Jonathan

Always Loyal

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)

The word loyalty is rooted in the medieval feudal system. Those who faithfully fulfilled their legal obligations to their feudal lord were considered leal which evolved into loyal.  Allegiance, fealty, and fidelity also originated during this time—words that describe individuals of courage, dependability, and honor.

One biblical character who embodied these attributes was Jonathan.  He remained loyal both to Saul—his father and king—and to David—his best friend and God’s chosen heir to the throne.

Jonathan balanced the seesaw of his relationship with both men because he remained focused on God’s sovereignty. He set aside his personal feelings and ambitions and aligned himself with God’s will no matter how much pain it caused him. Jonathan also respected his father’s position as king even after he realized Saul was determined to murder David. And Jonathan resisted the temptation to abandon his obligations as Saul’s son and military commander even if his heart yearned to follow David into exile.

Jonathan’s submission to God’s will in both these matters stuns me. Of course he didn’t know that he wouldn’t live long enough to be a co-regent with David as they planned (1 Samuel 23:17). But he did fully embrace that the Lord was in charge of his circumstances.

Throughout his conversation with David in 1 Samuel 20, Jonathan referred to the sovereignty and goodness of God: “May the Lord deal with me … may the Lord be with you … show me unfailing kindness like that of the Lord … [and] may the Lord call David’s enemies to account” (vv. 13–14,  17). And even as his heart was breaking, he said to David, “Go in peace” (v. 42). In other words, “I do not blame you for any of this,” he assured his friend, “God’s still in charge. We can rest in that fact.”

Sometimes we face situations like Jonathan’s—serving a leader we don’t respect, parting from someone we cherish, or submitting to an authority who consistently makes foolish decisions. How do we maintain our spiritual balance in these situations? We do what Jonathan did. We focus on God’s sovereignty as well as his unfailing wisdom and kindness. And we walk by the light of those truths hour by hour.

DIG DEEPER

Read 1 Samuel 20. Take note of each time Jonathan refers to the Lord. What is his attitude toward God?

To learn more about Jonathan’s character, read 1 Samuel 14:1–13. How does he demonstrate his allegiance to God in this situation?

How do we show our allegiance to God? Consider Peter’s words in 1 Peter 4:7–11, written to first century Christians who also faced difficult times.

Denise K. Loock

This devotion is part of our series on Not-As-Famous Men and Women of the Bible.