“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” (1 Samuel 18:1).
Introduction
David’s victory over Goliath endeared him to the people of Israel. Jonathan, Saul’s son made a lifelong friendship with him. It is interesting that Jonathan, who had previously defeated the Philistines did not go out against the giant, “And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel” (1 Samuel 14:12). Jonathan obviously knew that the hand of God was upon David.
The strong bond
The Hebrew word “qashar” is used to describe the strong bond friendship of Jonathan and David. We could just as well say that their souls were super-glued together. This is the basis of Jonathan’s love for David. To suggest anything else only reveals the impure heart of the one trying to read into the text something that is not there.
Love
This word seems to have caused many to believe that a homosexual relationship existed between the pair, but then the same idea is used in Genesis 43:30 where we read of the intense and special love Joseph had for his brother Benjamin, “And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother.” The exact term is used (in Hebrew) in Genesis 44:30 when we read that Jacob’s “life is bound up in the lad's life.” There is nothing ungodly in any of this.
Those who hold to such a warped view of David do not understand what the Scriptures teach. 1 Kings 15:5 tells us, “David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” This could not be true if he was a homosexual, something that was an abomination in the eyes of God. “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” (Leviticus 18:22). Homosexuality has always been condemned in Scripture. “And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet” (Romans 1:27). No homosexual will enter Heaven unless he or she repents of their abominable lifestyles. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind” (1 Corinthians 6:9).
The love that Jonathan and David had was purely platonic. The New Testament would describe this as “brotherly love” (see Romans 12:10, Hebrews 13:1). The Lord Jesus Christ commands “Love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). “The friendship of David and Jonathan was the effect of Divine grace, which produces in true believers one heart and one soul, and causes them to love each other” (Matthew Henry).
Everything to lose
To fully appreciate the love Jonathan had for David, we must understand that he had everything to lose in doing so. He was, in the normal run of things, next inline to the throne, but we find that he will relinquish his rights as prince in favour of the shepherd boy. He will experience the deep wrath of his father for doing this. Jonathan looked at things through spiritual eyes, exactly as David did. He was willing to give up his whole world to gain the friendship of David. We are called to do the same for Jesus, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26).
Conclusion
David gained both the victory over Goliath and the affection of Jonathan that day. Their love was deeper than that of brothers joined in a family relationship, for the friendship of David and Jonathan was a spiritual relationship. Such a relationship is very rare. “There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). Jonathan and David were kindred spirits. Only a reprobate mind would think otherwise.
© 2/2/2009