Jonathan Bible Study

Jonathan Outline

1 Samuel 13.

Notes:

Gibeah - If the “hill of God” (1 Sam. 10:5 KJV, NASB, REB) or “Gibeath-elohim” (NRSV) should be translated “Gibeah of God” (NIV) and equated with Gibeah of Saul, then the Philistines controlled the city prior to Saul gaining control. Apparently the Philistines built a fortress there which Saul took over, or Saul constructed his own royal complex, since archaeologists have uncovered a fortress from this period. After Saul’s death, the city declined

The Enemy positioned itself:

Physically around Israel

And because there wasn’t a blacksmith in the land, the enemy caused the nation of Israel to be completely dependent on them.

LeBron Matthews, “Gibeah,” ed. Chad Brand et al., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 646.

Lesson - “Do Something!”

1 Samuel 13-14:1-

Bible Study 1 - “Do Something” - 1 Samuel 13-14:18

Background

Blacksmith

Battle

Stop at the spot where it was found out that Jonathan was the one that was doing the fighting. Pick up next week with how Jonathan acted.

Day 1 - What’s in a name?

1 Samuel 13:1-5

To be who you’re called to be, you must know what God says about you.

Jonathan comes and fights when no one else does. He decided to (1) do something and (2) not sit idly by.

What are you called? - what does Jesus say about you?

Read these scriptures and write down who you are in Christ.

What are you called to do?

Read these Scriptures about what you are called and enabled to do.

The enemy didn’t like that.

God gave Saul a son that was willing to be a help for him!

Are you willing to live in who you are called?

Day 2 - Where is the enemy?

1 Samuel 13:5, 16-22

They were camped at Michmash.

What does Michmash mean?

It means “something hidden” - This wady is called “the passage of Michmash” (1 Sam. 13:23). Immediately facing Mukhmas, on the opposite side of the ravine, is the modern representative of Geba, and behind this again are Ramah and Gibeah.

This was the scene of a great battle fought between the army of Saul and the Philistines, who were utterly routed and pursued for some 16 miles towards Philistia as far as the valley of Aijalon. “The freedom of Benjamin secured at Michmash led through long years of conflict to the freedom of all its kindred tribes.” The power of Benjamin and its king now steadily increased. A new spirit and a new hope were now at work in Israel.

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1893), 463.

The enemy was:

(1) Stealth - they flanked the israelites on three sides.

(2) Strategic Hurtful (no blacksmith in the land)

(3) Strong

Remember this truth: a billion of satan’s demons are no match for the Spirit of God within you.

Day 3 - Have you given the enemy an open door?

1 Samuel 13:19

No blacksmith in the land. All Israel could do was go into the land. How have you allowed the enemy to influence you?

What you watch? What you listen to?

Going to the enemy cost them something! And it will cost you, too.

Day 4 - What are your weapons?

1 Samuel 13:19, Ephesians 6:10-21,

Day 5 - Active or Passive?

1 Samuel 13:22; 1 Samuel 17:38-39

Men of God are active in their pursuit of God, and active in their participation with God.

Action looks like Jonathan going after the enemy with faith that God had already delivered him!

Passivity looks like having a weapon. Passivity looks like Saul giving David his armor to fight the enemy.

Two men had weapons, but only one of them did something with what God gave them.

Am I active or passive?

Lesson 2 - Don’t Trust Your Flesh

1 Samuel 14:19-32

Obedience > sacrifice

Spirit > Flesh. This week will be all about challenging the men in this bible study to rely on the Spirit of God and His Word. We will take a look and contrast a spirit filled decision maker with a fleshly one.

The flesh driven life shows up in our words, wisdom, and decisions.

Day 1 - Quick Decisions

1 Samuel 14:24-30; Proverbs 29:20

Have you ever made a sacrificial oath? “I won’t ever do that again.” Maybe yours isn’t like Sauls, but we can learn from Saul’s sacrificial, flesh driven, oath.

How about speaking without thinking?

(1) It caused “distress”

(2) It wasn’t practically wise.

God gave them that land, right?

The food in that land was a part of His good gracious provisions.

(3) It put his own son in danger

As men, there is a temptation to react quickly, but sometimes those quick reactions are not the wisest.

Day 2 - Sacrificial Oaths

1 Samuel 14:31-33a; Leviticus 17:10-14

Have you ever made a sacrificial oath or promise to the Lord?

“I’m never going to do that again.” “I’m going to read my BIble every day.”

Have you ever made one of those oaths and sometime later find yourself in a much worse spot?

The Israelites are in that very spot. They were so hungry and tired, they took some of the animals that they earned from their victory and ate them.

Notice the detail in verse 31. They ate the animals AND the blood. Now read Leviticus 17:10-14. Were they allowed to eat meat with blood in it? What was the punishment for that?

Day 3 - Mr. Fix It

1 Samuel 14:33b-37

Saul decided to do two things: (1) offer his own sacrifice to pay for his sin, and (2) go fight even more in the flesh. Neither were the right response.

Adam and Eve also tried to cover up their mistakes in Genesis 3, but our good God came by and offered a sacrifice on their behalf.

Have you ever gotten ahead of God?

Do you sense that you’ve become the “fixer” of your sin issues? Go back to the other “stone that was rolled” (verse 33)

Day 4 - “I’m Ready”// Extreme Ownership

1 Samuel 14:38-43

Can you say that same thing?

“It’s easy to be convicted by someone else’s sin.”

Now, I don’t believe what Jonathan did was a sin. How did Jonathan react in verse 43?

Day 5 - Redeemed and Retired?

1 Samuel 14:45-46; Proverbs 28:13

The people redeemed and stepped in for Jonathan.

What happened in these two verses?

1. Spirit-filled Man walked in Redemption

2. Flesh-driven Man wanted to Retire

Someone so driven to action is now ready to give up.

He went back, he went home.

The flesh-driven man is the one that always seems to go back.

Remember, God gave Saul a new heart, but he relied on himself far too much.

Have you ever had moments in life where you were spurred to action, but then at some point, turned back to go home?

Lesson 3 - Linked Up

1 Samuel 18:1-4 - Meanwhile (what was going on in David’s life) and then 1 Samuel 19:1-10 - 1 Samuel 20:1-

Who are your closest friends? What kind of accountability do you have in life?

True accountability includes submitting to God’s plan, serving the King, and looking out for your brother in Christ.

Day 1 - Embrace the Unexpected

Think back to what Jonathan heard Samuel tell his dad in 1 Samuel 13:13-15.

The Lord has already found someone else. By rights, Jonathan was the heir to the throne. But God had another plan.

Day 2 - Bound by the Word

1 Samuel 18:1-2

The same word that is used to connect David and Jonathan is found in Deuteronomy 6:8 to talk about binding the Word around you.

How much time do you spend talking about the Word with your friends and brothers in Christ?

Day 3 - Covenant Keepers

1 Samuel 18:3

Think about our study on Thursday and the powerful commitment these two men made to one another.

How does our culture see commitments these days?

Do people take covenants and promises seriously?

Day 4 - Love Like Jesus Commands

1 Samuel 18:4

Jonathan loved David with the “ahab” kind of love.

Day 5 -

1 Samuel 18:5

Accountability involves surrender and transparency.

Note that this new relationship heralds an end of independent living for both partners since they now are called to live for each other. There is to be a surrender of self interest for the covenant partner and we see that Jonathan willingly gave up his right to be king!