A David & Jonathan Kind of Love
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. - 1 Sam. 18:1
The spotlight today is on a love that transcends boundaries… though which ones, we’re not quite sure.
The exact nature of the star-crossed relationship in the Hebrew scriptures between the soon-to-be-king David and son-of-the-current-king Jonathan is hotly disputed in some circles. Is theirs an example in Scripture of deeply committed friendship or of a beautiful, romantic and erotic love? For many, the stakes of these debates feel understandably high.
What if, even without settling this debate, we could claim the subversive power of this love story? As queer theologian Marissa Sotos writes, even if the Bible is ultimately unclear about whether their relationship is sexual:
“the story of David and Jonathan’s relationship remains compelling. What we know we have in this story is an extraordinary example of love and faithfulness between two people of the same gender.”
Our view of love is so often limited, and yet God stretches those boundaries.
If David and Jonathan are lovers, any heteronormative perspectives on romantic love are challenged.
If David and Jonathan are deep friends, then cultural assumptions that only sexual relationships can be truly intimate and committed - a narrative often especially powerful and damaging among men - are likewise smashed.
And the ways we are taught the primacy of love of family and loyalty to tribe… decimated. Instead we see a picture of a new and expanded family that transcends tribal loyalties, an image echoed by Jesus himself.
Is there a way this boundary-stretching story speaks into your life today? What questions or longings does it expose? Talk with Jesus about these things.
+++++++++++++++++
Our devo’s often continue the musings from Sunday sermons, but we are experimenting with weekly opportunities to listen along to the Scripture our children are exploring in Kid Min. Someone somewhere once said something about the value of a child-like faith, after all! (Yup, Jesus in Matt. 18.) Of course, we may also - as adults - explore some deeper layers, as we did today.