Not the kind that probably first comes to mind, I can assure you.

But I pray for the kind of knitting of soul between brothers that happened between David and Jonathan in 1 Sam. 18:1-5 immediately after David slew Goliath.

As soon as 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. [2] And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. [3] Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. [4] And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt. [5] And David went out and was successful wherever Saul sent him, so that Saul set him over the men of war. And this was good in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

Look carefully at the terminology in v. 1. The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David. That’s a good translation of the Hebrew word used here. It means literally to tie a knot or make a chain. The same word is used in Gen. 44:30 to describe the relationship between Jacob and his son, Benjamin – his life is bound up in the boy’s life.

This is remarkable! Jonathan, Saul’s firstborn, stands in line to inherit the throne. If ever anyone had reason to be suspicious of the young upstart David and reject him as a consummate threat, it was Jonathan. And yet something of an immediate chemistry with David strikes him resulting in love that binds them soul to soul. The text says, As soon as he had finished speaking, this happened. Jonathan overheard the conversation between his father and the young man at the end of chapter 17. But words on the lips reflect passions, commitments, character traits in the heart. These two ended up with hearts beating hard together. As one hand climbed the cliffs at Michmash and bested a whole garrison proclaiming, Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few ( 1 Sam. 14:6), so the other hurled a stone from a sling felling a giant declaring, The Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand (1 Sam. 17:47). Proverbs 27:9 became their reality from that moment on. Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.

My point is that this was something special. It was indeed a peculiar, soul-mate kind of affection. It was a gift from God. You don’t get this kind of connection all that frequently. When it comes, treasure it, cultivate it, protect it. It is worth its weight in gold.

It’s the kind of thing that can start when men get together for a weekend to pursue their covenant commitments toward one another on retreat. It’s not too late to sign up. Call the office today and register for some soul knitting.