Jonathan - "A Man of Accountability" (Part 2) - 1 Samuel 19

“A Man of Accountability” (Part 2)

Recap:

A man of Action

A Man of Obedience

Jonathan models for us what it looks like to stand on God’s Word and let that be what motivates our actions and decisions.

Be a God-given man that obeys!

A Man of Accountability

Initiation of accountability

Intimidation of Accountabiltiy

Culture

Comparison

Covetousness

Conceit

Investment of Accountability

Principles:

We are responsible for our actions.

Hebrews 4:13 KJV 1900

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

We are to recognize that we will one day give an account.

2 Corinthians 5:10 KJV 1900

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Romans 14:12 KJV 1900

12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

3. We can rejoice that we don’t have to be in this battle alone.

When Queen Victoria was a child, she didn't know she was in line for the throne of England. Her instructors, trying to prepare her for the future, were frustrated because they couldn't motivate her. She just didn't take her studies seriously. Finally, her teachers decided to tell her that one day she would become the queen of England. Upon hearing this, Victoria quietly said, "Then I will be good." The realization that she had inherited this high calling gave her a sense of responsibility that profoundly affected her conduct from then on.

Source Unknown.

She recognized that she would be responsible for her actions and this led her to be accountable for her decisions.

1. Jonathan was Dependable

Dependable means Truthworthy or reliable.

He was dependable in a couple of ways:

a. Dependable to be Present

What have I done? Here David checked his relationship with Jonathan. He wanted to know what Saul thought but it was more important for David to know what Jonathan thought. In asking, “What have I done?” David wanted to know if Jonathan has come to a place of agreement with his father Saul.

b. Dependable in Prudence

Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you: Jonathan continued to reassure David, bringing encouragement and an offer of help to a discouraged man. Conceivably, he could have said, “Where is your faith, brother? Why aren’t you just trusting God?” Instead Jonathan knew David’s heart was pointed in the right direction, and he offered to help.

2. Jonathan was a Detective

1 Samuel 20:7-10.

If there is iniquity in me: Again, David seems somewhat shaken by the fact that Jonathan did not tell him about the attempted arrest at Naioth. David is asking Jonathan, “Am I in the wrong here? Are you still behind me?” Essentially, David says “If you really are working for your father and agree with him that I deserve to die, then just kill me now.”

i. We have to see all of this from David’s perspective. He remembered that Jonathan’s support for him was challenged by the fact that his father was against David. He also remembered that Jonathan’s support for him was challenged by the fact that Jonathan is next in line for the throne and therefore might set himself against David.

ii. Jonathan’s response is the same as in 1 Samuel 20:2. He didn’t know that Saul set out to get David at Naioth, though previously his father told him everything.

c. Far be it from you! With this encouragement Jonathan told David to no longer doubt his loyalty. Jonathan senses that David is in a vulnerable place and he wants to give him encouragement in the midst of it.

d. Who will tell me? David now poses a practical problem. If Saul has determined evil against David and Jonathan intends to warn him, how will he do it? How will Jonathan get the message to David?

3. Jonathan was Discerning

1 Samuel 20:12-15.

When I have sounded out my father: Jonathan will find out his father’s heart and will report it to David, to say if it is good or bad towards David.

b. And send you away, that you may go in safety: Jonathan knows that if his father Saul intends evil against David it means that David must go away. He will not be welcome again in the palace and he would not be safe again at home. By giving David early warning of this Jonathan will help David go in safety.

c. And the Lord will be with you as He has been with my father: Jonathan wants to give David more than a warning; he gives him encouragement also. “David, even if you must leave the palace and your home behind and flee as a fugitive, the Lord will be with you. You can be sure of it.”

i. Jonathan shows his spiritual maturity when he says, “as He has been with my father,” because one might think that the Lord was really against Saul instead of for him. Jonathan knew that God was really for Saul because God offered Saul opportunities for repentance.

4. Jonathan was Devoted

1 Samuel 20:14-16.

a. You shall not cut off your kindness from my house forever: Jonathan was aware of the political dynamic between the family of David and the family of Jonathan. In those days when one royal house replaced another it was common for the new royal house to kill all the potential rulers from the old royal house. Jonathan knew that one day David and his descendants would rule over Israel and he wanted a promise that David and his descendants will not kill or mistreat the descendants of Jonathan.

b. So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David: Jonathan and David agreed to care for one another. Jonathan agreed to care for David in the face of Saul’s threat and David agreed to care for Jonathan and his family in the future. David fulfilled this promise to Jonathan (2 Samuel 9:1-8 and 2Sa 21:7).

