Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
1 Samuel 18:1
True friends are difficult to find. It is generally impossible to find a friend without being one first. I had a best friend growing up in West Columbia, and we did everything together. Played basketball, spent countless hours on video games and even rode bikes until dark nearly every day.
I knew what he was thinking, and he knew what I was thinking. I don’t imagine there was ever a summer day that went by that I didn’t see him and do something with him. We were tightly knit. We had a kindred spirit, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do for him.
How about you? Do you have a special friend that means the world to you? That one person who helps you think through problems and listens when you need an ear?
A Friendship is forged through a common interest
Jonathan was an accomplished soldier and was in charge of 1/3 of his father’s army. This experience in the military meant he was at least 20 years old. Jonathan also experienced winning battles just as David did with Goliath (1 Samuel 13:1-4). Both men had a common interest in preserving Israel’s dynasty and influence in the world. So this common interest could have been a significant factor in establishing this friendship.
A Friendship is forged through knitting
I realize this sounds very weird. Knitting? Yes. “The souls of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1).
The idea of knitting a soul to another person means to experience a very close friendship with someone. This described their relationship. They spent time together and learned more and more about each other. Jonathan and David were mostly inseparable. This is something only God can do in a friendship.
A Friendship is forged through love
When I look at 1 Samuel 18:1,3, I see the idea of Jonathan loving David with his own soul. This love is more than a friendship kind of love. It is a love that someone has for another person and is selfless.
How do we know this was a selfless love? Hold on…
As we read a little further, we see that Jonathan gave his robe, armor, sword, bow, and belt to David. Who does this? A true friend. Jonathan was Saul’s eldest son and would one day assume the throne in his father’s place. Nevertheless, they had a fascinating and unique friendship. David, no doubt, shared his kingly anointing by Samuel with Jonathan at some point. They also had a similar interest in beating the Philistines.
A Friendship is forged through covenant
Covenant is a strange word for us today. We mostly don’t understand the biblical idea of covenant. It means to establish something that cannot be broken (1 Samuel 18:3).
Do you have that one person you love unconditionally, and nothing will break your bond? I’m talking about a special friend. You don’t go looking for it, and it takes a great deal of time and investment.
This friendship was a covenant friendship. In fact, at one point, Jonathan, the heir apparent to the throne, put his royal regalia on David as he recognized David’s exalted position as the next king of Israel. Jonathan put his aspirations of becoming a king himself. He truly cared about David more than himself.
Jonathan was indeed a friend.