Useful Bible Studies > 2 Samuel Commentary > chapter 1
David’s poem about the deaths of Saul and Jonathan suddenly becomes much more personal. David has described Saul as a true hero, a great leader and a brave and strong man. The same things were also true about Saul’s son Jonathan – however, David cannot merely describe Jonathan in that way.
That was because David knew Jonathan as a genuine friend. From the first time that Jonathan met David, Jonathan truly cared about David (1 Samuel 18:1-4). Although Jonathan was much older than David, he (Jonathan) constantly showed kindness to David. Jonathan had the right to become Israel’s next king – but Jonathan wanted David to be king. Even when Saul was trying to kill David, Jonathan still supported David (1 Samuel 23:16-18).
David considered Jonathan’s attitude towards him to be true love. It was the kind of love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. It is the kind of love that Christ urges God’s people to show to each other (John 13:34-35). Both David and Jonathan had a strong relationship with God; and they encouraged each other in their relationship with God (1 Samuel 23:16).
David had several wives, and his relationships with them were not always good (6:21-23). However, the love that a good wife shows to her husband is truly wonderful (Proverbs 31:10-31). Jonathan’s love was even more wonderful because it was not merely human love. Rather, it was the love that God showed to David by means of Jonathan, David’s true friend.
Next part: David had no bitter feelings towards Saul (2 Samuel 1:27)
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