Soulful Connections In Spiritual Love | 1 Samuel 18:1-4

Are you perverting or forsaking experiences in love?

Welcome to the Daily Devo. I am Vince Miller.

This week, we are reading 1 Samuel 18. I've titled this chapter "Allies and Adversaries."

David comes back from defeating Goliath and speaks with King Saul with the head of Goliath in his hand, and we pick up in verse 1:

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And 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. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. — 1 Samuel 18:1-4

What we witness here is a deep, soulful connection between Jonathan and David. You will see love for David all over this chapter:

• Jonathan loved him as his own soul (18:1).
• He loved him as his own soul (18:3).
• But all Israel and Judah loved David (18:16).
• Michal loved David (18:20).
• Saul's daughter loved him (18:28).

There is something unique about brotherly affection or spiritual love. It is distinct and fulfilling in a way that some do not understand. I have experienced this numerous times in my ministry and spiritual life. Jesus referenced this in Matthew 12 when he was in a crowded home, and his biological family was waiting outside for him. Here's the text:

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” — Matthew 12:46-50

Jesus is referencing the divine family we are adopted into under the Heavenly Father and the fact that this relationship between us, him, and each other enjoys certain benefits and priorities that transcend those of our biological family.

In my opinion, the gay community loves to hijack a misinterpretation of this relationship. It uses it as textual support for homosexual love when there is no evidence of this anywhere between these two men. They read homosexual love into this text (i.e., eisegesis), which twists and perverts the beauty of the love between these two men because they don't understand the profound connection of spiritual love.

But, while the gay community perverts it, many in the Christian community forsake it. Believers often miss out on the experience of true spiritual love because we are not committed to a community of faith. We get saved. We may attend a church. But if we are not connected with the community, we behave like consumers. Christian consumers miss out on the soulful experience of spiritual love. When we don't experience it, this has an ongoing effect on spiritual love because if we are not it, we won't talk about it, share it, or extend it.

I experience spiritual love with believers all the time. It's not sexual, but it is soulfilling. These soulful friends are closer than a biological brother (Prov. 18:24). They pour into me, and I pour into them, and I have no problem leaving a conversation with them, declaring, "I love you, brother."

I think every believer wants to know this, and I believe Jesus wants you to enjoy it. But to experience it, you must stop forsaking (or perverting) spiritual love in the family of faith. Only you can take the needed initiative and insert yourself into a relationship with believers. It will take time and effort, but once you experience it, you will know what it means to be knit to the soul of another. And then you will know what David and Jonathan had here, that was so special.

#SpiritualLove, #BrotherlyBond, #DivineConnection

Ask This:

1. How can you actively seek out and cultivate deeper, soulful connections within your faith community, and what steps might you take to move beyond a consumer mentality in your relationships with fellow believers?
2. In what ways might you be inadvertently perverting or forsaking the true nature of spiritual love, and how can you realign your approach to fully embrace and experience the depth of affection described between David and Jonathan?

Do This:

Take the initiative and experience spiritual love.

Pray This:

Lord, help me recognize and cherish the profound spiritual connections You’ve placed in my life. Guide me to actively engage with my faith community in a meaningful way. Teach me to embrace and reflect Your divine love, fostering relationships that mirror the depth of the bond between David and Jonathan. Amen.

Play This:

Brother.