IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN -A Growing Darkness

 Despite Saul's faults, Jonathan kept fighting loyally at his father's side through the years. We can only imagine his dismay as he saw his father develop a disobedient and proud spirit.  A darkness was growing in his father, and Jonathan was powerless to stop it.

 The problem came to a head when Jehovah assigned Saul to wage war against the Amalekites, a people so immersed in wickedness that back in Moses' day, Jehovah had foretold the destruction of the entire nation.  (Exodus 17:14)  Saul was told to destroy  all their livestock and to execute their king, Agag.  Saul won the battle, no doubt with Jonathan fighting bravely under his father's command as usual.  But Saul flagrantly disobeyed Jehovah sparing Agag and keeping the wealth, the livestock intact. The prophet Samuel pronounced  Jehovah final judgment on Saul:  "Because you have  rejected the word of Jehovah, he has rejected you from being king. - 1 SAMUEL 15:2, 3, 9, 10, 23.

It was not long thereafter that Jehovah withdrew his holy spirit from Saul.  Without Jehovah's loving influence, Saul was subject to wild mood swings, fits of temper, and overwhelming fears.  It was as if a bad spirit from God had replaced the good one. (1 Samuel 16:14; 18:10-12)  How it must have distressed Jonathan to see his once noble father so terribly changed! Nonetheless, Jonathan never swerved from his loyal service to Jehovah.  He supported his father as best he could, even speaking to him quite frankly at times, but he kept his focus on his unchanging God and Father, Jehovah. - 1 SAMUEL 19:4, 5. 

Have you ever watched someone you love, perhaps a close family member, change drastically for the worse? It can be a  profoundly  painful experience.  Jonathan's example reminds us of what the psalmist wrote: "Even if my own father and mother abandon me, Jehovah himself will take me in." (Psalm 27:10) Jehovah is loyal.  He will take you in too and be the best father imaginable, not matter how imperfect humans may do to disappoint you or let you down.

Jonathan likely learned that Jehovah intended to take the kingship away from Saul.  How did Jonathan react?  Did he ever   wonder what kind of ruler he might prove to be?  Did he cherish hopes of righting some of his father's wrongs, setting a better example as a loyal and obedient king.  We do not know his inner thoughts; we oly know that any such hopes were never to be realized. Does this  mean  that Jehovah abandoned that faithful man?  On the contrary, he used Jonathan   to set one of the greatest examples of loyal friendship contained in the entire Bible record!  That friendship  will the focus of a further articles on Jonathan.

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/JONATHAN - "Bound Together in Close Friendship

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