how did you come to know Jesus as your Messiah?            

My family lived in an all-Christian neighborhood because of my father’s job. I really believed all the stories in the Torah (Jewish version of Old Testament), but I also wanted to know more about the Jesus my friends spoke of.

When we moved away from there, I forgot my desire for many years. Then, my grandparents died, and our family fell away from practicing Judaism. After I got married, my husband (whose mother was a Christian) just up and went to church one day. About two weeks later, he came home and said he’d accepted Jesus. So I went along to church, to see what it was about.
All those feelings came rushing back. But I still thought, I’m a Jewish girl, how can I accept Jesus? Then, the church had a revival and a Jewish believer in Jesus came to give her testimony and sing Messianic Jewish songs! That night, I gave my life to Christ.


  What was the driving force behind your writing this book for Christians – and not a book for Jewish people about Christ?
Since finding the Lord in 1987, so many Christians have asked me questions about the Jewish religion, Jesus’ Jewish upbringing, and why Jewish people find it hard to accept Jesus as the Messiah. Also, there have been recent times that churches have attempted to “evangelize the Jews” without learning about them first. I felt a strong calling to help Christians have more tools and knowledge for reaching out to the Jewish world community in friendship and love.


  What are a few questions you answer in the book?
I’m asked most often:
-Is Judaism a religion, a nationality or a culture?
-Why did Hitler target Jewish people and those who helped them in the Holocaust?
-How can I, as a Christian, defend Israel’s existence?
-Do Jewish people really need to be “converted,” and must they leave all their Jewishness behind?
And so much more!

An award-winning journalist and an author, Sheryl's writing has been seen in magazines, newspapers, websites and anthologies. Sheryl’s been freelance writing professionally since 1997. Her work has been seen in the Tampa Tribune, St. Pete Times and Florida Baptist Witness Newspapers; Light & Life, Today’s Christian Woman and Better Nutrition Magazines; “Chicken Soup for the Soul,” Vista Sunday School Curriculum, NewChristianVoices.com and most currently as Staff Writer for The Underground Online Christian Magazine.  She shares her unique perspective on politics, entertainment, society, faith and life at her Blog at: 
http://20-20faithsight.blogspot.com/
Her book is available  (online only) at Lifeway Stores.com  http://bit.ly/9O2UNa , as well as Amazon.com & most other popular bookselling websites.

This book isn't a gift to give to a Jewish friend. It's for Christians to learn more about the Jewish faith, the "Jewishness" of Jesus, how to help Jewish people believe that the Whole Bible is Truth, and many more topics. Inside my book, you can discover the key to building bridges between the only two faiths who believe in the one true God. Who better to explain all this than a Jewish person who has found Jesus as her Lord and Savior?  That's me!

Guest Author Sheryl Young Shares About Christian & Jewish Parallels