The variant form of John suggests the meaning of Jonathan is John meaning God has given. From 1 Samuel 18, it tells of Jonathan who loved David as his own Soul. The bible says Jonathan soul was knit with David and he loved David as his own soul. Speaks of a devotion OR love than we could not explain.
We have devotion/ dedication to things, events but rarely to God. The picture of Jonathan paints an avid picture of God’s love for us. Invariably, Jonathan died in the process of trying to save David. There is a devotion we have towards God that fails but the devotion God has toward us cost us his son (It doesn’t fail).
The first commandment from the new covenant, is ye shall love the lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind (Matthew 22:38). It is sufficed that we say that Jonathan (meaning God has given) show us a picture of God’s love to us (David, the Church, Israel). It is said that Jonathan in verse 3 made a covenant with David as he loved him as his own flesh. Isn’t this the picture of the savior’s love for us?
He stripped himself of his divinity, he was stripped off his garment (Matt 27: 28-30) to bear our sin. So, we liken 1 Samuel 18 where Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David with his armor including his sword and his bow and his belt, So, David went wherever Saul sent him and prospered.
In so many ways, Jesus being stripped of his divinity (glory) to die for man, to return Authority back to the believer so we can win battles and prosper in his name is a typification of Jonathan towards David.
Indeed, has indeed given us his best Armour his love for us through his son. There may be inexplicable times we can question God’s love for us but if we see the love Jonathan had for David is such as the Lord Yahusha has for us.