I just haven't been able to get my mind off of the idea of 'loyalty' as of late

I just haven't been able to get my mind off of the idea of 'loyalty' as of late. Loyalty is a huge element in the service of Christ, and I am thankful that it has been a dominant trait in my life since I was very young. Webster's first definition for loyalty is, "faithfulness to commitments or obligations." That's really big because 'faithfulness' may just be the most integral word that pertains to the Gospel of Christ. How is that? "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war" (Rev. 19:11). Because one of the names attributed to Jesus Christ is "Faithful and True." And then there's this: "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Rev. 17:14). So those who will be saved, and will be caught up to meet Jesus at his coming, will be those who were faithful. Commitment is equally as important, and actually the first principle of loyalty or faithfulness. Loyalty and faithfulness are synonymous, and so are loyalty and 'fidelity.' Webster defines fidelity as "strict observance of promises, loyalty. Also it is the word 'fidelity' from which the word 'infidel' comes; which is what the unbelieving are referred to in the scriptures (II Cor. 6:15; I Tim. 5:8). Loyalty is really the main element in all relationships of all kinds, which relationships begin with God and his Son. It doesn't matter what kind of relationship it is, if loyalty, or faithfulness, or fidelity are missing; the relationship is doomed. Think about it, of all types of relationships that exist between people, what relationship can be successful if any of the parties involved are not, and do not remain, loyal. Jesus could never had purchased our redemption if he had not been faithful to his Father's will till the end,and to us who were wholly dependent on his being faithful. As you can see, and as I'm sure you already know, God is very, very big on being loyal. So am I.

I've been reading 1st and 2nd Samuel recently, and as I always have, I've pondered the circumstance of how Jonathan remained with his father Saul, who was the king of Israel that had fallen from favor with God; rather than to have gone with his beloved friend David, whom he knew was wrongly targeted for death by his father; and was pursued throughout Israel by Saul for a number of years. Jonathan dearly loved David from the moment they met after David had slain the giant Goliath, and had been brought to the king's court to appear before Saul: "And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul... Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul" (I Sam. 18:1,3). The love between Jonathan and David is legendary, and Jonathan's heart was clearly toward David, even believing that he would one day rule beside David: "And David saw that Saul was come out to seek his life: and David was in the wilderness of Ziph in a wood. And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth. And they two made a covenant before the Lord: and David abode in the wood, and Jonathan went to his house" (I Sam. 23:15-18). Jonathan actually saved David from being killed by Saul, and was also well aware that his father had fallen out of favor with God. So why did he stay with Saul, and not go with David? Loyalty. So the question is, was his loyalty wrong, and did his loyalty to his father overrule his loyalty to God, seeing the scripture clearly tells us; "And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul" (I Sam. 18:12). Jonathan was aware of all this, but yet he remained with his father, and was eventually killed along with his father and his brothers, in battle with the Philistines at Mt. Gilboa (I Sam. 31:2-4,9,12).

I firmly believe that Jonathan did the right thing by staying with Saul, and I will tell you why I think that. First of all, his father was the God-anointed king of Israel, and God had not removed him from that position. In fact David himself recognized that reality and feared to do any harm to Saul because of it. Twice he could have killed Saul when he was being pursued by him, and twice he refused to do so, citing both times; "I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed" (I Sam. 24:10; I Sam. 26:10). David recognized Saul as both 'his lord,' meaning his master, and as the Lord's anointed. This was not a formality with David, it is how he really felt about Saul; and in fact he was perfectly correct in feeling so. David felt this way about Saul regardless of the circumstances they were in, because he was a righteous man with a heart after God. David wasn't fleeing from Saul because he didn't like the way he was handling things, but rather only because Saul was trying to KILL HIM wrongly. So if David dealt with Saul in that manner because he was a righteous man, how much more should Jonathan, a righteous man as well, deal with Saul in like manner? If David referred to Saul as his lord, and recognized him as the Lord's anointed, how much more should Jonathan feel that way about Saul, who was also his father? For it is written: "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee" (Exd. 20:12). And again: "And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death" (Exd. 21:17). So the elements that existed in David's heart that caused him to continue honoring Saul, were also present in Jonathan's heart; along with the added elements of Saul being Jonathan's father. I truly think that both David and Jonathan believed that Jonathan did the right thing by remaining with Saul, and there is absolutely nothing in the scriptures that would suggest otherwise. In fact I believe it was a point of admiration with David that Jonathan stayed with Saul. Admiration accompanied by hurt, but admiration nonetheless. I believe that David knew that if the shoes were on the other feet that he would have done the same thing.

In David's epic lamentation over Saul and Jonathan after learning of their death, there was absolutely nothing in it that separated Saul and Jonathan in any way; and there was no difference in his sorrow over Saul than his sorrow over Jonathan: "From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel... I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women" (II Sam. 1:22-24,26). As I said before, that lamentation was not a formality, it was truly David's heart toward Saul and Jonathan. There was no doubt great conflict and sadness in the hearts of Jonathan and David all the while that David was being pursued by Saul, and while they were separated by that. Nonetheless that is the nature of this life, that sometimes the hardest things to do are also the right things to do. I believe Jonathan did what was right in the sight of God, and I am confident that he and David have been catching up on lost time for a good while now, in the paradise of God. I have to say at this point that this is one of the more prolific articles I have written, and some of it was revealed to me by the holy Ghost as I wrote, or typed rather. I've actually felt led to write this article for a while now, but I knew it would be a rather long project for the space of time that I have to devote to these things. Also I am attaching a truly epic song here that my son Elisha wrote, and played on a TV broadcast that we made a few years ago. I feel it will be a real blessing to you, especially after reading this article. Personally I can't listen to the song without being brought to weeping. There's just nothing quite like loyalty. I believe loyalty is at the very center of God's heart, as well as those whose hearts are after God, as Jonathan's and David's hearts were. God bless.