IMMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN -Was It a Sexual Relationship?

 Some researchers have claimed that the relationship between Jonathan and David was a homosexual liaison. Does the Bible support that view? Consider the following points.

. The Bible verses used to support that view do not really suggest a sexual relationship.  Often cited are David's words about Jonathan: "More wonderful was your love for me than the love of women." (2 Samuel 1:26) Some also refer to the verses that mentioned that the two men kissed each other. (1 Samuel 20:41) However, such words and expressions of affection between two men were quite common in Bible times and in the culture of the Middle East, without suggesting anything sexual at all. - 1 SAMUEL 10:1; 2 SAMUEL 19:39. 

Note:  Also, if they had read the Bible correctly and asked God to help them to understand or discern it. It would tell you that Jehovah did not like or approve of same sex love or sexual relationships. Also, these people do not really know what real love is between friends or relatives or marriages or their would not be so many divorces. There is too much selfishness out there to know what true love is between people. Their minds seem dark to me to think such thoughts. 

. Both men were married to women and fathered Children. David had several wives and many children. (2 Samuel 5:13-16) Jonathan's wife is not named, but he fathered a son named Mephibosheth, or Merib-baal. - 2 SAMUEL 4:4; 1 CHRONICLES 8:34. 

Next time: Was It a Sexual Relationship? - Conclusion

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"You Were Very Dear to Me" - Conclusion

 David never forgot his vow to Jonathan. Years later he sought out and took care of Jonathan's disabled son, Mephibosheth. (2 Samuel 9:1-13) Clearly, David had learned much from Jonathan's loyalty and honor and his willingness to stick loyally to a friend even when such loyalty came at a high price. Will we learn such lessons as well? Can we seek out friends like Jonathan? Can we show such friendship ourselves? If we help our friends to build and strengthen their faith in Jehovah, if we put our loyalty to God first, and if we remain loyal instead of seeking our own interests, we will be the kind of friend that Jonathan was. And we will imitate his faith.

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN -Was It aa Sexual Relationship? 

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"You Were Very Dear to Me" - Continue

 Jonathan went to battle at his father's side against the Philistines, avowed enemies of Israel. He could fight alongside his father in good conscience, for he did not let his father's wrongs get in the way of his own service to Jehovah. He fought bravely and loyally as he always had, but the battle went badly for Israel. Saul's wickedness had extended even to spiritism, a capital offense under God's Law, so Jehovah was no longer blessing Saul. Three of Saul's sons, including Jonathan were killed in battle. Saul was wounded and took his own life. - 1 SAMUEL 28:6-14; 312-6.

David was stricken with grief. That bighearted man even grieved for Saul, who had caused him so much misery and hardship! David wrote a dirge over Saul and Jonathan. Perhaps the most touching words relate to David's beloved mentor and friend: "I am distressed over you, my brother Jonathan; you were very dear to me. More wonderful was your love to me than the love of a women." - 2 SAMUEL 1:26. 

Next time: "You Were Very Dear to Me" - Conclusion

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"You Were Very Dear to Me" -Continue

 "Do not be afraid" Jonathan told his young friend. He added this reassurance: "My father Saul will not find you." On what was that reassurance based? On Jonathan's deep faith that Jehovah's purpose would succeed. He went on: "You will be king over Israel." The prophet Samuel had been commissioned to say that years earlier, and Jonathan now reminded David that Jehovah's word is always reliable. And how did Jonathan see his own future? "I will become second to you." What priceless humility the man showed! He would be content to serve under the command of this man who was 30 years his junior, to serve as his supportive right hand! Jonathan concluded: "My father Saul also knows that." (1 Samuel 23:17, 18) In his heart, Saul knew that he was doomed to lose this fight against the man Jehovah had chosen to be the next king!

In the years that followed, David surely looked back often and fondly on that meeting. It was their last. Sadly, Jonathan's hope to become second to David was never realized. 

Next time: "You Were Very Dear to Me" -Continue 

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IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN - "Your Were Very Dear to Me"

 Saul's hatred for David grew into an obsession. Jonathan was helpless as he watched his father descend into a king of madness, amassing his army and leading it around the country, seeking to destroy one innocent man. (1 Samuel 24:1, 2, 12-15; 26:20) Did Jonathan take part? Interestingly, the Scriptures never mention him in connection with any of those misguided campaigns. Jonathan's loyalty to Jehovah, to David and to his own oath of friendship made such a thing impossible.

His feelings for his young friend never changed. In time, he found a way to meet David again. It was in Horesh, which means "Wooded Place." Horesh was in a wild mountainous region likely a few miles southeast of Hebron. Why did Jonathan risk going out to see this fugitive? The Bible tells us that his motive was to help David "find strength in Jehovah." (1 Samue 23:16) How did Jonathan do so?

Next time: "You Were Very Dear to Me" - Continue

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The Price of Loyalty - Conclusion

 The next morning, Jonathan went out into the field near David's hiding place. He fired off an arrow as agreed, letting David know that Saul was still intent on killing him. Then Jonathan sent his attendant back into the city. He and David were alone, so they had a fleeting chance to talk. Both men wept, and Jonathan sadly saw his young friend off as David started his new life as a refugee. - 1 SAMUEL 20:35-42. 

