1 Samuel 20
Leaders Prep Section
Watch this video, read these notes, and send the pre-written email (below) to your group 2-3 days before you meet.
Notes
Jonathan is the fourth man involved in leadership training. And he nails it. Commitment, loyalty, love, and brotherhood; they’re all words reaching for the same idea – an idea that has a greater impact than anything else we can do.
Group Guide Starts Here
Context of scripture
Saul, the most powerful man in Israel, wants to kill David. He still does not know David has been chosen to succeed him. However, Saul has seen God align with David the way he once aligned with him – and that is reason enough. Meanwhile, Saul’s son Jonathan is developing an ever-greater respect for David. 1 Samuel may be about a lot of things, but in our view 1 Samuel is about four men: Samuel, Saul, David, and Jonathan. Each of them receives coaching from God that could be considered leadership training. Arguably, Jonathan may have outperformed them all. While God did not choose Jonathan to be king, his role was still vital to the kingdom God wanted to put into place. This is all about the fourth man going through leadership training.
Read 1 Samuel 20: 1-4
Many have the impression that Jonathan and David were about the same age; however this is unlikely. While we don’t know their exact ages, we do know the timeline of battles and major movements throughout Israel’s history. According to Biblehub’s Bible timeline,1 Jonathan’s victory against the outpost – during which he and his armor bearer fought and killed 20 men in a space of a half-acre – happened in 1041 BC (1 Samuel 14). During that time, both King Saul and the rest of the army considered Jonathan a soldier and a leader. It was 18 years later when David was anointed king and fought Goliath (1024 BC) at which point David was considered too young and insignificant to meet Samuel and was kept from even visiting the battle ranks because of his youth. So whether you want to assume Jonathan was 22 when he fought his battle or David was 18 when he fought Goliath, there was over 20 years difference between the two.
This story we are reviewing now takes place in 1013 BC, even 10 years later, at best putting David in his late 20’s and Jonathan in his late 40’s.
The relationship between grown men can create a foundation that impacts families.
Did (or does) your father have a close bond with another man that you knew of while you were growing up? How did you view that close friendship growing up?
Read 1 Samuel 19: 8-17
Here, the key line is, “He loved him as he loved himself.” Famously – a little over a thousand years later – Jesus will say this is one of the two commandments that, if followed, will cover absolutely everything that God could ever want a man to do. This instruction was first given to God’s followers 400 years earlier (Leviticus 19:18).
In a man’s lifetime, how many of these kinds of friendships should he expect to have? Do you consider that to be a low number?
Read 1 Samuel 19: 18-42
David and Jonathan will meet only briefly, once again. Later, Jonathan will die in battle. David will reign as king. They will both honor their pledge to the other.
How would you define the “intrinsic thing” that is being given or received when a man makes a commitment to another man that they will be there for them and their family?
In a value comparison with money or power, where would you rank this kind of relationship in a man’s life?