Focus: True

Text: 1Sam.18:4

"And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle."

Where can we find true love in this world? The heart of man yearns for true love - love that is real and true. Worldly love leaves a bad taste in our mouths. Something heavenly is missing in our earthly love. 

There's so much of self in the world's kind of love. We are even told that self-preservation is the first law of the universe. We love because we are in need of it, not because the other person needs it. A young man broke up with his girlfriend, and when asked his reason for doing that, he simply said, 'I don't feel like it anymore.' His love for his girlfriend ended abruptly because he no longer felt the love. Can you imagine that? He didn't care if he hurt the girl he once passionately loved. 

Human love is very sentimental and circumstantial. It is more or less based on fleeting emotions, physical attraction, selfish interests, and material benefits.

Real and true love is divine. "God is love," John tells us. Jonathan is a clear example or evidence of genuine love. He watched as David talked with Saul, his father, and his heart went all out to him. Jonathan loved David - just like that. The Word says, "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… Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul" (1Sam.18:1,3). 

The love was true, real and deep. No one could stop Jonathan from loving David, not even Saul, his father. Out of that love a covenant was established between them. It became a covenantal love - love that affected the next generation and continued down the line. It is love for which a covenant was cut and blood shed, sealing the love forever. It was a wonderful love - love so extraordinary and so extravagant that the human mind is staggered by trying to grasp or comprehend it. 

The love even seemed one-sided. It seemed like Jonathan was doing all the loving. David didn't have much to bring to the table. Yet, Jonathan didn't mind. It was a passionate love - very intimate and intoxicating. On hearing of the death of Jonathan, David raised a lamentation. In tears, he said, "I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women" (2Sam.1:26). Women can love without thinking or looking back. They love all the way - very passionate in their love. Yet, Jonathan's love for David went way beyond that of women. It was love aflame. Love that words could not fully express. It was love in action - ever-giving love.

The Word says, "And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle." This love is indeed a wonder - a miracle to behold! Jonathan stripped himself of his robe. It is love that is willing to go naked for the loved one to be clothed. It is a self-disrobing love. This love makes you empty yourself into the other person.

He gave to David his other garments - custom-made and royal. Love was his only motivation.

This love is lovely and lofty. People will misunderstand you when you love like this. They would think that you have gone mad or that you have been charmed or bewitched by the one you love. Jonathan gave away his costly girdle and royal sword. Truly, love is disarming. Love makes you give away your sword. Love makes you vulnerable. Love disarms and weakens the one in love. Love is unafraid and unashamed of the other person. 

This kind of love is pure, free, full, fruitful, and perfect, and as John says, "Perfect love casts away fear." 

In true love, there's nothing to be afraid of. True love gives and forgives.

David accepted and embraced Jonathan's love, and he understood the magnitude of it. He says, "Very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful…" He treasured Jonathan's love. He acknowledged and appreciated it. He took Jonathan's only surviving son to be his own son. He adopted him into his royal family, and gave him a place at his table.

Christ is the embodiment of divine love. In Him we find pure and perfect love. He loves to the end. Jonathan's love is only a little bit of divine love. Christ's love for us is infinite and inexhaustible. John says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." That's the true love.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter