In the narrative accounts of 1 Samuel through Esther we see the wide variety of references of “love.” We are reminded that doctrine does not rest on narrative. Elkanah loved Hannah, giving her a double portion from the offerings (1 Sam. 1:5). Saul initially loved David greatly, making him his armor bearer (16:21). Michael loved David (18:20). David and Bathsheba and the LORD loved Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24). Amnon loved Tamar, whom he then raped, and then hated (13:1,4,15ab). Frequently love led the lover to bestow some blessing on the beloved (like God who gave His only Son, Jn. 3:16). Then again, sometimes the lover is more interested in using the beloved for selfish purposes, as with both Saul and Amnon.
The most inspiring “love” relationship is that between David and Jonathan. It was very “Godlike” in that both made a covenant with the other to be a blessing. There was no selfishness between them. David acted on that covenant in caring for Mephibosheth long after Jonathan had died. Although there is no OT command to love your spouse, there are illustrations of this love that we have seen. We should remember that in the OT marriage was also a “covenant” relationship (Mal. 2:14). In Eph. 5:33 husbands are told to love their wife “as himself.” David and Jonathan loved each other as their own soul (1 Sam. 18:3; 20:17)
This deep friendship reminds me of Jesus’ command to His disciples to love each other (Jn. 13:34-35), and then the application of that command to all in the body of Christ (1 John 3:23). We are exhorted to be a regular part of a group of believers so that we might stir up one another to love and good works (Heb. 10:24-25). We have noted that when you love someone there is a tendency to want to give something of value to our “beloved”. In David and Jonathan’s situation they made a covenant. They obligated themselves to the each other. Think about this in terms of your love for brothers and sisters. Given our “born again” relationship, we need to love each other “fervently with a pure heart” (1 Pt. 1:22-25). We can learn of that kind of love from David and Jonathan.
Another reference to “love” we see in “The Writings” is in 2 Ki. 3:3: Solomon loved the LORD, walking in His statutes, except that he offered burnt offerings on the high places. You might look at this and conclude that Solomon did not really love the LORD. But that is not the case. The only definition for “love” I have found among the Bible scholars is to call it “affection.” In English, “affection” is a gentle liking of someone or something. Solomon did many things that indicate his love for the LORD. The inconsistency we see in Solomon is common to man. He also “loved many foreign women,” even those the LORD had commanded Israel not to “love” (2 Ki. 11:1-2). We are called to “love the LORD” with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. In other words, all our “loves” must be submitted to Him. That was Solomon’s problem. Solomon was loved by God even though he loved many foreign wives (Neh. 13:26; read 13:23-27 for important context).
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