A friend in need.......

2 Sam:10:5

David sent his ambassadors to the newly appointed king of Ammonites, Hanun, to express his grief over the death of his father, king Nahash, saying that he is going to show loyalty to him, just as his father showed loyalty to him. 

But Hanun dealt with them in shame, shaving off half of their beard and cutting off their robes. 

In v:5 we read they fell deep shame because of their appearance. And David also identifies with them, sympathizes with them. He is also ashamed along with them. 

David as a king is a perfect example of what God is for us. When you are ashamed, He is also ashamed along with you. When you are saddened, He too is saddened with you. When you are joyous, He rejoices with you. He is a God who identifies with you. He is a God who feels for you and is with you at all times. 

It is so comforting to know that there is a friend always, by you, in your times of joy and in your times of sorrow. It is said, 'When you share your joy it is doubled and when you share your sorrow it is halved.' But only if there is the right person to share. If there is no one to share, it becomes vice versa, you feel caged in your own self. 

Jesus is that somebody,  that friend in need. Who will always be there, to talk to, to listen. He is not to be picturized as a taskmaster who sits up there with a rod to find reasons to punish you. But as a friend who walks with you, laughs with you, cries with you and comforts you. 

He is that friend indeed. 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

- C Austin Miles (1868-1946)