Friendlessness

The experience of friendlessness

The darkness of being alone

Psalm 88:18 KJV 1900

Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, And mine acquaintance into darkness.

See also Ps 88:8; Ps 102:7; Ps 142:4

Contempt and rejection

Psalm 31:11–12 KJV 1900

I was a reproach among all mine enemies, But especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: They that did see me without fled from me. I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.

See also Ps 38:11

Hatred and loathing

Job 19:13–19 KJV 1900

He hath put my brethren far from me, And mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. My kinsfolk have failed, And my familiar friends have forgotten me. They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, Count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight. I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth. My breath is strange to my wife, Though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body. Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me. All my inward friends abhorred me: And they whom I loved are turned against me.

See also Job 30:10

Slander and conspiracy

Psalm 31:13 KJV 1900

For I have heard the slander of many: Fear was on every side: While they took counsel together against me, They devised to take away my life.

See also Je 20:10

Examples of friendlessness

Elijah

1 Kings 19:10 KJV 1900

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

Jesus Christ

Mark 14:50 KJV 1900

And they all forsook him, and fled.

See also Is 53:3; Mt 26:56; Jn 16:32

The prodigal son

Luke 15:16 KJV 1900

And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

The lame man at the pool of Bethesda

John 5:7 KJV 1900

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Paul

2 Timothy 4:16 KJV 1900

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.

See also 2 Ti 4:10–11

The undesirability of friendlessness

Ge 2:18; Ec 4:9–12

Cultivating true friends is the way to avoid friendlessness

1 Sa 18:1; Ps 119:63

See also Lk 16:19