ICS Daily Devotions
Friends
1 Samuel 18:1-3 (NKJV) Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore. Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
Have you ever heard the saying “A friend in need is a friend indeed?” Jonathan was such a friend to David. He was strategically placed in David’s life at the very time David needed a genuine friend. The name “Jonathan” means “Jehovah has given”. Jonathan was that faithful and loyal friend who was with David when he was being pursued by Jonathan’s father, King Saul.
Jonathan was a warrior who was about 25-29 years old and he grew up in the King’s palace. David was also about the same age and spoke the same language of war as they were both warriors and therefore, were able to empathize with each other.
The Scripture tells us that Jonathan’s soul was knitted with David’s. The word “knit” means “to tie or bind together.”
1 Samuel 23:16-17 (NASB 1995) “ And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God. Thus he said to him, “Do not be afraid, because the hand of Saul my father will not find you, and you will be king over Israel and I will be next to you; and Saul my father knows that also.”
Jonathan and David had good and godly soul ties and they both looked out for each other. Jonathan took time to visit David to encourage him in God when King Saul pursued David. The encouragement of a fellow warrior and a covenant partner brings strength to the soul. Jonathan was a faithful, loyal and genuine friend to David.
Jonathan, who was heir to the throne, was not concerned about David taking the throne as God has anointed and chosen David and was glad to be able to serve King David and to be next to him at David’s throne.
They even established a strong relationship through a covenant ritual where they exchanged robes, belts and weapons signifying that they would protect and take responsibility for each other’s families for life with an oath.
We just need one or two good and godly soul ties in our lives. Are you also willing to be one to someone else? Do you know that people of faith attract other people of faith? In church and in a healthy cell group, members take turns to lift each other up through their sharing and praying together. This is where we journey together using godly values and principles.
Proverbs 27:17 (AMP) As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion]. (emphasis added)
Unfortunately, many do not recognize the importance of having good and godly soul ties and have soul ties that cause them to lose their individuality through emotional manipulation and blackmail. There is no peace of heart and mind while being in a friendship with that person and there is constant pressure or stress to please the other person.
Let us be brave to cut off all unhealthy soul ties by naming that person and believing that the Holy Spirit will be able to help us break the tie, which is affecting the health of our soul.
Sermon Series: Godly or Ungodly Soul Mate / Soul Tie?
