Jonathan's Loyalty
Teaching Pastor; Staff Governing Elder; Staff Director
In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan’s loyalty to God and humble submission to what he is doing in David’s life is the undertone for everything that takes place. While Saul arrogantly holds onto his kingship, Jonathan gives away his right to the throne because he sees what God is doing, and he places himself underneath God’s authority. In Jonathan, we see a loyal servant of God; in Saul, we see an arrogant fool.
Study Questions
In 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan’s loyalty to God and humble submission to what he is doing in David’s life is the undertone for everything that takes place. While Saul arrogantly holds onto his kingship, Jonathan gives away his right to the throne because he sees what God is doing, and he places himself underneath God’s authority. In Jonathan, we see a loyal servant of God; in Saul, we see an arrogant fool.Application
Read Luke 14:26-27. How does this relate to 1 Samuel 20? What would it look like for you to have deep loyalty to God alone? What would change for you?
How are you currently demonstrating loyalty to the Kingdom of God? How might God be calling you to demonstrate your loyalty to his kingdom under the world’s current circumstances?
Jonathan is not preoccupied with all he’s giving up but instead identifying with someone else and serving them. In displaying loyalty to God, what do you give up? Have you found yourself preoccupied with your losses or leaning into the needs of others?
Our desire to own and control rather than to steward and to serve will lead us to a place of destruction. Where in your life are you owning and controlling where you need to be stewarding and serving? What are you going to do about it?
Who is your biblical community? How can that be leveraged as powerful for others to see the kingdom of God at work?
Key Points
If we are faithful to God and what he is doing in the world, it puts us in a place of opposition to people who are not.
We are entrusted to God and on mission with him not people.
Jonathan would rather be a part of what God is doing and it cost him than hold on to what he has.
At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is God and his glory.
Humble submission is at the root of what it means to have a relationship with God.
Our desire to own and control rather than to steward and to serve will lead us to a place of destruction.
As David did, the best thing you can do for a friend who has suffered loss is to acknowledge their loss and identify with them in it.
The most powerful tool and display of who God is is through the strength and light of biblical community.