Deep friendship can bind two lives together in loyalty and love.
“And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”1 Samuel 18:1 (KJV)
What does “Knit together” mean in 1 Samuel 18:1?
After David defeated Goliath, Jonathan, the king's son, formed a lasting bond with him. The phrase knit with the soul means joined at the deepest level, in loyalty and affection.
Going deeper
The story says, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Jonathan was a prince, and David a shepherd who had become a hero. Jonathan could have been jealous, since David was becoming popular. Instead, he chose friendship and loyalty. He even gave David his robe and weapons. Their friendship shows what it looks like to celebrate another person without envy.
True friendship often needs that kind of generosity. Ask whether there is someone you have envied when you could instead celebrate them. Let go of comparison, and draw close. Or think about a friend you could deepen the relationship with by spending time, sharing honestly, and standing by them. Deep bonds are gifts from God, and they are built by choices to love, over time. Invest in one friendship this week, and let it be knit more closely.
Reflect
Whom could you draw closer to this week in friendship, and celebrate without envy?
Pray
Lord, thank You for the gift of deep friendship. Free me from envy, and help me to love my friends as myself. In Jesus' name, amen.
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