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Friends Tell Us The Truth Friends who have our best interest at heart can confront us when we need it. Solomon penned this powerful proverb about loving confrontation in Proverbs 27: 5-6: “Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” Proverbs 27:6 NIV Nathan was a trusted friend that loved his monarch enough to tell him the truth. We know that Nathan the prophet had rebuked King David for his adultery with Bathsheba (2 Sam. 12:7). The same prophet who brought down scathing judgment upon his father also loved David and remained his trusted advisor when the King repented (2 Samuel 7:17). The prophet assured David that his throne would be established forever. He prophesied that David’s son (Solomon) would build the temple. Nathan was present at Solomon’s birth and gave him the nickname “Jedediah”-beloved of God (2 Samuel 12:25). Nathan also rescued Solomon from Adonijah’s attempt to overthrow his throne. Young Solomon was advised by Nathan to ride David’s donkey to Gihon and be anointed as king by Zadok the priest (1 Kings 1:38-40). Because of Nathan’s advice to David and his cool head in a crisis, Solomon was able to ascend his rightful throne (1 Kings:1-24-27). Solomon knew that his father David had sinned, but he saw firsthand the courage it took for Nathan to confront his father. The prophet’s life was on the line. Nathan loved David enough to confront his king. • Have you ever had someone confront you about a blind spot in your life? What was your response? • Are you able to sort out whether the rebuke you received was given in love or in spite? Was the criticism valid? A LOVING WARNING David heard that his son has been murdered! He was overcome with grief and despair. Such great sorrow clouded his thinking and caused him to forget his responsibility to his nation and his loyal troops. In 2 Samuel 18:33 Absalom’s father laments his son’s death: “The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”) (Joab was told, “The king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.” And for the whole army the victory that day was turned into mourning, because on that day the troops heard it said, “The king is grieving for his son.” The men stole into the city that day as men steal into the city that day as men steal in who are ashamed when they flee from battle. The king covered his face and cried aloud, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!.” NIV Do you know what David needed? He needed a friend who could objectively observe the situation and warn the king of his devastating mistake. Before the troops could revolt, Joab cared enough to confront his king. In 2 Samuel 19:5-7 we read Joab’s rebuke: “Then Joab went into the house to the king and said, “Today you have humiliated all your men, who have just saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters and the lives of your wives and concubines. You love those who hate you and hate those who love you. You have made it clear today that the commanders and their men mean nothing to you. I see that you would be pleased it Absalom were alive today and all of us were dead. Now go out and encourage your men. I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out, not a man will be left with you by nightfall. This will be worse for you than all the calamities that have come upon you from your youth till now.” NIV By warning David of the troop’s discontent, Joab risked his position as general. The sorrowful king could have him executed. But Joab took the risk and saved David’s throne. Friends can confront each other because they are committed to the relationship. Mutual trust and affection build a strong foundation for a friendship. The king knew that his general loved him and wanted to protect him. David listened and repented. Because of Joab’s counsel, his reign was secure. “So the king got up and took his seat in the gateway. When the men were told, “The king is sitting in the gateway,” they all came before him.” 2 Samuel 19:8 NIV • Have you ever felt like the mantle of leadership was too difficult to bear? Why? • Who has come into your life to encourage you? • What benefits have you reaped from listening to wise counsel? BETRAYAL IN THE PALACE Unlike Nathan, Joab did not remain David’s friend. He lost respect for his monarch and ultimately betrayed him. King Solomon felt that betrayal deeply. He emphasized the importance of true, loyal friends in Proverbs 20:28: “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.” NIV Joab embodied the traitorous advisor who turned from friend to foe. He was one of David’s greatest warriors, the charismatic general of Israel’s armies.(2 Samuel 20:23). Even after Joab’s rebuke, David continued to love and rely on him. That was a mistake. King David was Joab’s hero, and Joab felt his king had let him down. The trusted leader of David’s armies murdered his two commanders-Amasa and Abner (1 Kings 2:5b). Near the end of his life, one of David’s parting instructions to Solomon were to kill Joab. (1 Kings 2:6). After Solomon ascended the throne, Joab was the number one man to support Adonijah’s treasonous rebellion. Sadness seems to permeate the words of Solomon in Proverbs 19:4 and 6. The king may have been revealing the insecurity he felt about loyal confidants. We know that Solomon’s name meant “peace” and that his warrior father was wildly popular. Because Solomon was so young when he ascended the throne (historians say he was between the ages of 12 and 20), Solomon was probably leery of those who pretended to be his allies. The young leader had watched the betrayal and court intrigue during his father’s reign in the form of murder, incest, and treason. After Solomon ascended the throne, Joab was the number one man to support Adonijah’s treasonous rebellion. Joab’s traitorous actions cost him his life. “When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. King Solomon was told that Joab had fled to the tent of the LORD and was beside the altar. Then Solomon ordered Benaiah son of Jehoiada, "Go, strike him down!" (1 Kings 2:28-29) NIV Solomon probably never knew who his real friends were. • Do you have difficulty trusting others? Why or why not? • Are you discerning about the friends you choose? • If you have suffered betrayal, do you find it difficult to commit to another relationship? Why or why not? Friends impact our lives. We must choose our friends wisely. When we choose correctly, it is like perfume to the heart. “Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel” (Proverb 27:9). If we are in the company of good friends, we become better people. If we associate with unscrupulous friends, we become worse. Proverb 12:26 affirms this fact: “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.” NIV APPLYING THE TRUTH Read Proverbs 27:6; Proverbs 20:28; Proverbs 19:4 and 6; Proverbs 27:9; Proverbs 12:26 Write out the Scripture(s), thought(s), and question(s) from today’s devotional that you want to spend more time thinking about. What will you apply to your life?   King Solomon observes that honesty is essential to true friendships, but Paul tells us to speak the truth in love.

