"I call you friends" Jhn:15:15
The writer of the Book of 1Chronicles recorded that there was within the administration of King David of Israel, a unique position among the varies ministers of state called The Kings Friend.
List of Personnel in David’s
Administration, those whom formed his government and helped administer the
Kingdom are listed in 1Chrnls:27:25-34
The King's Friend
Among these officials there is a man
named Hushai; he is referred to in this verse, as the King's Friend or
confidant.
"Hushai the Arkite was the king’s
friend". (33b)
The King's Friend Hushai, this was his
official designation, that is why he is listed among the other government
officials. This was his capacity within David's administration.
Hushai has no administrative function such as
legation or judicial proceedings or taxation but rather, Hoshai’s role was
to be the Friend of the King. To just be with David, to do things together, to
fellowship, to talk to and to know the mind and heart of the King. To
spend time with him, to share David's life.
This unique role of Friend of the
King gave Hushai not just access to the throne, but to the very man who
sat upon the throne. Hushai knew David the King as no other could.
When Need Most
Hushai's role of being the King's friend
played an important role during a time when King David's son Absalom, who
lusted after power, lunched an insurrection against the government of
David and attempted to overthrow his father and place himself upon the Throne
of Israel. 2Sam: 15:1-12
"So Hushai, David’s confidant, arrived at
Jerusalem as Absalom was entering the city."(32)
During David's exile from Jerusalem Hushai
stood in the court of Absalom, here Hushai operates covertly working on
David's behalf, countering the input of Ahithopel who was the architect of
Absalom's challenge to claim the throne. Hushai was willing to risk his very
life on behalf of his friend David the true King of Israel.2Sam:16: and 2Sam:17
Hushai was willing to lie down his life for David,
that is the close bound of friendship which Hushai had and showed toward
David. Hushai recognized that David was anointed by God to sit as King over
Israel.
Unique Position
As Hushai’s position was unique in the
Government of Israel, so Christians have a unique position with God's true
anointed King, not just over Israel, but over all nations, his very own Son
Jesus Christ the King of Kings who, like David, is not visibly upon the
throne of the nations of the Earth.
Christians are like Hushai was, walking in the
courts of would-be claimant to the throne of the nations, being as Hushai
was, a counter to the evil influences of the world system, working for the
rightful Anointed one of God until that time arrives when the Heavens will part
the trumpet of God will sound and Jesus will descend from the Heaven in great
power and glory.
"And he called his ten servants, and
delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy till I come”. Lk: 19:13
Christians are to conduct their live in such a
way as to do the will of their King in the world, to occupy as an advanced
installment of the Kingdom of God even in the courts of this world.
Hushai the King's friend was willing to lay
down his life for his friend David, for Hushai knew the mind of David and spent
time hearing what was upon David's heart. Hushai knew that David was a man
after God' own heart and loved him for it.
"After removing Saul, he made David their
king. God testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse, a man
after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.'"Acts:13:22
Even as our Lord Jesus was willing to
die for each and all of us. Jesus has disclosed to us what is in his heart,
proclaiming the very love of God for us all.
"Greater love has no one than this: to
lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I
command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know
his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that
I learned from my Father I have made known to you."Jhn:15:13-15
Jesus has opened his heart to us, his friends
about his Father's undying and unconditional love.
Access to The Throne
Hushai had access to the throne of David, and
not just casually but in the official capacity as his Friend. Spending time
with him, hearing what is on his mind, we have the same position and privilege,
but not just with a human King of this world, but with Jesus Christ, who is
both fully God and fully human.
We, like Hushai, have access not just to the
throne, but to Jesus who sits upon it.
Jesus the King of Kings, we are to spend time
with him, we are to know his heart and mind. We discover the thoughts of our
Lord through reading his word, hearing it expounded, worship, prayer and
fellowship. Jesus looks upon us as not just casual acquaintances but has a
close bound with us as his own dear friends. Jesus chose us before we ever
chose him.
We are ever able to come to Jesus at any and
all times, to have prayerful
conversations with him about life or anything that we have on our hearts .Jesus is
always to ready and willing to spend time with us.
Dear to Christ
As his friends Jesus is addressing us, so that
we might understand his mind. The Holy Spirit is speaking to believers from the
pages of Scriptures as dear friends.
St, Peter in his Epistle calls all
believers as "Dear Friends”, but this is not just
St. Peter’s feelings toward Christians, it is the Holy Spirit who is giving
voice of Jesus' friendship with us all then speaks of the revelation of the heart
of Jesus for us all.
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to
you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome
thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy
prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.2Petr:3:1
Again St. Peter expresses this feeling "dear friends" (8) He intones to us again as "dear friends" (14) "dear friends" (17)
These generous uses of the phrase "dear friends" speaks of the endearment which our
Lord Jesus shows for and toward us collectively and individually.
St. John tells us that the whole purpose of
the very Gospel is so that others too can be made aware of the fellowship which
is available for them with God thru his Holy Son. that they might join in with
that you are the friends of God
"That which was from the beginning,
which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at
and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The
life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the
eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to
you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.
And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write
this to make our joy complete".1Jhn:1:1-4
You are a "dear friend" of
the true King our Lord Jesus Christ even as Hushai was to David, the true King
of Israel.
Benediction: May we each and all ever serve our Lord
Jesus in the midst of the courts of this world, our friend and true King,
today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen.
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Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma
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