Alfred Street Baptist Church Virtual Bible Study: 06/30/2026

Main message: David and Jonathan’s relationship is presented in Scripture as an extraordinary, covenantal, sacrificial love that functionally transfers kingship to David and models God‑like faithful covenant love; whether it was romantic cannot be proven from the text and is secondary to its theological and narrative role.

Key points:

• The Deuteronomistic historian frames David’s rise within a larger theological story; Jonathan repeatedly loves David “as his own soul,” gives him robe/armor, and makes covenants with him.
• Narratively Jonathan serves to link Saul’s house to David’s, effectively transferring the symbols of succession and protecting/encouraging David.
• Jonathan’s repeated vows and covenant language (including strong imprecatory forms) show sacrificial, covenantal fidelity that the preacher identifies with how God relates to Israel.
• The text emphasizes Jonathan’s love (and Michael’s acts) as self‑sacrificing, contrasting with aspects of Saul’s and David’s character; Jonathan models faithful love even though he does not become king.
• On the question of whether David and Jonathan were sexual partners: the speaker argues the text is ambiguous, cannot prove or disprove it, and readers should notice their own assumptions and what’s at stake in the question.

Scriptures mentioned: Deuteronomistic history (Joshua, Judges, 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings), 1 Samuel 18:1–4, 1 Samuel 19, 1 Samuel 20 (20:13), 1 Samuel 23:15–18, 2 Samuel 1:26, Ruth (Ruth/Naomi covenant)