We need to train our children in God’s wise way, and when the child reaches maturity, he/she will not turn from it. God intends parental instruction to be more than simply telling a child how to behave. Parents must demonstrate, model, teach and guide.

Motivation-a passion to get wisdom, acquisition-a careful study of God's Word, application-a pragmatic integration of truth into daily life, and persistence-a continuous pursuit of truth will bring depth and grace to a wise man or woman.

King Solomon and James both warn us that our words are extremely powerful, and he reminds us that living the righteous life God desires includes carefully managing every word we speak. We learn to control our speech by offering ourselves to God, and following Jesus' model.

Broken bones heal more quickly than wounds inflicted by a malicious tongue. Lying words, hypocritical words, and thoughtless words can destroy lives. Conversely, timely words aptly spoken can contribute to comfort and healing.

Daniel and Joseph became rulers of great nations because they beseeched God for wisdom. But let us not forget that when they first asked God to speak, they were lowly slaves. God speaks to ordinary people when they pray in faith, listening for His answers.

God the Father is both holy and loving. King David, along with his son Solomon, tells us the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10). We have discussed how loving our children with God’s love can transform their lives. But we must also instill in our children a healthy reverence and fear of God.

Paul gives a startling insight into the dynamic of the parent-child relationship. He states that there are certain barriers to child-rearing that must be considered. If a child is provoked to anger or exasperated, it is difficult to train him/her effectively. Certain essential principles help a child to be compliant and teachable.

Solomon teaches us that wisdom will make us wise, discreet and discerning. The structure and meaning of Proverbs is discussed. We can learn from this wisdom literature to be mature, capable Christians.

