Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

JONATHAN

1. This writer has always been inclined to Jonathan, Saul's son:
   1. He was, according to the rule, the heir to the throne Israel; he knew that and so did David
   2. But he knew also that God had made a change; another was to occupy the throne not of the house of Saul
2. What is so wonderful on the part of Jonathan:
   1. Is his selfless attitude - "I shall be next to thee" - I Sam. 23:17
   2. That in itself is a forceful reminder of the second commandment, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" - Matt. 22:39

1. The story of Jonathan is remarkable for a number of reasons
   1. He was heir to the throne of Saul, yet he became attached to the man who was to take the throne away from the house of Saul
   2. To sacrifice the throne of Israel in favor of another was a mark of complete selflessness - so very rare among men
   3. In this he demonstrated true and abiding love to others
2. He is not to be found among the worthies of the eleventh chapter of Hebrews:
   1. Yet he was chosen by God to deliver Israel from their enemies - PP 623
   2. He feared the Lord - PP 623
   3. He shared the fellowship of Christ's suffering - Ed. 156-157
   4. He was love by the people - PP 699
   5. He was a man of pure integrity - SD 208
   6. His name is treasured in heaven - ML 210
   7. He demonstrated by his life the power of love; in this he emulated the Son of God - Ed. 157; ML 210
3. Died with his father on the battlefield:
   1. But his memory lives in the hearts of all who cherish the love that he manifested

1. He personified all the Christian virtues or graces that Peter wrote about 2 Peter 1:5-7:
   1. Faith, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" - Heb. 11:1
   2. Virtue - that means dependable integrity, all of this is seen in his loyalty to the covenant he made with David
   3. Knowledge - He made sure that no plan of his father to destroy David would be hid from either him or David
   4. Temperance - He seemed to have complete self-control even when his father sought to slay him
   5. Patience - Jonathan was the very embodiment of patience and long-suffering
   6. Godliness - Who can fail to see God's love toward us in Jonathan's love toward David
   7. Brotherly kindness - The kindness of Jonathan toward David is proverbial
2. In battle, his valor was absolutely stainless and he acted without fear:
3. As to the love covenant Jonathan made with David, how rare is it to be seen among even professed Christians - Matt. 24:12-13
4. Truly, Jonathan was possessed of a heroic faith - I Sam. 14:6; undaunted courage - I Sam. 14:7-14; self-sacrificing friendship - I Sam. 18:4; 19:2
5. David understood and appreciated the great virtues of his friend Jonathan:
   1. There is nothing in literature comparable to David's lament and eulogy when he heard of the death of Saul and Jonathan - 2 Sam. 1
   2. To show his appreciation to Jonathan, David took Mephibosheth into his own care as long as Mephibosheth lived - 2 Sam. 9
6. Can we match the story of Jonathan, the friend of David:
   1. Can the reader see why I am drawn to Jonathan
   2. How I long that my own heart be filled with the love that dwelt in Jonathan