William Barkley points out in his commentary on this passage that there was a common practice in the ancient world of sending letters of commendations with a person when he traveled into strange and foreign communities. To insure his reputation or even safety, these letters written by a trusted friend would testify to his character. It was sometimes difficult, however, to determine whether a recommendation was sincere or merely flattery or, worse, forgery.

The same is true today, isn't it? If we don't know someone, we look for a recommendation. There is a true story recorded in the popular book, Chicken Soup for the Soul. It is a story about a man who wrote a letter to a small hotel in the Midwest. He planned to stay there during his vacation and wrote the owner this letter. "I would very…