IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN

 The Price of Loyalty

Jonathan tried again to reconcile Saul with David but had even less success.  David came to Jonathan in secret, revealing that he feared for his own life.  "There is only a step between me and death!"  he told his older friend.  Jonathan agreed to test out his father's feelings on the matter and to let David know where things stood.  While David hid, Jonathan would signal him the news by using a bow and arrows.  Jonathan asked only that David swear to this promise:  "Never withdraw your loyal love from my household, even when Jonathan wipes out all the enemies of David from the face of the earth."  David agreed that he would always look out for those of Jonathan's household. - 1 SAMUEL 20:3, 13-27.

Jonathan tried to speak well of David to Saul, but the king became more enraged!  He called Jonathan a "son of a rebellious  woman"  and derided his loyalty to David as shameful to the family.  He tried to appeal to Jonathan's self-interest:  "As long as the son of Jesse is alive on the earth, you and your kingship  will not be firmly established." Unmoved, Jonathan again pleaded with his father:  "Why should he be put to death?  What has he done?"  Saul exploded  in violence! Though aged, Saul  was still a mighty warrior. He hurled a spear at his son! Practiced though he may have been, he missed. Deeply hurt and humiliated, Jonathan left in anger. - 1 SAMUEL 20:224-34.

The next morning, Jonathan went to the field near David's hiding place. He fired off an arrow as agreed, letting David know that Saul was still intent on killing him.  Then Jonathan  sent his attendant back into the city. He and David were alone, so they had a fleeting chance to talk. Both men wept, and Jonathan sadly saw his young friend off as David started his new life as a refugee. - 1 SAMUEL 20:35-42. 

Jonathan's loyalty passed the test of self-interest. Satan, the enemy  of all faithful people, would surely have loved to see Jonathan follow in Saul's steps and put his own ambitions for power or glory first.  Remember, Satan loves to appeal to the selfish inclinations of humans.  He succeeded with Adam and Eve, our first parents.  (Genesis 3:1-6)  Yet, he failed with Jonathan.  How frustrated Satan must have been! Will you resist similar attempts!  We live in time when selfishness is epidemic.  (2 Timothy 3:1-5)  Will we learn from Jonathan's selfless spirit? 

Note: That is the sad thing, a lot of people  don't believe in the true God, only a traditional god. That god isn't going to help anyone, hear any prayers, or answer them.   And others don't even believe he exists at all, they don't believe everything in the Bible, they think its just a book by some writer.  That is so sad. So why would they even think about imitating Jonathan.   These people seem basically all for themselves, except maybe family, and for some, not even family.  It is a very sad time indeed. 😔😞 I have a habit of observing people when I go out, which is not far or for very long.  And I do not see much in the way of empathy or compassion.  They look like the ones in the movie the Stepford woman, but with brainwashed men in it too.  That is my observation. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN - "You Were Very Dear to Me

From  the jw.org publications