5. Jonathan was a Defender

1 Samuel 20:21–24 KJV 1900

21 And, behold, I will send a lad, saying, Go, find out the arrows. If I expressly say unto the lad, Behold, the arrows are on this side of thee, take them; then come thou: for there is peace to thee, and no hurt; as the Lord liveth. 22 But if I say thus unto the young man, Behold, the arrows are beyond thee; go thy way: for the Lord hath sent thee away. 23 And as touching the matter which thou and I have spoken of, behold, the Lord be between thee and me for ever. 24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.

a. I will shoot three arrows: After Jonathan learned his father’s heart and intention towards David, he would communicate to David through a signal. Jonathan would take target practice and where he shot the arrows would tell David the answer.

b. Three arrows: These would bring one of two messages. Either Saul’s heart has changed towards David and there is safety for you, or Saul was still determined to kill David and the Lord has sent you away.

i. This was a crucial time in David’s life. Either he would be welcomed back to the palace and his home or he would be a fugitive until Saul gave up the hunt for David. A lot was riding on the message brought through a few arrows.

Jonathan covered for David, trying to give Saul a plausible (and truthful) explanation for David’s absence.

i. “It seems probably that he went first to Bethlehem, as he bade Jonathan to tell his father, ver. 6, and thence returned to the field, when the occasion required; else we must charge him with a downright lie, which ought not to be imagined (without any apparent cause) concerning so good a man.” (Poole)

c. Saul’s anger was aroused... “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman!” Jonathan knew from this response that Saul’s heart was settled on evil against David. If Saul’s heart was different towards David he might have been disappointed but not furious.

d. He shall surely die: Certainly this was Saul’s intention, despite his previous oath (As the Lord lives, he shall not be killed, 1 Samuel 19:6). Despite Saul’s intentions, David would not die at the hands of Saul or any other enemy. Man proposes, but God disposes.

e. Why should he be killed? What has he done? Jonathan responded by defending not only David, but right in this cause. His support of David wasn’t a blind support; it was based on what was right before the Lord. Jonathan’s support of David enraged Saul and Saul cast a spear at him to kill him. This shows how deep Saul’s hatred of David was – he would kill his own son for siding with David.

i. “Jonathan made one vain attempt to reason with the furious monarch; he might as well have tried to arrest the swelling of Jordan in the time of flood.” (Meyer)

6. Jonathan was Direct

a. Is not the arrow beyond you? It took courage for Jonathan to communicate with David, even secretly – because he knew that if his father became aware of it, he would focus his murderous rage against Jonathan again. Jonathan had a noble commitment to David as a friend.

i. “But there is something still nobler – when one dares in any company to avow his loyalty to the Lord Jesus. Like David, he is now in obscurity and disrepute; his name is not popular; his gospel is misrepresented; his followers are subjected to rebuke and scorn. These are days when to stand up for anything more than mere conventional religion must cost something; and for this reason let us never flinch.” (Meyer)

b. Jonathan and David knew of the matter: A small thing – the signal of a single arrow – told David his whole life was changed. He would no longer be welcome at the palace. He would no longer be welcome among the army of Israel. He could no longer go home. David was now a fugitive on the run from an angry, jealous king determined to destroy him.

1 Samuel 20:28-40.

Proverbs 12:17–27 KJV 1900

17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: But a false witness deceit. 18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: But the tongue of the wise is health. 19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: But a lying tongue is but for a moment. 20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: But to the counsellers of peace is joy. 21 There shall no evil happen to the just: But the wicked shall be filled with mischief. 22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: But they that deal truly are his delight. 23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. 24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: But the slothful shall be under tribute. 25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: But a good word maketh it glad. 26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: But the way of the wicked seduceth them. 27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: But the substance of a diligent man is precious.

7. Jonathan was a Donation

What does Jonathan’s name mean? Whom God gave.

a. He was Moved

1 Samuel 20:37-38 (KJV 1900)

1 Samuel 20:37–38 KJV 1900

37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee? 38 And Jonathan cried after the lad, Make speed, haste, stay not. And Jonathan’s lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.

37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said, Is not the arrow beyond thee?

ii. This bleak road was important in David’s life because if God would put David in a place where people must depend on him, God would teach David to depend upon God alone. Not himself, not Saul, not Jonathan, not anyone except God

iii. This bleak road was important in David’s life because if David would be safe now and promoted to king later, David must learn to let God be his defense and his promoter.

iv. This bleak road was important in David’s life because if David was to be set in such a great position of authority, David must learn to submit to God’s authority, even if it were through a man like Saul.

v. “Let God empty you out that He may save you from becoming spiritually stale, and lead you ever onward. He is always calling us to pass beyond the thing we know into the unknown. A throne is God’s purpose for you; a cross is God’s path for you; faith is God’s plan for you.” (Redpath)

b. He was a Motivator

1 Samuel 20:42 KJV 1900

42 And Jonathan said to David, Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, The Lord be between me and thee, and between my seed and thy seed for ever. And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

c. He was

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament Chapters 26–31

Saul’s tragic life and death can teach us many practical lessons: (1) great sins often begin as “little matters”—impatience, incomplete obedience, excuse-making; (2) once sin gets hold of people, they go from bad to worse; (3) if we are not right with God, we will not get along with God’s people; (4) excuses are no substitute for confessions; (5) natural gifts and abilities mean nothing without the power of God; and (6) there is no substitute for obedience.