If someone said to me, “Joe’s love for John is greater than Joe’s love for women”, I would say, “Cool! I hope they are happy together.” That would be it, at least for me. Sure, there are people all over the world who would disagree, but for me, as long as your relationships have integrity, I don’t care who you love. I am a confirmed monogamist, and also oppose adults dallying with minors, regardless of what one’s state allows, but as far as who you love, you go. I am not the boss of you. Be who God made you to be.
Change that verse to 2 Samuel 1, and it becomes a controversy. It is part of the song the future king sang over the slain body of Jonathan, King Saul’s son, in which he wails, “I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.” And this isn’t like the old Bud Lite “I love you, man!” commercials; this was a deep and abiding love. And it didn’t start there; in 1 Samuel 18, there is an entire section about Jonathan’s love for David; he even gives David gifts! Here is the first verse: “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.” Saul, who was obviously suffering from some kind of mental illness, tries to kill David, and by the end of the chapter, King Saul invites David to marry his daughter Michal with hopes of somehow trapping David. Weird stuff.
So, David and Jonathan were, it seems, in love with one another, which means that even if they never got physical, they were emotionally and spiritually connected. Isn’t that what true love is supposed to be? Their love surpassed the love they felt for women. They were bisexual. To which I say, so what? Who cares if they had a thing for each other? Their religion, for one; in fact, while women being together sexually isn’t banned in the Hebrew Scriptures, men being together is. And sure, there are guys I love; friends who mean the world to me – but none more than my love for my wife. David and Jonathan were in incredible danger, but the writer of these books doesn’t seem to see that.
Why am writing about this? I write this because I hope that, if you love someone who is in the LGBTQ community, you might share this information with them. Show them that the Bible doesn’t hate them completely. Let them know that love is love, and God’s love will never be withheld from them. Let them know that your love of God is, in part, because God loves you and them. The Bible has been used to abuse, even murder, people who are LGBTQ; now we need to show that this isn’t the entire story. David’s love for Jonathan surpassed his love for women, and Jonathan felt the same way. That should bring comfort, no matter what the haters say. Love is love. God is love. Enough said.
Prayer – Holy God, thank You for Your love for each one of us made in Your image. Open us to Your truth, that Your love is sufficient. Amen.
Today’s art is “Jonathan Lovingly Taketh His Leave of David” by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld.