(DAVID #26)-  "WHEN FRIENDS ARE NEEDED MOST"...(2 Sam. 15:13-23)

Intro: The effects of David’s sin with Bathsheba are in full bloom. David has seen his family demolished; innocent lives devastated and precious people destroyed. All because of the choices he made. He is at the lowest point of his life! His own son, Absalom, has risen up in rebellion against David and has driven him from his palace and from the city of Jerusalem. This passage finds David on the run for his life from his own son.
At this point in time David does not need a lecture on being a better father. He does not need a seminar of how to govern a kingdom. He does not need someone coming along to tell him what a failure he is. He knows that well enough by now. What David needs is a friend!
2 Samuel 15-19 talks about some friends that walked into David’s life at just the moment he needed them. You see, the Bible says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother,” Proverbs 18:24. In the verses we will study today we will see this passage come to life. In the friends who came to David’s aid in his time of need, we can see what real friends ought to be and we can see a picture of the ultimate Friend, the Lord Jesus Christ.
I. DAVID HAD HEARTFELT FRIENDS
2 Sam. 15:18-22 – Ittai the Gittite
A. It seems that this Ittai is the commander of a group of 600 men that came to Israel from Gath to follow David, v. 18. Gath, as you may know, is in the land of the Philistines. It was also the home of Goliath. You might also remember that David spend some time living in Philistia when he was on the run from King Saul...so you can say that he had friends WHILE he was on the run!
Ittai is a person who has been in the background. This is the first time his name is mentioned. But, when the chips were down in David’s life, Ittai steps up and demonstrates the depths of his life for the exiled king. In fact, he pledges his absolute allegiance to David, even if it means death for Ittai, v. 21.
“A friend is the first person who comes in when the whole world goes out.” That is what Ittai did for David!   Many people will be your friend when all is well in your life and when they can benefit from being around you. A real friend loves you when you have absolutely nothing left to give!
II. DAVID HAD HUMBLE FRIENDS
2 Sam. 15:23-28 – Zadok and Abiathar
A. Zadok and Abiathar were priests. They were men of God who loved David and wanted to follow him. When he fled from Absalom, they followed David bringing with them the Ark of the Covenant. David, however, sends them back to Jerusalem, placing his trust in the power of God to deliver him, v. 25-26. David tells them that they can best serve him by being his eyes in the city. Then, without comment, the two priests turn around and carry the Ark back into the city. By returning to Jerusalem and agreeing to act as spies for David, these men took a great risk! They put their very lives on the line for their friend.
B. These two demonstrate one of the great marks of a true friend. A genuine friend will love you and accept you, even when he does not understand you or agree with you. 
*STORY--Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!"   That is the kind of friends most of us have. When the chips are down, they think of themselves first!
III. DAVID HAD HEROIC FRIENDS
2 Sam. 15:30-37 – Hushai the Archite
A. The next friend to come to David’s side was a man named Hushai. We are told in verse 37 that he is David’s friend. He comes to meet David as David is leaving Jerusalem, and Hushai is clearly in mourning. He is broken hearted over what is happening to his king and to his friend. David sends him back into the city. He tells him to go to Absalom and feign allegiance. David wants Hushai to counter the counsel of old Ahithophel. Ahithophel was David’s counselor, but he was also Bathsheba’s grandfather. He saw the rebellion of Absalom as an opportunity to get even with David for what he had done to Bathsheba and Uriah. So, Hushai does what David asks and saves David’s life, 2 Sam. 17:15-22. He served as David’s eyes and ears in the throne room. He was heroic in that he laid his life on the line for his friend. One slip and Hushai would have been a dead man!
IV. DAVID HAD HELPFUL FRIENDS
2 Sam. 17:27-28 – Shobi, Machir and Barzillai
A. These three men were nobodies who became somebody’s in the life of David. They walked in when most everyone else walked out. When they came, they came in at the right time and they came with exactly what David needed. Let’s look at these men a little closer.
· Shobi – He was an Ammonite. His father, Nahash the king of Ammon was cruel beyond words, 1 Sam. 11. His brother Hunan had embarrassed David’s messengers, 2 Sam. 10. But, Shobi became an ally of David and stood by him through these difficult days. David had fought against his people. But, Shobi did not allow the past to cloud his love for David.
· Machir – He was the man from Lo-debar who gave shelter to Mephibosheth. He was the kind of person who had a tender heart and seemed to want to reach out and help others. He may have thought that he had already given enough, but he gave more because he was David’s friend. He never forgot what David had done for Mephibosheth.
· Barzillai – He was an old man and had plenty of money, 2 Sam. 19:32. He could have said, “Get someone else! I’m old and I’m tired.” But, he didn’t! He was David’s friend and he rose to the challenge. When he was needed, he came and he gave to his friend.
B. These men reveal the true nature of friendship. They gave without being asked and they asked for nothing in return. They gave out of love with no hidden agenda.
C. Notice where David is when these three some to him. He is in a place called “Mahanaim”. This is not the first time this place has been mentioned in the Bible. The first time it is mentioned in during the life of Jacob. As Jacob returned home after 20 years in exile, the angels of the Lord met him in “Mahanaim”, Gen. 32:1-2. Just like the angels came and ministered to Jacob; Shobi, Machir and Barzillai came and did angel’s work in David’s life. Thank God for friends like these!
V. DAVID HAD HONEST FRIENDS
2 Sam. 19:1-8 - Joab
A. The last friend we will consider is David’s nephew, and the commander of his army, Joab. During the battle to retake Jerusalem and to bring David back to the throne, David’s son Absalom becomes trapped in a tree by his hair, 2 Sam. 18:9-17; (Ill. Absalom – 2 Sam. 14:25-26). Joab finds him hanging there and he and his armor-bearers kill Absalom. When David hears the news, he is devastated and goes off by himself to mourn, 2 Sam. 18:23-33. David is overcome with grief and guilt and cannot comprehend that the kingdom had been returned to him.
When Joab hears how David is acting, he went to David and rebuked him for not praising the people for bringing him back to the throne. He reminds David that there are larger issues at stake. David is still king and as king; he has a responsibility to the people. He reminds David that he has a job to do! David sees his error and goes out to meet the people. Joab was a friend because he told David the truth! He would not stand by and watch his friend make a mistake that he would later regret. 
Conc: This period of David’s life was the hardest he would ever face. Yet, face it he did! And, he faced it with the help of his friends. WHAT KIND OF FRIEND RE YOU?  Also, WHAT KIND OF FRIENDS TO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH?  There IS a friend that sticks closer than a brother....Jesus!