JONATHAN’S LOVE
Jesus summarized the laws into 2 principles- loving God with the greatest intensity and loving one’s neighbor as oneself. The one man who practiced these to near perfection was Jonathan, son of Saul. His faith in God was legendary and he won a great battle for Israel as he single-handedly initiated a rout of the enemy at a time when Israel was desperate (1Samuel 14). He also demonstrated what true love is in his relationship with David. Though he could have been in line for the throne after his father Saul, Jonathan was able to recognize David as God’s anointed and chosen for the throne. In David he saw a kindred spirit, one who loved God just as he did and established a life-long relationship of brotherly love with him.
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. (1Samuel 18:1-4)
Jonathan was willing to talk the talk and walk the walk and in doing so, he willingly gave David the right to the throne of Israel. Such sacrifice would be unheard of in those times or even now where people have a tendency to cling to all that they materially possess or could potentially possess. But for a deep-rooted confidence in God and hope in eternal life to come, it is not possible to detach oneself from the material possessions which glitter albeit for a moment. Jonathan did not keep his affection for David private, but acted on it by representing him before Saul and was able to change his father’s mind on one occasion.
Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. ——. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?” Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be put to death.” (1Samuel 19:4-6)
His willingness to go to the limits in protecting and aiding David is remarkable.
Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do for you.” (1Samuel 20:4)
But for Jonathan’s help, David likely would have been killed by Saul, when he was hunting him down.
At a time when David was alone and on the run, where every step was fraught with danger and death only a step away, it was Jonathan’s fellowship that helped David find strength in God.
And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. (1Samuel 23:16)
A good index of true godly friendship is the extent to which one can inspire the other to find strength in God. Words and actions can help only so much, but directing one towards God, praying for succor and rooting a person in God is what great friends do. It is worth adding that there is nothing in the Biblical account that would support the notion that David and Jonathan had a gay relationship. This is no more worthy of mention than the assumption that Jesus had a physical relationship with Mary just because people who are inclined to think so would interpret the Bible any way that would suit them and support their assumptions.
Jonathan was likely torn between supporting David and also staying true to his father for his battles against the Philistines. He chose to do the latter and died alongside his father, a promising life cut short early. David’s eulogy summarized what Jonathan meant to him,
I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women. (2Samuel 1:26)
A brother, who loved as God would want a person to love.
