Day 237 – Friend

Proverbs 27:5 Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

• God’s names:
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal
• Yeshuwa/Iesous – Jesus
• Soter – Savior
• Kurios – Supreme Authority

• God’s character:
• Faithful
• Friend
• Wisdom

It is easier to take rebuke or criticism from someone you know and love than it is from people you don’t know or trust. Friends’ wounds hurt less than the kisses — compliments — of those who want to get on your good side, only to stab you in the back at their first opportunity.

Solomon was a man who understood love, open and concealed better than anyone with his many wives and concubines. He also knew that open rebuke was much better than concealed love. Solomon also understood the love and faithfulness of friends and knew that the kisses of the enemy stung like a scorpion or an adder — they were deceitful and deadly.

Solomon learned that the best thing a person could do when confronted by an enemy was to take it to YAHWEH as his father, David did.

Psalm 141:5 Let the righteous strike me; it will be kindness. And let him rebuke me; it will be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it. For still my prayer is against the deeds of the wicked.

People with evil intent conceal their wickedness with kisses. Solomon knew how to read people with the wisdom YAHWEH gave him.

As Christians, you recognize the verse above as one of the Messianic verses, when it talks about the deceitful kiss from an enemy because Judas, one of the twelve disciples, betrayed Yeshuwa with a kiss.

Luke 22:47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Iesous to kiss Him. 48 But Iesous said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Do you know your friends? Judas was among Jesus’ friends and disciples. Yet, he betrayed Yeshuwa with a kiss. Yeshuwa knew what Judas would do because it was prophesied by both David and Solomon. He also told His disciples at the Passover supper that one of them would betray Him.

Most people would never suspect their friends would betray them or treat them with cruel intent. Yet Yeshuwa knew the minds and motives of His disciples and the one who would betray Him.

In His prayer before His crucifixion, Yeshuwa prayed for everyone — present and future — and He showed He knew that no one would be lost to Him except the son of perdition so Scripture could be fulfilled.

John 17:12 “While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (NKJV)

Why did you accept Yeshuwa as Soter and Kurios? Many skeptics want to get close to Yeshuwa claiming they’re Christians so they can expose their faith as lies. Satan will do everything he can to make the gospel look like a lie, even kiss Yeshuwa’s faithful followers with compliments to gain trust. But they are worse than the sting of a scorpion or the bite of an adder.

Yeshuwa knew who was faithful and who would betray Him. You can easily accept open rebuke from your friends. It’s the compliments of those who profess to be Christians but aren’t that you need to be careful. Your faithfulness will always show people the truth of your love for Yeshuwa. Don’t conceal your love for Him. Yeshuwa does not conceal His love for you.

Let’s pray: Father, give me discernment so I know who my friends are and those who only flatter, but their hearts aren’t kind. Know my heart Lord and let me show Your love to everyone. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 13 September 2026 by Valerie Routhieaux

May God bless you with the faithfulness of friends as you show faithfulness to your friends.