Bible Men: Jonathan: His Love and Shame

My father hath troubled the land. 1 Sam 14:29

Fathers and Sons: The Vain Wars

We live in a patriarchal society. A father does not feel complete unless his son resembles him, not just physically, but also spiritually. And therein lies trouble. For though the father wants his son to resemble him, the son might never want to be like his father.

True, in early childhood every son wants to be like his father. The morning is still bright and the sun is not furious. But then time happens. The light dawns, and the darkness is swept away. A distant disdain sets in, and the earth starts to get scorched.

It is always a rude awakening, and a few sons (and daughters) ever come out of it “alive.” But then the mercy of God is great. It knows no bounds. There are no prison doors it cannot break. Do you believe that? “Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live” (Eze 37:5).  

Saul wanted to kill David for no cause. But his son Jonathan objected. Saul wanted to enjoin Jonathan in his hatred and murder of David. But Jonathan loved David like his own soul! The son knew right when it is right and wrong when it is wrong. And murdering an innocent man is never right, though one’s father (or mother) says so.

“My father hath troubled the land.” And we know Saul had shown himself ready to kill his own son twice.

There are things which are impossible to say to one’s parents. It was a nightmare for Kafka once and it was a nightmare for Beethoven. But nothing is impossible to say to God. Have you tried him? 

The Distance from Hate to Love

“Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?” (1Sa 20:30).     

The wording of this insult is telling. Jonathan, his son, was the intended object. The wording of the insult delineated his mother’s character instead.

But was this the deranged state of mind of Saul or was this the general trend of men everywhere? It is said of the Jewish man that he thanked his God every morning that he wasn’t born a woman. And our own fathers were enamoured of this epithet “Nyukwa!” (Your mother!) It was just one word, carefully spat out, but it left one’s head reeling.

And so in King Saul and his son Jonathan we have a glimpse into the workings of a relationship between a father and a son, between the heart of darkness and the heart of light. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12).  

Jesus Came to Open Prison Doors

That war is still in progression. And the bone of contention up to this day is not whether a child looks like his parents, but about what moral bent one should take – is it a man’s own way or God’s?

Granted, our fathers were ignorant. They had no God or hope in this world. They did their best though they did it most savagely. Fear meant love, so today we have a glut of love instead. We know better. But neither have we fared better. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom 3:10).  

So it’s not what your parent did with your life, but what God can do with it if you let him. Holding onto grudges is wrong. It’s fighting the will of God, which is what Saul did, and in the end it is vain, though Satan would never allow one to “see” that.

In contrast his son Jonathan accepted it. He removed is robe and gave it to David. Jonathan knew God had chosen David. He sought reconciliation, his dad chose to fight. Jonathan chose the way of friendship and not war. Therefore Jonathan died in peace. But not so his dad. The fruits of Jonathan’s obedience were enjoyed by his son, Mephibosheth, who lived with David in his palace at Jerusalem.

Parents, your children will never be like yourself. That’s always a losing battle. Rather strive to make them resemble God, because that’s always the winning way.

So which way will you choose? Is it reconciliation or war, obedience or disobedience, light or darkness? “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” (Mat 4:16).  

What fruits are you storing up for your children? Is it hate or love? Is it war or peace? Give them God for their inheritance and the rest will come naturally. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mat 6:33). 

Finally choose the way of love. It never fails. Never! “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing” (1Co 13:2).  

Moving From the Tent into the City of God

There are things which will never change - truth and beauty. Traditions will be swept away but the word of God will remain forever.

Sin is painful. It will continue so until we are clothed in new bodies. (2Co 5). While we are in this tent we shall continue to groan. We shall continue to moan. But a new earth and heaven is coming (Rev 21).

In the city of God there will be no pain or tears or death. It’s God who has promised that. Do you believe him? Please do!

