God the Neighbor

Jonathan loved David as himself (1 Samuel 18). Despite the risk to his own status and his future kingship, Jonathan was a good neighbor to David.

Because of that love, Jonathan made a covenant with David. First love, then covenant to give form to that love. First one is a good neighbor, and then one formalizes neighborliness.

We can extrapolate that sequence to God’s relation to Israel. God loves Israel, and because of that love He makes a covenant. God loves Israel as Bride, and, because He wants to be with her forever, He marries her.

And we can extrapolate the second great commandment to God’s love for Israel. God doesn’t merely love Israel, but loves Israel as Himself . He makes Himself a neighbor to His people and loves as a neighbor loves, and so enters into covenant.

This is the basis and import of incarnation. God the Son takes our flesh because He loves us as Himself. And, having joined Himself to us and us to Himself, He brings us into the circle of divine love. Because we are joined to the Son, we are the Father’s neighbors, and the Father, a good neighbor, loves us as He loves Himself.

Jesus the Son is Jonathan, the older Brother, who out of His love shares His kingship, His status, and His weapons with us.