Jonathan

1 Samuel 18 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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. 

Things just go from bad to worse for Saul.  David, unbeknownst to him, is the new anointed King.  David has also killed the greatly feared Philistine, and David is the only one who can soothe Saul's own tired nerves.

And now, to make things even worse, in chapter 18, two of Saul's children fall head over heels for David.  To mixed ends, as it turns out.

First, today is Jonathan.  Jonathan would be Saul's heir, but from this moment on, Jonathan has a covenant with David.  Covenants are bound promises.  That's big time!  For all intents and purposes, David and Jonathan become knit together.

These days, in modern television and film, it is hard to come upon real stories of friendship.  The kind of bound friendship that we see here.  Much has been made as to what kind of love is described here.  Platonic love?  Romantic love?

Covenants were usually political in nature - so, my hunch has always been that the love between Jonathan and David is much like the bond two soldiers fighting side by side have for each other: comrades in arms.  It is more than every day friendship, which itself is something I see less and less of in these days of social media "friends." 

Do you have a friend you feel that tightly bound to?  Someone that you feel as much loyalty to as a spouse or a family member?  Someone that you feel as if you share a soul with?

It is, I think, the kind of friend God continually tries to be to the people of Israel throughout the Hebrew Scriptures.  

Who else makes covenants?  

God does.

It seems clear that this bond between Jonathan and David is shown as a contrast to the increasingly isolated and self-absorbed Saul.  The more Saul reaches in rather than outward toward God, the more isolated he becomes.  Saul, it seems clear, is not the kind who would have such a strong friendship.

Yesterday my daughter told me of a conversation she had about how the children younger than she (she's only 19), are becoming more isolated even than she and her peers who rely on "texting" to communicate with each other.  

It isn't then perhaps too much of a wonder then that the friendship of David and Jonathan can cause such consternation.  Friendship - deep, abiding friendship - sometimes feels as if it is going the way of the dinosaur. 

Saul's great sin perhaps was that he looked ever inward.

Incurvatus in se, as Luther said.  Curved in on oneself.

David on the other hand, in his great friendship with Jonathan, and with God, looked outward.  It is only by looking outward that we can really, truly see the other.  And it is only in seeing them - and loving them for who they are - that real friendship can flourish.

God of love and friendship, help me always to reach outward.  To see beyond myself and to trust in true friendship.  The kind of love and friendship that you show me every day.  Amen.