When Friends Turn Against Us

David had initiated friendly relations with Nahash, king of Ammon, who had reciprocated with acts of kindness toward David. It was in the interest of repaying that kindness and in a friendly spirit that David sent a delegation to Hanun at the time of his father’s death. The delegation was treated scandalously, and David’s motives were slanderously attacked. Of course, there were no grounds for such suspicions. Men who themselves act basely toward their neighbors are most likely to suspect such behavior in others.

One of the marks of a godly person is that he does not take up a reproach against his friend (Ps. 15:3). Even secret slanderers will be destroyed (Ps. 101:5). The Christian must strive to rid himself of this sin, for it is a characteristic of a worldly person (2 Cor. 12:20). He must also be prepared sometimes for slanderous response to the good which he is attempting to do (1 Pet. 2:12). When this happens, the Christian is in the company of his Lord (Matt. 11:19).

Taken from The Devotional Daily Bible