Jonathan

I wanted to post some comments about individuals in scripture who stand out to me and I find interesting.  I am going to start with one of my favorite people in the bible. Jonathan, the son of Saul the first King of Israel. Jonathan, was a husband and father, a great friend, a skilled and wise warrior and leader, and a servant of God. I am going to discuss many character traits of Jonathan, but his willingness to serve God, is the most amazing.

In I Samuel 14: 47-52 we see that Jonathan was the eldest son of Saul, and was next in line for the throne as King. Jonathan had two brothers and two sisters.  We know he was married, and had children, but there is not much information in the Bible about them. In 2 Samuel 4:4 we learn about Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s son) who was about five years old when Jonathan died in battle.

Jonathan was a great warrior, I have to assume from the scriptures, that Jonathan was the greatest warrior in the Army at the time.  We see this pointed out in I Samuel 14:1-23, when Jonathan and his armour bearer, while the rest of the Army sleeps.  Climbed up a cliff to the enemy encampment.  This also shows Jonathans reliance on God, as he told his armour bearer, that if they asked them to come up, then God would deliver them, but if not then they were not to attack.  The Philistines invited them up, and Jonathan and his armour bearer, slew many of the Philistine warriors. This was not the best tactical assault, as he called out to them and they invited him up, they knew he was the enemy and there was no surprise attack here, Jonathan and his armour bearer destroyed many enemy warriors and survived.

We read in the scriptures that Saul hears fighting and knew there was a battle, when he accounted for his men, he discovered only Jonathan and his armour bearer missing.  Then he rallied his warriors to attack, and they had a great victory.  I can only imagine Jonathan and his armour bearer taking on a large number of enemy warriors and destroying them all.  Sounds like something we would see on TV with a super hero, but really happened in history.

Jonathan was a great warrior, but he relied on God to give him the victory and he did.  After this battle we also see a story that shows Jonathans character.  After the battle Saul told his warriors not to eat anything, as a commandment from God.  Jonathan not knowing this order, as I think we can determine he was fighting until the last Philistine was dead or ran too far away to go after,  he took some honey and ate it.  When Saul discovered there was sin in the camp, he declared whomever it was, would be put to death.

The lot fell on Jonathan, and Jonathan’s response, I like, “I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.” (1 Sam 14:43).  Of course Saul was going to go through with it,  and all the people in the camp turned against Saul to protect Jonathan.  These verses show the people of Israel were more loyal to Jonathan than to Saul. They looked to Jonathan as the one who wrought this great salvation in Israel. They believed Jonathan was doing the will of God, and had already perceived Saul was no longer close to God. I can only imagine the people around Jonathan would have gave their lives for him, even against Saul if it would have came to that.

This leads in to the next thing I will discuss about Jonathan, his friendship with David.  I think in most story’s like this one involving two people like Jonathan and David, the story would have been different.  As sinners we are all selfish.  Jonathan had all the backing of the people, I believe the nation was looking forward to Jonathan assuming the throne as King after Saul.  I think these stories we have went over show the power and might of Jonathan.  I think the relationship of Jonathan to his father and friendship of David show the true strength and character of Jonathan.

In I Samuel 20:31 Saul gets angry at Jonathan because, Jonathan is to be king, and his kingdom is threatened by David, and Saul wants to kill David.   How many stories do we see where someone has the entire kingdom backing him, he has the loyalty of the Army and all the people.  I Think the most important aspect of this situation is based on tradition, the kingdom was Jonathan’s.  Once Saul was dead, Jonathan was the King.  Jonathan could have killed his own father and taken the throne, I think reading these scriptures everyone in the kingdom would have supported him.  He would have been famous in history. He could have killed David, or even better, just let his father kill David.  Saul wanted time and time again to kill David, and every time Jonathan or his sister saved David from Saul, their father. How many times do we see someone who has all the power he can imagine in his hand, and throw it all away, or should I say give it away, to the will of God.

In I Samuel 18:3-5 the scriptures document such an awesome picture of this.  I think we can assume by reading the previous chapters, that Jonathan was in charge of the Army, but we see in these verses that Jonathan made a covenant right away with David, gave David all of his own armour and weapons, and let David go and take charge of the Army. This is my take on this, but David was already anointed by Samuel at this point by God to be the next king.  Reading the scriptures we see that Jonathan knew this.  We do not know exactly when Jonathan discovered this, but I think he knew in this verse and he willingly surrendered all that he had and ever wanted to David the chosen of God.

We see in I Samuel 23:14-18, when Saul was diligently seeking David to kill him and David was hiding in the cave, fearing for his life.  Jonathan came to David to comfort him and make a covenant with him.  Jonathan being the good friend, ensured David he would make sure David was protected against Saul his father and David would be King. I like that Jonathan stated he would be second under David in the kingdom.  Jonathan was willing to turn on his father, and possibly kill him if he had to, in order to protect David, God’s anointed, and ensure David became King, the position Jonathan was to take.

I discover most people may know Jonathan as Saul’s son, and really don’t know or think about the fact of how famous Jonathan could have been in history, but he gave it all up and took a back seat to Saul his father and David his friend, to serve God and see His will done.

I find it ironic and interesting that Jonathan dies in battle, which I believe Jonathan would have wanted as a valiant warrior, but he dies in battle because God punishes Saul, by killing him and all his sons.  I find it interesting that Jonathan from all accounts I can find, did what God wanted and placed God above all in his life, even above his own riches and fame. In the end he dies as a result of his father’s sins.

There was a saying I heard growing up about the “Sins of the Father” being visited on his children, we see this in Exodus 34:7.  We also see in Deuteronomy 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:18-20 and several other verses, that each man will pay for his own sin.  I think in this incident with Jonathan, in order for David to assume the throne with complete power, Saul and all his sons had to die.  I think Jonathan would have been loyal to God, as I think he demonstrated over and over again. I also think it was God’s will for David to have complete power in the nation and Jonathan would have always been a threat to that. In the end I believe Jonathan accepted a warriors death as the will of God.

We all have an appointed time and place where we will end our time on this earth and will stand before God.  I believe Jonathan was ready and heard the words well done, thou good and faithful servant (Matt. 25:21).  Are you ready and will you hear those words some day?  In Christ.