Jonathan's loyalty passed the test of self-interest. Satan, the enemy of all faithful, would surely have loved to see Jonathan follow in Saul's steps and put his own ambitions for power to glory first. Remember, Satan loves to appeal to the selfish inclinations of humans. He succeeded with Adam and Eve, our first parents. (Genesis 3:1-6) Yet he failed with Jonathan. How frustrated Satan must have been! Will you resist similar attempts? We live in times when selfishness is epidemic. (2 Timothy 3:1-5) Will we learn from Jonathan's selfless, loyal spirit? 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN - "You Were Very Dear to Me" 

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IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN - The Price of Loyalty

 Jonathan tried again to reconcile Saul with David but he had even less success. David came to see Jonathan in secret, revealing that he feared for his own life. "There is only a step between me and death!" he told his older friend. Jonathan agreed to test out his father's feelings on the matter and let David know where things stood. While David hid, Jonathan would signal him the news by using a bow and arrows. Jonathan asked only to swear to this promise: "Never withdraw your loyal love from my household, even when Jehovah wipes out all the enemies of David from the face of the earth." David agreed that he would always look out for those of Jonathan's household. - 1 SAMUEL 20:3, 13-27.

Jonathan tried to speak well of David to Saul, but the king became enraged! He called Jonathan a "son of a rebellious woman" and derided his loyalty to David as shameful to the family. He tried to appeal to Jonathan's self-interest: "As long as the son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingship will not be firmly established." Unmoved, Jonathan again pleaded with his father: "Why should he be put to death? What has he done?" Saul exploded in violence! Though aged, Saul was still a mighty warrior. He hurled a spear at his son! Practiced though he may have been, he missed. Deeply hurt and humiliated, Jonathan left in anger. - 1 SAMUEL 20:24-34. 

Next time: The Price of Loyalty - Conclusion

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The Challenge of Conflicting Loyalties - Conclusion

 Jonathan spoke up: "The king should not sin against his servant Daviid, for he has not sinned against you and what he has done for you had benefited you. He risked his lif3e to strike down the Philistine, so that Jehovah brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it, and you were overjoyed. So why should you sin against innocent blood in having David put to death for no reason?" In a rare moment of reasonableness, Saul listened to Jonathan and even swore not to harm David. But Saul was not a man of his word. After David had more successes, Saul was so full of jealous rage that he hurled a spear at him! (1 Samuel 19:4-6, 9, 10) But David escaped and fled Saul's court.

Have you ever faced conflicting loyalties? It can be very painful. In such situations, some would advise you that family should always come first. But Jonathan knew better.  How could he side with his father when David was a loyal, obedient servant of Jehovah? So Jonathan let his loyalty to Jehovah rule his decision. That was why he stood up for Davide. Still, although Jonathan's loyalty to God came first, he proved loyalty to his father by counseling him honestly instead of telling him what he wanted to her. Each one of us would benefit by imitating the way Jonathan showed loyalty. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN - The Price of Loyalty

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The Challenge of Conflicting Loyalties

 At first, Saul was very fond of David and placed him in charge of his army. Before long, though, Saul fell victim to the very enemy that failed to conquer Jonathan-jealousy. David met with victory after victory against Israel's enemies, the Philistines. David thus won praise and admiration. Some women of Israel even sang: "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." Saul did not like that song.  "From that day on," we read, "Saul was always looking at David suspiciously." (1 Samuel 18:7, 9) He feared that David would try to take the kingship away from. That was foolish on Saul's part. True, David knew that he was to succeed Saul, but he never even considered supplanting Jehovah's anointed king while the man still reigned!

Saul schemed to get David killed in battle, but nothing worked. David kept winning battles and growing in the esteem of the people. Saul's next move was to try to unite his household-all his servants and his eldest son-in a plot to kill David! Imagine how sick at heart Jonathan must have been to see his father act that way! (1 Samuel 18:25-30; 19:1) Jonathan was a loyal son, but he was also a loyal friend. Now that those loyalties seemed to be in conflict, which one should win out? 

Next time: The Challenge of Conflicting Loyalties - Conclusion 

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IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN - The Foundation of Friendship -Conclusion

 The covenant they made was a real protection for their friendship. How so? You see, David knew what Jehovah had in store for him: He was to become the next king of Israel! Did he withhold the knowledge from Jonathan? Hardly! A good friendship such as theirs thrives on open communication, not on secrets and lies. How might learning of David's prospect have affected Jonathan? What if Jonathan had cherished a hope of becoming king one day and righting his father's wrongs? The Bible tells us nothing about any internal struggle Jonathan may have had; it tells us only of what truly matters, Jonathan's loyalty and his faith. He could see that Jehovah's spirit was with David. (1 Samuel 16:1, 11-13) So Jonathan fulfilled his oath and continued to view David, not as his rival, but as his friend. Jonathan wanted to see Jehovah's will done. 

That friendship turned out to be a great blessing. What can we learn from Jonathan's faith? Any servant of God does well to see the value of friendship. Our friends need not match our age or background, but they can do us enormous good if they have genuine faith. Jonathan and David were able to strengthen and encourage each other many times. And they would both need such help, for their friendship was about to face even greater tests.

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN -The Challenge of Conflicting Loyalties

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