JONATHAN
Mt 25:34-40 says “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” The judgement of the nations will be a dreadful day for those who mistreat the Jew in the tribulation. But for those that take care of the Jew, they will enter into the Kingdom. Jonathan is a picture of one of the individuals that help the Jew in the tribulation. Lets take a look at who Jonathon was and what he did.
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I. PERSEVERED (1 Sam 13:3; 14:1-23)
A. Jonathan’s record in battle was almost perfect. Let us examine how he
did things, and maybe we can figure out why he was so successful.
1. Jonathan was diligent.(13:3)
a. Pr 12:24 says “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but
the slothful shall be under tribute.”
2. Jonathan acknowledged the Lord. (14:6).
a. Pr 3:6 says “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths.”
3. Jonathan trusted in the Lord to deliver the enemy into his
hand. (14:12)
a. Ro 1:17 says “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by
faith.”
4. Jonathan led from the front. (14:13)
a. Jas 1:22 says “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.”
II. PROTECTED ( 1 Sam 19:1-7;20:24-35)
A. What a friend in Jonathan! We can all learn from his example.
Everyone needs a friend like Jonathan. Notice the lengths at which
he was willing to go to protect David.
1. Jonathan disobeyed his father to protect David. (19:1-2)
a. Acts 5:29 says “…, we ought to obey God rather than men.”
2. Jonathan testified on David’s behalf (19:4-5)
a. Pr 31:8-9 says “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of
all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth,
judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and
needy.”
3. Jonathan put his own life in jeopardy to protect David. (20:33)
a. John 15:13 says “Greater love hath no man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends.”
III. PROVIDED (1 Sam 20:11-17,42)
A. The saying is “a man’s word is his bond” and Jonathan meant it. He
did not hesitate to include God in their oath. This is the sign of
someone who loves the Lord. Let's look at a couple other things that
“set him apart from the rest”.
1. Jonathan made a covenant with David for he loved him as
himself. (20:17)
a. Ga 5:14 says “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in
this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
2. Jonathan not only secured his own life but also all his
descendants. (20:15,42)
a. 2Sa 9:1 says “And David said, Is there yet any that is left of
the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for
Jonathan's sake?”
b. 2Sa 21:7 says “But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of
Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that
was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of
Saul.”
Jonathan persevered, protected and provided. Jonathan did this for one man. Do you realize the Lord Jesus Christ did this for the whole world? (John 3:16) He persevered at the cross (salvation). He protects the ones he loves (eternal security). And He provided for his children (our inheritance). What a friend we have in Jesus! Don’t be like most and reject what Jesus Christ has done for you. Believe what he did at calvary . Rom 10:9 says “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Receive Him today.
Mt 25:34-40 says “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” The judgement of the nations will be a dreadful day for those who mistreat the Jew in the tribulation. But for those that take care of the Jew, they will enter into the Kingdom. Jonathan is a picture of one of the individuals that help the Jew in the tribulation. Lets take a look at who Jonathon was and what he did.
.
I. PERSEVERED (1 Sam 13:3; 14:1-23)
A. Jonathan’s record in battle was almost perfect. Let us examine how he
did things, and maybe we can figure out why he was so successful.
1. Jonathan was diligent.(13:3)
a. Pr 12:24 says “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but
the slothful shall be under tribute.”
2. Jonathan acknowledged the Lord. (14:6).
a. Pr 3:6 says “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall
direct thy paths.”
3. Jonathan trusted in the Lord to deliver the enemy into his
hand. (14:12)
a. Ro 1:17 says “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by
faith.”
4. Jonathan led from the front. (14:13)
a. Jas 1:22 says “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers
only, deceiving your own selves.”
II. PROTECTED ( 1 Sam 19:1-7;20:24-35)
A. What a friend in Jonathan! We can all learn from his example.
Everyone needs a friend like Jonathan. Notice the lengths at which
he was willing to go to protect David.
1. Jonathan disobeyed his father to protect David. (19:1-2)
a. Acts 5:29 says “…, we ought to obey God rather than men.”
2. Jonathan testified on David’s behalf (19:4-5)
a. Pr 31:8-9 says “Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of
all such as are appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth,
judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and
needy.”
3. Jonathan put his own life in jeopardy to protect David. (20:33)
a. John 15:13 says “Greater love hath no man than this, that a
man lay down his life for his friends.”
III. PROVIDED (1 Sam 20:11-17,42)
A. The saying is “a man’s word is his bond” and Jonathan meant it. He
did not hesitate to include God in their oath. This is the sign of
someone who loves the Lord. Let's look at a couple other things that
“set him apart from the rest”.
1. Jonathan made a covenant with David for he loved him as
himself. (20:17)
a. Ga 5:14 says “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in
this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”
2. Jonathan not only secured his own life but also all his
descendants. (20:15,42)
a. 2Sa 9:1 says “And David said, Is there yet any that is left of
the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for
Jonathan's sake?”
b. 2Sa 21:7 says “But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of
Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the LORD'S oath that
was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of
Saul.”
Jonathan persevered, protected and provided. Jonathan did this for one man. Do you realize the Lord Jesus Christ did this for the whole world? (John 3:16) He persevered at the cross (salvation). He protects the ones he loves (eternal security). And He provided for his children (our inheritance). What a friend we have in Jesus! Don’t be like most and reject what Jesus Christ has done for you. Believe what he did at calvary . Rom 10:9 says “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Receive Him today.
