Title Jonathan
Content Jonathan
Jonathan means . Jonathan is the eldest son of King Saul. My mother is Ahinoam. Jonathan was supposed to succeed King Saul as king. However, he is an unfortunate man who did not become king because of King Saul's mistake.
1. Jonathan as a valiant soldier
In the Bible, Jonathan is portrayed as a valiant soldier in war. At that time, the Philistines were always tormenting Israel. The biggest enemy was the Philistines. Jonathan always had 1,000 men under him to fight the Philistines. In today's terms, he had an army larger than a battalion commander and smaller than a regimental commander.
This happened once.
Jonathan said to the servant who was standing next to him with his weapon:
(1 Samuel 14:1)
Then Jonathan said:
(1 Samuel 14:6)
Jonathan was a man of faith. Even though the two of them went in, Jonathan had the belief that God would be with them.
This is a Talmud story.
The people of Israel have a sabbath rule.
So I made the children wait happily for the Sabbath. The prince's chef went out to the grocery store to prepare for the Sabbath. I ran into a poor man at a fish store. However, there was only one fish. It was to raise the price to buy each other. Fish prices skyrocketed without realizing it was high. In the end, neither of them could buy fish because they ran out of money in their pockets. The chef explained to the prince why there was no fish on the Sabbath table. The prince was angry and ordered that the poor man be arrested. The prince asked the man.
Knowing that he had done so to keep the Sabbath beautiful, the prince gave him enough money to buy the fish. On the way back, the man bought the fish and was surprised when he cut the fish for cooking. There were gold nuggets in it. So they escaped poverty.
God blesses those who try to keep the Sabbath. God blesses people of faith. Jonathan was such a person.
God uses courageous people.
It happened at the height of the British-French war. At that time, the French army was commanded by Napoleon.
British prisoners of war were held in France. Two British soldiers knew they were going to die here and there. So I decided to escape and was looking for a way to escape. It was finally the day of the jailbreak. He escaped the prison safely. They reached the shore, but there was no boat. They built a raft to go back to England. Then we boarded a raft and departed for England. They rowed hard with joy. However, it was captured by the French army. The two were brought before Napoleon. asked Napoleon.
The two soldiers answered seriously and confidently. Said Napoleon, looking at the two soldiers.
So the two soldiers returned to their home countries.
God also uses courageous people.
Jonathan did not tell his father Saul. Of course, no one knew that Jonathan had entered the enemy line because he did not tell anyone. Even if Jonathan entered the enemy camp, he believed that God was on our side and that God would protect him.
Only the two of us went in and fought the Philistines.
They killed 20 Philistines. It was a victory.
Only then did Saul ask what was going on in the Philistine camp.
(1 Samuel 14:17)
Upon inspection, he found that Jonathan and his armored soldiers had disappeared. That day, Saul's soldiers attacked the Philistines. You won. Saul gave this command that day and went to war.
(1 Samuel 14:24)
So all the Israelites were tired and weary. But there was honey in the bush. They starved all day in battle, and when they saw honey in front of them, their eyes became round. However, because King Saul ordered not to eat the food, all of them were unable to touch. But Jonathan did not hear such a command. Because they were in the Philistine camp during that time. Jonathan dipped his staff with honey and ate a little, and his eyes were opened. He seemed to be recovering his energy quickly.
At that time, the people informed us of the command that King Saul had commanded. Jonathan knew that his father, King Saul, had made the people tired and hungry by an illegal command. So Jonathan said.
(1 Samuel 14:29-30)
Hearing Jonathan's words, the people became so hungry that they slaughtered sheep, cattle, and calves that had been stolen from their enemies. And I was so hungry that I even ate blood.
A man informed King Saul of this.
(1 Samuel 14:33)
Saul told them to gather together to find out who was to blame. And I said something I shouldn't have done.
And Saul divided into two teams. One team was the people. The other team was Zagi and Jonathan. And they cast lots. Jonathan and Saul were chosen.
They let go of the two and cast lots again. Jonathan was chosen.
Saul said.
Jonathan said.
Saul said.
(1 Samuel 14:44)
But all the people were on Jonathan's side. They protested that they could not kill Jonathan, who had given Israel victory. When Saul heard the cries, he could not kill Jonathan.
Thus Jonathan appears valiant.
David and Jonathan
However, Jonathan's true form is revealed in his relationship with David. The friendship between David and Jonathan appears as one of the most beautiful stories in the entire Bible. King Saul hated David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, loved David very much. It's kind of like a novel.
Saul decided to kill David. Saul's son Jonathan knew this. So Jonathan actively protected David. That story appears in 1 Samuel 19. Jonathan is protecting David. The Bible tells us that Jonathan loved David as his own life.
(1 Samuel 18:1)
So Jonathan said to David:
1. I gave you information.
You have chosen a friend between father and friend.
(1 Samuel 19:2-3)
2. He defended me.
David actively defended his father, Saul, that David was a good man and that he had not sinned.
(1 Samuel 19:4-5)
Hearing Jonathan's defense like this, Saul seemed to change his mind. So I swore to God that I would not kill him.
(1 Samuel 19:6)
3. They allowed us to meet each other.
Jonathan allowed Saul and David to meet. It's a great way to meet people who have feelings for each other.
(1 Samuel 19:7)
Jonathan was a very wise man.
There is a story like this. There was a rich man. They had three sons. The time has come for the rich to die. He believed that his wealth would not be lost if he passed it on to the wisest of his three sons.
So he gave me 1,000 won each and told me to fill the room with something. The eldest son bought a very cheap grass for 1,000 won. And I started to build in that room. But it wasn't even half full.
The second son bought cotton. However, the cotton did not fill the room either.
The third son came to his father. He came in with a candle in his hand. My father asked why.
And lit a candle. The whole room was lit up with light. The next day, the father left everything to his youngest son. God also uses wise people. Jonathan was a man of wisdom.
And Jonathan was an intercessor. He was a pacifist. He was a man of justice. He was a man used by God.
Nevertheless, Saul began to pursue David to kill him. David began to be pursued by Saul. From now on, the father is trying to kill and the son is trying to save his life.
Saul was following David, who was hiding in the wilderness. At this time Jonathan appeared to David. And there is a scene that encourages David.
All these were Jonathan's words of encouragement to David. And the two made a covenant before God.
It was a covenant of friendship with each other. It was a really beautiful friendship. After that, David and Jonathan never met again. Jonathan was killed in the war with the Philistines.