This week’s study from the book of Proverbs will examine one of the most well-known verses in the Bible regarding God’s guidance. In four simple phrases, King Solomon records three essential principles for discerning God’s paths in Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” NIV Solomon encourages us to trust God, to refuse to lean on our own intellect in self-reliant pride, and to walk with God in worship and submission. In the final phrase, God gives a promise: He will surely guide us. Let’s examine the first phrase-trusting God completely. God appeared to Solomon twice in his lifetime. The first encounter is recorded in I Kings chapter three. When God appeared to the young monarch, Solomon referred to the impact his father’s faith had made upon him in 1 Kings 3:6: “Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.” NIV • What are your greatest challenges in being able to trust God with your life? • Can you remember a time when God spoke clearly to you as a result of your prayers? How did that make you feel? • How often do you search for God’s counsel? Do you enjoy remaining in His presence in prayer, patiently awaiting His answers, or is it really difficult to be patient? THE POET-KING Solomon received a remarkable legacy from his father David. King David, with all his foibles, powerfully taught his son about a life of trusting God. You see, David kept a diary. Every psalm ascribed to the Shepherd-King was a window into David’s soul. David’s poems were beautifully artistic, brutally honest, and deeply spiritual. Few children have inherited such a cherished gift from their parents! Psalms is divided into five books. Most of Book One (Psalms 1-41) is attributed to David. Here are just a few observations from David concerning God’s guidance: Psalm 5 is a tender song accompanied by flutes. David, surrounded by his enemies (Vs. 4-6,8) sighed heavily and earnestly cried out to God for wisdom: “Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness because of my enemies—make straight your way before me.” Psalm 5:8 NIV Psalm 16, a mitkam of David depicts a devoted man who delighted to remain in the center of God’s will (vs. 5-6). Verse seven paints a picture of David seeking God’s counsel at night: “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.” Ps. 16:7 NIV David’s most beloved poem, Psalm 23, teaches that God guides us in paths of righteousness for the sake of His kingdomplan: “He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Ps. 23:3 NIV Solomon learned that God leads us to play a part in His grand design.Psalm 25 is one of David’s most complete theological treatises discussing the dynamics of Divine revelation and human comprehension. In twenty-two short stanzas, David gives us tremendous insight into the heart of God. Verses 1-3 reveal that the person who lifts up his soul to God in trust will never be put to shame. Verses 4-7 is a model prayer for seeking God’s will. David writes that understanding God’s ways (His heart) intimately is the key to discovering how to respond to His leading. The rest of the Psalm discusses the significance of confession, humility and constant communion. The final picture King David paints describes a love relationship between creature and Creator: ”The LORD confides in those who fear him; He makes his covenant known to them.” Psalm 25:14 NIV • Take a brief moment and write a prayer to God. Ask Him for wisdom regarding the current struggles in your life. • Can you reflect on a time in your life when you got on your knees, asked God to guide you, and surrendered to God without relying upon your own wisdom? What did that feel like? Where did it lead you? Can you see the blessings that you reaped from this action of devotion? • Can you think of anyone you know that appears to trust God’s guidance in all they do? How do they do that? What do you observe in them? ONE MAN’S TESTIMONY “If we make life decisions apart from God’s leadership, we will flounder. Self-effort and self-reliance only produce frustration. When we seek God’s wisdom and direction, we become wise. We are freed from sin’s bondage and experience true fulfillment. Why, then, is it so hard for Christians to actually seek God’s counsel in all we do? Why do we make major life decisions, and then ask God to put His stamp of approval on our plans? A great example of this came years ago when it was obvious that God was calling me to a new place. The firm for which I had been working had just merged with another larger company. I had been the General Manager of our little eleven-person business. In the owner’s grace, he secured a job for me within the merger. The job was paltry-with little responsibility, a pay decrease, and a relocation from Denver, Colorado to Eugene, Oregon. Being young and totally sure of myself, I said ‘no thanks.’ I sent a proliferation of resumes to Denver employers. Quite frankly, at that point in my career, my resume and experience were impressive, yet there was no response. Frustrated, I finally began to pray about it. I clearly was nudged. The Holy Spirit said, ‘I need you in the Pacific Northwest.’ I stubbornly responded: ‘Are you sure? You have to be kidding! It rains there all the time!’ After a few weeks of struggling with God’s call and a couple of fruitless interviews, I decided I should seek employment in the Pacific Northwest. I subsequently sent fifteen letters of application to places in Washington state. To my surprise, twelve successful companies contacted me within a week’s time requesting interviews with me. Still unsure that God wanted me there (pretty dense wasn’t I?), I selected the five best, flew to Seattle/Tacoma, and interviewed. Each of the five companies offered me positions that were jobs I would really enjoy. Upon returning home, I received even more calls from other companies interested in hiring me. I ask you, why would God have to close every wrong door, nudge me, and then push me out the door to do what He wanted? If I had just sought His guidance, I would have more rapidly enjoyed His wisdom. I could have avoided three months of feeling inadequate while unemployed. I know the answer-I was too proud and selfish to seek His counsel. I failed to trust His leadership even when He made His will so obvious it was right in front of my face!”-Norm Bishop APPLYING THE TRUTH Read Proverbs 20:5; 18:13; 13:16; 19:2; and 13:5; Psalms 5, 16, 23 and 25. In the area below, write out the Scripture(s), thought(s), and question(s) from today’s devotional that you want to spend more time thinking about. What will you apply to your life?