To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. Isa 42:7  

Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. Eze 36:36  

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Joh 8:36  

 

  

Bible Men: King Saul: His Rise and Fall

But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 1Sa 16:14  

Reason, Faith and the God of Election

Madness is not an easy subject to write about. Yet on the other hand it is not very hard. “Are you mad?” is a question one meets with almost daily.

And we talk of anger as madness. So we say of the man who’s never exasperated, “He doesn’t get mad!” And that is always a revelation. 

For some people shouting flows in the blood. It is not madness. To speak in low tones is often a sign of trouble. And many times it invites the slap, “Speak like a man!”

We have all said or done terrible things in anger (haven’t we?). And later we intoned “I was mad!”

But King Saul’s madness is complicated. A good Spirit from God left him and “an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.”

The implication is terrible but true. The good and bad are all allowed by God but at the same time God is not evil. It is a paradox but true. God made Satan.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. Isa 45:7 

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…according to the good pleasure of his will. Eph 1:4-5 

God chose Israel over other nations, he chose Abraham over his siblings, he chose Isaac over Ishmael, and he chose Jacob over Esau. God is a God of election and no one can say to him, “What doeth thou?”

So it is not reason but faith which makes us believe.

Change of Guard and Change of Trouble

The people of Israel had been ruled by God. He had been their leader since the days of Moses. But suddenly they wanted to be ruled like “other nations.” They wanted a human king. 

It vexed God just as it would vex any parent to be rejected of his own children. But God in his mercy forgave them. He gave them Saul instead.

Saul started off shyly. He had a physique which was higher than that of any other man. Probably he grew up being self-conscious about it. It is not easy standing out in the world. God means it for his glory but many times it defeats us and becomes a source of trouble.

Saul was restless. His was a small tribe. But now the whole Israel nation was under him. Probably the enormity of that task ate into his nerves like malignity. 

In the end he cuts a tragic figure. As an army general he’s worse for a foul temper and hasty decisions. Twice he came close to killing his own son. He headed a disgruntled army and a dejected citizenry. They interceded “God save the king” but in the end even breathing out his name became a burden. It is true that people get what they pray for. We have elections coming. Shall we elect a Saul or a David?

The height of King Saul’s madness occurred when he ordered the death of eighty five priests of God including the high priest of Nob Ahimelech. From that point king Saul could only go down.

Now his desire to kill David became his all-consuming obsession, and "Mine enemies would daily swallow me up" became David’s incessant cry.

It is said of Prometheus that “Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad.” That is true of small gods, but it is not true of the God of all the earth. He is not vindictive. “For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men” (Lam 3:31-33).  

We cry for Saul. We feel for Saul. His pathos inflames. But God’s patience had run out.

“Madness” and Music: Growing Life Through Contradictions

But God did not leave Saul’s “evil spirit” to trouble him without respite. In his mercy he sent him a comforter. David played his harp and that music calmed Saul. But in chasing David from his palace Saul forfeited that mercy.

Yet David is still playing his harp today and comforting thousands in his psalms. Are you one of them?

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Psa 42:5 

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. Psa 139:7-8   

And yet David was only the precursor to the eternal comforter which is Christ Jesus. “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation.”

 The Wounds Which Heal

And so we are as sorrowful, writes Paul, yet always rejoicing; as poor yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

By honour and dishonuor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers and yet true. As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed (2Co 6:8-10).

“By his stripes we are healed.” We look at the cross and our wounds seem like a dot in the sand. There’s no pain which we face but which didn’t strike him first. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1Pe 4:12-13).

Saul ignited his own flame of destruction. He became intoxicated with death as he roamed the plains of Palestine hunting for David. He didn't know the bells were tolling for him.

Christ died, and Christ rose again. All our pains are subsumed in his victory now. The sting is lost in joy. We look to the past for affirmation. But even more we look to the future for sure certainty. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Nothing!

How sweet rest can get! How addictive! But how soon it also gets irksome! I’m well and refreshed. I thank my God upon you all. I felt your love. Thanks.