READ: 1 Samuel 20:1-17
“…but if it please my father to do thee evil, then I will shew it thee, and send thee away, that thou mayest go in peace…“ – 1 Samuel 20:13
Many people operate by feelings and emotions, rather than by a set of principles. Decisions based on emotions rather than principles are not substantial. If you have decided to belong to something you must make your decision based on principles and not on feelings.
Many people who follow rebels do so without thinking. You must remember that all those who followed Absalom without seriously considering it were killed (2 Samuel 18:32).
Remember that all those angels who followed Lucifer were cast down. You must remember that when Korah the rebel was perishing, he was destroyed with his entire family and three hundred others— (Numbers 16:32). All of these people would not have been destroyed if they had thought twice about what they were doing. How can you follow somebody like Absalom, who was fighting his own father? Perhaps Absalom’s good looks and long hair swayed the masses.
The point I’m trying to make is that loyalty is based on principles and not feelings and emotions. Some people just follow family lines. If it is your brother or your sister it must be right, even if it is glaringly wrong. Jonathan was not like that. He realized that his father was wrong in principle and was trying to murder an innocent young man. So he decided to help David even though it was emotionally difficult. Although his actions were directed against his own family, it was the right thing to do.