My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
| 159 |
| FRIEND |
| Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. |
| Recently, in our series “What the Bible Probably Didn’t Mean, I considered this verse, explaining how my thoughts on the intent of this verse had changed as I understood the verse’s message. I was challenged in the concept of the first phrase of “many companions. For this post, I would like to consider the friend referred to in the second phrase, the friend who sticks closer than a brother. The term “friend” in this verse is the Hebrew word אָהַב ʼâhab, and in the Old Testament, it is translated as friend 12 times. But of the 208 times it is found in the Word, the preponderance of translation choice falls upon the idea of love. The relationship is different from that of a companion, an associate, who may be somewhat of a fair weather friend, one who is in your life for their own benefit. Solomon is contrasting this friend with a companion, and to emphasize the “friendliness” or love of this friend, he goes above and beyond and says this friend is closer than a brother! This friend has a love that is greater than that of a brother. This passage depends on our own understanding of friends and brothers, and how we relate to them. Some may be estranged from their brothers and sisters at this time in their lives. (If so, and there is any action the believer can take to reconcile, be at it!) But Solomon is describing a person who loves greater than a brother, who is ever faithful. If there is a soul out there reading this post, and is experiencing a perfect relationship with their physical brother, the passage still elevates God’s love beyond that. He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother. His love is greater than the best love available on earth! |
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
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2 responses to “Names of God – FRIEND – 159”
True we have a friend that stick closer than anything . 🙏
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So true – Thanks for taking a few minutes and joining in my thoughts
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