The Bond Of Brotherhood

Friendship between two people dedicated to following God is a precious thing.   ~~~   Right after David slays Goliath the giant, King Saul’s son, Jonathan, his heart and soul were knit, intertwined with David’s heart. That word means “tied together,” or “bonded together for a common purpose.” There was an instant bond, the epitome of loving a neighbor as yourself. But what was it that drew Jonathan to David? What was it that tied their hearts together? Well, David had just stepped out with faith in God’s ability to deliver him the great uncircumcised Philistine. Jonathan was swept away with reverence for this kid (no doubt David is younger, much younger, than Jonathan, maybe even 30 years younger). And we saw this same type of faith and boldness in Jonathan back in chapter 14. So the commonality could be their willingness to trust God, to love God, to follow God, to honor God, that they have the same God and the same enemies. There is nothing like finding a fellow man who has the same reverence and awe and will to follow Jesus as you do. There is nothing like it in the world. Modern day commentators want to turn this affection that Jonathan has for David into something immoral. The problem with this is that there is nothing even remotely close to this in the text. What is going on in this passage is nothing but the good providence of God paving a way for David, and here is what I mean. Jonathan is the heir apparent to throne of Israel. If something were to happen to Saul, then his oldest son, Jonathan, would assume the throne, or at least that is what would be expected from all the people. So any one who would be a threat to over-take that throne would be a threat to Jonathan. If anything, Jonathan and David should be bitter enemies. Jonathan should keep his eye on David. But rather, we see the goodness of God moving in Jonathan’s heart towards David, tying his soul to David’s soul. God is the one knitting Jonathan’s life, binding Jonathan’s soul to David. This is brotherhood. This is godly brotherhood taking place here.