Hagar 2

And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him. (1Samuel 31:5)

As we continue looking at servants who become friends, as well as the breach of trust its abuse invites, I feel it is important for us to look at a few exceptional characters who took that trust to its uttermost.

But before I do that, let me bring us to the ultimate.

Ahithophel was David’s counsellor, so trusted was he that his counsel was treated as God’s.

In short, this character was exceptional in reading and interpreting issues and events and analysing situations that he was always on point in his diagnosis and prescriptions.

We are not told what put him so off from David that he joined his son in plotting and executing his overthrow.

Can you imagine how David felt when he learnt that his most trusted confidant and counsellor had become his enemy?

David prayed a painful prayer, and God heard him.

When Ahithophel’s counsel was not followed, incidentally because David planted another trusted confidant to counter it, this wisdom guru realised that he had nowhere to run to and resorted to suicide.

You may realise that the same happened with Judas.

Do you realise that this is exactly what happened with the devil? He simply betrayed the trust God had placed on him.

Incidentally, that is what happens with us when we take God’s release on us for personal gain.

And on this Haman is the best example.

He took a personal tiff to exceptional heights, resorting to turn a personal issue into a kingdom one.

Mordecai so riled him that he decided to turn it into a kingdom crisis, even investing his treasure into its execution.

As such matters end, he realised too late that his enemy (who did not view him as an enemy), was probably the one who ought to have occupied his position had his earlier deed not been overlooked.

When our Lord makes us His friends, it never means that we become His equals, or even approach his stature.

He calls us friends because He knows that we are completely sold out to His agenda that we will completely abandon ours should it counter it.

But we are looking at friends who exemplify that trust today.

And we will start with Saul’s bodyguard.

He knew everything about his master, from his rejection to his visiting a witch.

When his master committed suicide, he was best placed to reap big from that wherever he had gone. And he would not need to lie like the Amalekite who had sought to benefit from Saul’s death.

David couldn’t have killed him. Chances are that he would have created some space for him in his scheme of things due to his loyalty.

Even the Philistines could have loved to have him on their side since he possessed all his master’s secrets.

But for him, living without his master was unimaginable. That is why he committed suicide by his master’s side.

Have you like me wondered why Deborah’s death is recorded in the scriptures while her mistress (Rebecca) is not?

She exemplifies the loyalty we are looking at.

When her mistress dies, she goes to the son she had loved instead of looking for greener pastures elsewhere. She was content serving her mistress even in death.

Risper, Saul’s concubine was another one.

When God is avenging his foolish breach of an ancient covenant, she decides to stand by the corpses of his descendants by day and by night, protecting them from scavengers until her loyalty gets to the king’s ears. And that was lo o o ng after her master was gone.

Your wish is my command is the guiding principle of slaves who are made friends.

As we have seen with these, death is not an excuse to abandon cause. They simply continued serving their masters even in death. They continued honouring their master’s wishes even when the master was not there.

Ruth is another exceptional case.

She willingly put paid her ambitions, her familiarities, her community, her security, her choices, her faith, to be loyal to a grieving mother-in-law.

No wonder their relatives opined that she was better than ten sons.

A person is not therefore called a friend because they have been long with a master.

They are called so because they have simply abandoned everything, even their life, to serve their master.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Acts 5:41)

And some of us still wonder why Christ does not treat us as friends!

Imagine treating shame, pain and torture as a pleasure because it is for the master’s pleasure?

The question I will ask us is this

How close are we to the few examples we have seen here?

Are we like Saul’s armour bearer?

Are we like Deborah?

Are we like Risper?

Are we like Ruth?

Are we like the disciples under the Roman persecution?

Do we have an agenda or is our agenda completely swallowed by our master’s?