Bible Study - Sidekicks (4) - Jonathan - 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-4; 23:15-18 - AUGUST 11, 2024

 Bible Study – Sidekicks (4) -Jonathan – 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 19:1-4, 23:15-18 – August 11, 2024

Don’t let cultural expectations define your role.

Last week we studied David. This week we study the role GOD had for King Saul’s son, Jonathan, the eldest son of King Saul, who was the heir apparent, according to cultural expectations to King Saul’s throne. However, King Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle.

The name Jonathan means “GOD has given.” GOD calls others to come along the side of others when they are going through life. David trusted Jonathan and Jonathan trusted David. Both loved GOD and were warriors for Israel and bonded together in support of Israel and of each other. Jonathan had David’s back. Both trusted GOD to lead and guide their lives.

Jonathan loved David, as well as GOD. Jonathan trusted GOD as we read in 1 Samuel 14: ⁶ Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”

Jonthan trusted GOD.

⁷ His armor-bearer responded, “Do what is in your heart. Go ahead! I’m completely with you.”

⁸ “All right,” Jonathan replied, “we’ll cross over to the men and then let them see us. ⁹ If they say, ‘Wait until we reach you,’ then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. ¹⁰ But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we’ll go up, because the Lord has handed them over to us—that will be our sign.”

¹¹ They let themselves be seen by the Philistine garrison, and the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they’ve been hiding!” ¹² The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said.

“Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.” ¹³ Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. Jonathan cut them down, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off. ¹⁴ In that first assault Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men in a half-acre field.

Jonathan trusted GOD which resulted in a defeat for the Philistines. It reveals the Spiritual heart of Jonthan and his trust in GOD.

In responding to the issues, we face in life, we must trust GOD’S leadership. Jonathan was comfortable in his on skin. He was a leader and oversaw one-third of Saul’s standing army. He trusted GOD to lead him, and victory followed.

Often, we get into trouble when we get ahead of GOD’S leadership and when we do, GOD teaches us a lesson. Ouch!

This scripture comes to my mind as revealed in Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 18:1-4:

David’s Success and the lead scripture from last week’s study.

18 When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship,^[a] and loved him as much as he loved himself. ² Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house.

³ Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. ⁴ Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

Jonathan made a covenant with David evidenced by Jonathan giving his personal weapons for his defense to David. It revealed Jonathan’s complete loyalty to David as a friend and a symbolic transfer of Jonathan’s rights to King Saul’s throne.

Their relationship was mutual and a genuine friendship, as brothers.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 19:1-4:

David Delivered from Saul

19 Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Saul’s son Jonathan liked David very much, ² so he told him, “My father, Saul, intends to kill you. Be on your guard in the morning and hide in a secret place and stay there. ³ I’ll go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are and talk to him about you. When I see what he says, I’ll tell you.”

⁴ Jonathan spoke well of David to his father, Saul. He said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David. He hasn’t sinned against you; in fact, his actions have been a great advantage to you. ⁵ He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

Often, those in authority have to be reminded how another person has come to their aid or assistance.

⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan’s advice and swore an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed.” ⁷ So Jonathan summoned David and told him all these words. Then Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he served him as he did before.

⁸ When war broke out again, David went out and fought against the Philistines. He defeated them with such great force that they fled from him.

Jonathan was David’s advocate to King Saul. Do you know that all who have placed their faith in JESUS, have JESUS as their advocate? Satan is our accuser in the heavenly court when we sin. JESUS is our advocate before GOD. The shed blood of JESUS cleans Spirit-born believers from all sin – past, present, and future, at the instant a person receives JESUS as his/her Savior.

We read in 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one. ² He himself is the atoning sacrifice^[a] for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.

Because Spirit-born believers are redeemed by the shed blood of JESUS, as the atoning perfect sacrifice for sin, they are eternally secure and have 24/7 access to GOD. There is no longer the barrier of sin that separates the born-again person from GOD.

Satan accuses Christians before GOD, when they sin. When you sin, ask GOD to forgive you and thank GOD and JESUS for your eternal salvation. Once saved, always saved.

Keep in mind that salvation is only the foundation of what GOD desires for us to be in HIS Kingdom. We are GOD’S building, and our salvation is only the foundation.

Do you recall 1 Corinthians 3: ⁹ For we are God’s coworkers.^[c] You are God’s field, God’s building.

¹⁰ According to God’s grace that was given to me (Paul/Holy Spirit born believer), I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,^[d] and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

Let’s read 1 Samuel 23:15-18:

A Renewed Covenant

¹⁵ David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. ¹⁶ Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith^[a] in God, ¹⁷ saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.” ¹⁸ Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.

We know that Jonathan’s pledge to be second-in-command did not take place, but it shows Jonathan’s love and loyalty to David.

Both king Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle and David was anointed King.

We know that David, as King, looked out for Jonanthan’s crippled son as recorded in 2 Samuel 9: David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

9 David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake?” ² There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king said to him, “Are you Ziba?”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

³ So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?”

Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.”

⁴ The king asked him, “Where is he?”

Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” ⁵ So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar.

⁶ Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!”

“I am your servant,” he replied.

⁷ “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.”

⁸ Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?”

⁹ Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and his family. ¹⁰ You, your sons, and your servants are to work the ground for him, and you are to bring in the crops so your master’s grandson will have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

¹¹ Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all my lord the king commands.”

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s^[a] table just like one of the king’s sons. ¹² Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mica. All those living in Ziba’s house were Mephibosheth’s servants. ¹³ However, Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.

True friendship lasts.

As we get closer to the second coming of JESUS, JESUS reminds us in John 15:12-16: ¹² “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master^[b] is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

¹⁷ “This is what I command you: Love one another.

When did GOD and JESUS choose you? Read Ephesians 1:4-6 ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c] 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.

GOD chose us but the question is, “Have you chosen GOD through faith in JESUS?” Choose wisely my friends. Eternal life is GOD’S gift to all who place their faith in JESUS and HIS atoning passion, proven and guaranteed by the bodily resurrection of JESUS from being dead and in the grave for three days. GOD raised JESUS to eternal life and our faith in JESUS, through the miracle of Spiritual birth gives us eternal life with a guarantee confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit and at least one or more Spiritual Gift(s).

Now that is Good News!

It is not complicated. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you the words you need to speak – I have heard of a few people saying, LORD I give up and I ask JESUS to forgive me for my sins and for JESUS to come into their heart. And HE does. That person is Spirit-born, never to be Spiritually unborn. It is all about a person’s inner core or the eyes of his or her heart where truth resides. GOD knows a person’s heart and eagerly waits to redeem him/her from Hell and for his/her eternal salvation.

If you don’t have a Bible, get one and read the Book of John. The Blue Letter Bible is available online or check Biblegateway.com, also online. Get into a Bible believing and teaching church or fellowship. You are a newborn and as a newborn you need Spiritual care and Spiritual food in order to grow Spiritually as a Child of GOD. Pray and ask GOD to lead and guide you to where you can be fed Spiritual food and drink the living water that only comes from the Holy Spirit as you read and study GOD’S Word. Blessings!!!