5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
but an enemy multiplies kisses. (Pretends to love us) Proverbs 27
We may not like the truth behind this verse, when or if it happens to us, after all no one expects friends to be critical. However verse 5 says their spoken correction is better than hidden admiration. There may be times when we need to hear something unpalatable about ourselves and those around us may be the ones to speak it out, pleasant or not. It’s better to know the truth now and be able to do something about it, than carry on unaware of a failing in our character.
We’ve been looking at King David’s life, a man who was under immense pressure most of the time, with his followers and eventually the whole nation of Israel depending on him. Nathan was the King’s personal prophet and spoke God’s word to David in different situations. He told David that because he had a heart to build the Temple for the worship of God that, ‘his house and kingdom would endure forever’. 2 Samuel 7:14
However, there was another instance where Nathan had to speak into David’s life, which wasn’t so pleasant. He brought a word of judgment from the Lord regarding David’s adultery with Bathsheba and the death of her husband, Uriah. 2 Samuel 12 Nathan was close to David, but he spoke the truth to him. Friends who know us well may be in the best position to share things we urgently need to hear, whether we appreciate them at the time or not. We need to discern if there’s truth in what people speak into our lives and ask the Lord for Grace to change if that’s needed.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.
Wishing all our friends in America a blessed and peaceful Thanksgiving.