What is a soul link? Can a soul be linked to another soul?

Thus it is the seat of the affections: Gen. 34:8: The soul of my son longeth for your daughter. 1 Sam. 18:1: The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David. Ps. 42:1: So panteth my soul after thee, O God. Ps. 63:1: O God, my soul thirsteth for Thee. Ps. 84:2: My soul longeth for the courts of the Lord. Ps. 119:20: My soul breaketh for the longing it hath. Cant. 1:7: O Thou whom my soul loveth. Isaiah 26:9: With my soul have I desired thee in the night. Luke 2:35: A sword shall pierce through thine own soul. Heb. 10:38: My soul shall have no pleasure in him.

And what comes next? ‘Joined in soul’, or, ‘knit together in soul’. We know so little about such a condition in practice, that one is ashamed to try and speak of it. We know more about being ‘joined in soul’ through having the same hate: as we have seen the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Herodians (all bitter enemies) having the same hate against Christ, and so joined in soul. I think it is Mr Darby who said, ‘Devotedness to Jesus is the strongest bond between human hearts.’ Oh, Lord Jesus, give Thy poor saints more of this devotedness to Thee! Devotedness formed by love to Jesus: devotedness caused by the love of Jesus: this devotedness that brings the ‘same love’ and so may we be joined in soul each to the other.

And what comes next? "Joined in soul," or, "knit together in soul." We know so little about such a condition in practice, that one is ashamed to try and speak of it. We know more about being "joined in soul" through having the same hate: as we have seen the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Herodians, (all bitter enemies), having the same hate against Christ, and so joined in soul. I think it is Mr. Darby who said, "Devotedness to Jesus is the strongest bond between human hearts." Oh, Lord Jesus, Give Thy poor saints more of this devotedness to Thee! Devotedness formed by love to Jesus: Devotedness caused by the love of Jesus: this Devotedness that brings the "same love," and so may we be joined in soul each to the other.

Here Jonathan's faith fully rises to the height of David's in 1 Sam. 17, and this explains how they got knit together immediately after they knew each other. Like faith, like confidence, in the living God caused free love, mutual love, to flow out of their hearts. This is very fine. So treacherous are our hearts that faith alone might have gendered pride and perhaps jealousy, but faith and love mixed together formed a strong and blessed link. How great the love and how strong and blessed the link we see in 1 Sam. 18 to 23. "And it came to pass that when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." It was net a mere matter of sentiment or an impulsive movement of the natural heart: it was a bond in the Lord. At once a covenant intervenes to strengthen the bond, and thereupon Jonathan strips himself of his robe "and gave it to David and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle." Armed with Saul's armour, David says, "I cannot go with these"; but clad with Jonathan's he could go, for they were those of a kindred soul. Vesture and weapons, Jonathan gives all to David, and this is no common manner of love, for it was putting a humble shepherd on a footing of equality with a king's son.

"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." (1 Sam. 18:1) No doubt Jonathan participated more fully in the joy of all in the triumph of David; but there was more than this in it; it was not merely the triumph, but the person of the triumphant one that drew out the deep and ardent affections of Jonathan's soul. Saul might selfishly seek to retain the valiant David about his person, not because of love for his person, but simply to magnify himself. Not so Jonathan; he loved David. David had removed a load from his spirit, and filled up a great blank in his heart.

As they spoke of who David was, "the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David." And, beloved brethren, that surely is one of the features which we would all desire to be marked by as we assemble together to remember the Lord, a sense in every heart of enjoyed intimacy with, and devotion to, Christ. The words "soul" and "life" are often almost indistinguishable in the Scriptures, and here is one, Jonathan, whose very life was knitted with the life of David. As in the enjoyment of what He has done, may our hearts also be filled with the knowledge of Who He is, and thus may each one of us, each brother and sister assemble as having known through the week the blessedness of our lives being bound up with the life of our blessed Lord.

And the soul of JONATHAN was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. 1 Samuel 18.

Absolute consecration to Christ is the strongest bond between human hearts. It strips them of self, and they have but one soul in thought, intent, and settled purpose, because they have only one object.

Absolute consecration to Jesus is the strongest bond between human hearts. It strips them of self, and they have but one soul in thought, intent and settled purpose, because they have but one object.

As long as I keep my own counsels, I am separate from the person who may touch my elbow. I am entirely distinct from him. But if I open my thoughts, if I tell out the secret purposes of my mind, and everything of that kind, then we are blended, we are friends, and there is no separation any further. I am in that person's power, for the simple reason that my heart has been given. A simple illustration would be a Christian woman giving her heart's affection to an unsaved man. But there are numberless applications, individual and corporate.