A commitment to an ongoing relationship and to the attitude and behaviour demanded by it. It is evident in human relationships and also in the covenant relationship between God and his people.
God's loyalty to his people
God's covenant loyalty
Deuteronomy 7:9 See also 1 Kings 8:23 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:14; Nehemiah 1:5; Psalm 25:10, Psalm 89:28, Psalm 103:17–18, Psalm 106:45; Isaiah 54:10, Isaiah 55:3
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.
God's faithfulness to his promises
Hebrews 10:23 See also 1 Kings 8:56; Psalm 91:14–16; 1 Corinthians 1:9
Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.
Loyalty to God
The loyalty of God's people
1 Chronicles 29:18; Jeremiah 2:2 See also 1 Kings 8:61; 2 Chronicles 32:32, 2 Chronicles 35:26, 2 Chronicles 17:6
O LORD, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, keep this desire forever in the intentions of the hearts of Your people, and direct their hearts toward You.
“Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
Examples of those loyal to God
Numbers 12:7 Moses; Numbers 14:24 Caleb; Joshua 24:14–15 Joshua and his family; Job 23:11 Job; Isaiah 38:3 Hezekiah; Acts 4:19 Peter and John; Acts 20:24 Paul
Failure to show loyalty to God
Hosea 6:4 See also Psalm 78:8, Psalm 78:37
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning mist, like the early dew that vanishes.
Divided loyalties
2 Kings 17:33 See also Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13; 1 Corinthians 10:21; James 1:8
They worshiped the LORD, but they also served their own gods according to the customs of the nations from which they had been carried away.
Loyalty in human relationships
Loyalty and covenant
Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?”
The loyalty of friends
1 Samuel 20:42; Proverbs 17:17 See also 2 Samuel 16:17; Proverbs 27:10
And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Loyalty within the family
Ruth 1:16–17 See also Genesis 20:13, Genesis 38:8, Genesis 47:29; Deuteronomy 25:5; Ruth 3:9; 1 Corinthians 7:3
But Ruth replied: “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn from following you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me, and ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.”
Loyalty to those in authority
Romans 13:1 See also Ezra 7:26; Ecclesiastes 8:2; Matthew 17:27, Matthew 22:21; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–14
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Examples of loyalty to rulers
2 Samuel 15:21 See also 1 Samuel 22:14 David's loyalty to Saul; 2 Samuel 3:8 Abner's loyalty to Saul's family; 1 Kings 12:20 the loyalty of Judah to David's house; 1 Chronicles 12:33 the men of Zebulun's loyalty to David
But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!”
The loyalty of believers
Romans 12:10; Philippians 4:3 See also 1 Corinthians 4:17 Timothy; 1 Corinthians 16:15–16 the household of Stephanas; Colossians 1:7 Epaphras; Colossians 4:7 Tychicus; Colossians 4:9 Onesimus
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have contended at my side for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.