A Growing Darkness

 Despite Saul's faults, Jonathan kept fighting loyalty 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 Sail to wage war against the amalekites, a people so immersed in wickeedness 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's final judgment on Saul: "Because you have rejected the Word of Jehovah, he has rejected from being king."- 1 SAMUEL 15:2, 3, 9, 10, 23.

Next time: A Growing Darkness - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications