Covenant Connections
So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, Let the Lord even require it at the hand of David's enemies.And Jonathan caused David to swear again, because he loved him: for he loved him as he loved his own soul. I Samuel 20:16-17 (KJV)
What are soul ties? The term often comes up in Christian circles when speaking of a bad relationship from which one cannot break free because they are too attached to someone in their emotions. Our soul is partially made up of our emotions. Soulish relationships are built on emotions, which makes for a very unstable and often harmful relationship. Soulish relationships are also often difficult to break free from because they are based on how we feel. Such relationships can be easily manipulated. We need to be in spiritual relationships. In other words, we should be with people who are born-again and have a true relationship wih God. Then the relationship can be based on the two parties’ common love for God and then for one another.
David and Jonathan had a close relationship. They loved each other as they loved their own souls, meaning they loved each other sacrificially. Because they had a love for God individually, this relationship was kept in proper perspective. While the word soul is used to describe the relationship, it is not what would be considereed a soul tie. Their relationship was based on a covenant. They cut a covenant based on words.
Covenants are binding and meant to be kept until the end. As New Testament believers, we enter covenant through the blood shed by Christ, and we become bound to Christ. As we make covenants with others based on our shared relationship with Christ, we become one in Christ, meaning we can love one another- not just out of our souls, but out of our spirits. This is a deeper form of love.
The point I want to make is that we must watch who we tie ourselves to. Wrong ties can hurt, while good ties can be helpful. We must be led by God regarding who we should involve ourselves with. God will always bring us to the right covenant connections.
