The Daily: Friday June 21, 2024

Daily Lectionary Reading: Psalm 9:9-20 (NRSV, The Message); 1 Samuel 17:55-18:5 (NRSV, The Message); Acts 21:1-16 (NRSV,  The Message)

Once David finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David became intertwined, and Jonathan loved David with all his heart and soul. Seeing this, Saul took David in, and wouldn’t allow him to return home. And Jonathan and David made a solemn covenant with one another, for they loved each other as much as they loved themselves. Then Jonathan took off his robe and his tunic, and gave them to David; he also gave him his sword, his bow, and his belt. 1 Samuel 18:1-4
_{Priests for Equality. The Inclusive Bible (p. 466). Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition.1 Samuel 15:30-31 (NRSV)}

The relationship between David and Jonathan was a deep one. If we were to read into it more than waht the text revelas, it might be an appropriate counterbalance for centuries of reading less into the relationship this passage explores.

Jonathan and David's love was intense. At the very least, Jonathan divested himself of his royal garb and weapons and stood naked and powerless before David, making him his equal.
In a note on this passage from the Inclusive Bible, we are reminded that "erotic friendship and love between hero warriors was a rather common theme in antiquity, examples include Gilgamesh and Enkidu, Achilles and Patroclus, and Alexander the Great and Hephaestion." (p. 489)

It is appropriate that this text would pop up in the waning days of Pride month. Who knows if the relationship between David and Jonathan would even fall into a catoegory that we understand today? It reminds us, that God works in a variety of relationships and is involved in all the ways we love.