God's People: Jonathan
When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that he was wearing, and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him; as a result, Saul set him over the army. And all the people, even the servants of Saul, approved. ~ I Samuel 18:1-5
Things go from bad to worse for Saul. Unbeknownst to him, David is the new anointed king. And David is the one who killed the greatly feared Philistine. AND David is the only one who can soothe Saul's own tired nerves.
But to make matters even worse, in Chapter 18, two of Saul's children fall head over heels for David - to mixed results as it turns out.
First, Jonathan. Jonathan would be Saul's heir, but from this moment on, Jonathan has a covenant with David. Covenants are bound promises...a big deal! Jonathan - the man who would be king - has declared obeisance (ie: homage, loyalty, submission, worship) to David. In essence, he is giving up his place to David. He is declaring love for the man who would take his place!
These days, it is hard to come upon such examples of loyalty and loving friendship. Much has been made about the love here between Jonathan and David. Was it platonic love? Was it romantic love?
There is no way to know for sure. Either way, it is one of the most closely knit friendships in scripture.
Covenants were usually political in nature, so whatever the love there was between the two, it had at a minimum a similarity to comrades in arms: the bond of two soldiers who would lay down their lives for each other.
It is more than every day friendship. More than "meeting for coffee" kind of friendship, or social media friendship, or even than some friendship that may go back decades.
It is clear that this bond between David and Jonathan shown as a contrast to the increasingly isolated and self-absorbed Saul.
Saul is not capable of such deep abiding loyalty.
Saul is not able to be connected so tightly by a loving covenant.
But who else is? Who else is it that makes covenants based on deep abiding love?
God does.
Already, God is showing that the king God has chosen is one for whom loyalty and love is important. One who can understand the kind of covenant offered by the most High.
Do you have a friend that you feel so tightly bound to? Someone that you feel as much loyalty to as a family member - or more perhaps. Someone you "love as your own soul?"
Someone who reminds you of the deep abiding love of God?
Prayer: God of love and friendship, help me always to reach out beyond myself in love and loyalty so that I can experience the true friendship that you desire for me. Amen.
Things go from bad to worse for Saul. Unbeknownst to him, David is the new anointed king. And David is the one who killed the greatly feared Philistine. AND David is the only one who can soothe Saul's own tired nerves.
But to make matters even worse, in Chapter 18, two of Saul's children fall head over heels for David - to mixed results as it turns out.
First, Jonathan. Jonathan would be Saul's heir, but from this moment on, Jonathan has a covenant with David. Covenants are bound promises...a big deal! Jonathan - the man who would be king - has declared obeisance (ie: homage, loyalty, submission, worship) to David. In essence, he is giving up his place to David. He is declaring love for the man who would take his place!
These days, it is hard to come upon such examples of loyalty and loving friendship. Much has been made about the love here between Jonathan and David. Was it platonic love? Was it romantic love?
There is no way to know for sure. Either way, it is one of the most closely knit friendships in scripture.
Covenants were usually political in nature, so whatever the love there was between the two, it had at a minimum a similarity to comrades in arms: the bond of two soldiers who would lay down their lives for each other.
It is more than every day friendship. More than "meeting for coffee" kind of friendship, or social media friendship, or even than some friendship that may go back decades.
It is clear that this bond between David and Jonathan shown as a contrast to the increasingly isolated and self-absorbed Saul.
Saul is not capable of such deep abiding loyalty.
Saul is not able to be connected so tightly by a loving covenant.
But who else is? Who else is it that makes covenants based on deep abiding love?
God does.
Already, God is showing that the king God has chosen is one for whom loyalty and love is important. One who can understand the kind of covenant offered by the most High.
Do you have a friend that you feel so tightly bound to? Someone that you feel as much loyalty to as a family member - or more perhaps. Someone you "love as your own soul?"
Someone who reminds you of the deep abiding love of God?
Prayer: God of love and friendship, help me always to reach out beyond myself in love and loyalty so that I can experience the true friendship that you desire for me. Amen.