I have written this week with the Lord’s help about “The Power of Godly Love!” We have chosen the Bible story about the Godly love of Jonathan whose soul was knit together with David’s soul. The main characters in this Bible story are Saul, the first king of Israel, and his oldest son, Jonathan and David, the son of Jesse, who killed Goliath, the champion of the Philistines. Read: (I Samuel 17:38-51). When David came back from the battle, King Saul said to him, whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse, the Bethlehemite. (I Samuel 17:58). For this Pastor’s Desk, let us focus our attention upon our scripture text for this article. It is found in (I Samuel 18:1-4) which says = 1And 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. 2And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house. 3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his soul. 4And 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. What Jonathan did could be taken the wrong way, but it was a pure Godly love for David. Jonathan was sealing the covenant between him and David. He was showing and telling David by his actions that he would become the next king of Israel. David was God’s choice he would never, never become his father’s successor. Read: (I Samuel 16:1-3). Giving his kingly garments to David was an act of Godly love, coming from a kind generous, humble man, who loved David as his own soul. The Power of Godly Love made Jonathan defend David in his father’s presence when he wanted to kill him (I Samuel 19:1-7). Jonathan was an intercessor, a peacemaker, a protector, which God used to encourage David in the times of great adversity. When Saul and Jonathan died fighting the Philistines, David said only good things about Saul. His eulogy for them is found in (II Samuel 1:23-27). Notice Especially: (II Samuel 1:26) which says = 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. David is speaking here about Jonathan’s Godly love given to him in his time of great discouragement. “The Power of His Godly Love” was very pleasant, and it was wonderful! We thank God for his Godly love which he has given to us, too! The love that he gave to Jonathan for David in the Old Testament was AHAB or AHAV (Heb) #157 which means to have affection for or loving one’s friend or brother. The Godly love that he has given to us in the New Testament is PHILEO (Greek) #5368 which means = brotherly love. And lastly, we are given AGAPE LOVE (Greek) #26 which means = sacrificial love or dear love. We need “The Power of Godly Love” to become manifest or shown and displayed in these last and evil days because the love of many has waxed cold. (Matthew 24:12) says = And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Zion Temple First Pentecostal Church and everyone who reads this article, let us endeavour to express fervent love to our brothers and sisters in the Lord, and to everyone we meet, let Godly love continue! Suffragan Bishop Charles L. Smith, D.D. November 17, 2024
