July 29, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. 10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
A friend who has a good and godly nature and gives good and godly counsel is as ointment and perfume to the heart. That friend gives hearty counsel.
The phrase “hearty counsel” is composed of three hebrews words meaning blood, counsel and soul. In other words the counsel of a true friend is one that comes from the true inner core. It is given with deep seated honesty and comes from the soul. It’s not fluffy garbage that people give placating and soothing you just to make you happy. NO, this counsel is true and right. Being written in a Psalm, this counsel is true and right not only with you from a friend, it is right with God.
I am reminded of the counsel of Johnathan and David as they communed with each other. They were friends who were friends indeed.
1Samuel 18:1 And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. 4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle. (Read 1 Samuel chapters 18 - 20.)
Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. 10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
This Psalm also gives us another scenario: When grief and calamity rise, it is often better depend on a tried and true friend, than to depend on relatives.
I have met some very strong families who will at any cost help their own. However, there are those, more often than not, who forsake their own as well.
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
There is one friend that sticks closer than a brother and a friend that will always give hearty and true counsel. This dear friend is Jesus, who gave His life and shed His blood to give you hearty counsel from the soul to the soul.
Jesus said in Revelation 3:18 “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
