CHARACTER STUDY ~ JONATHAN SON OF KING SAUL

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The name Johnathan is a male Hebrew name which means God has given or Gift of God. There are quite several people named Jonathan in the Bible but our focus today will be on the son of Saul. He was a faithful companion of David.


Some Characteristics of Jonathan:

✔ Jonathan comes from the tribe of Benjamin. By his father's lineage, he is a Benjaminite. Each of us belongs to a tribe, clan, or nation and our ancestry can be traced back to where they come from.   

✔ He was a warrior in Israel and he fought and won lots of battles for the nation Israel. He often acknowledges success in battle with God and goes out in faith to fight the enemies of Israel. If you trust God can give you victory in battles of life you shall triumph gloriously.    

✔ He accidentally violated his father's instruction that none of the warriors should eat. While the warriors were weak, he gained strength by the taste of the honey. When he got to know of his father's command he felt his father had disturbed the warriors with such command.  

✔ His life was spared when the warriors pleaded on his behalf that he should not be put to death for they said “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.

✔ He was not pleased with how his father was treating David. He showed true love to David and was ever ready to let David know his father's intent towards him. He never envied the blessings of God in David's life. We ought to genuinely love everyone.   

✔ Jonathan had a son called Mephibosheth. The news of his death led to his son becoming lame after accidentally falling from his nurse. However, David showed love to his son by offering him to eat at the King's table. What you do today will either bring a blessing or a curse in your life. 

✔ He died in battle with the Philistines. He was buried by the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead under a tree at Jabesh and they fasted for seven days. David later came for the bones of Saul and Jonathan and buried them in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. Death is inevitable we ought to number our days and apply wisdom in everything we do. 

✔ David mourned him and sang a dirge in his memory. Let us live a good life such that the eulogies in our memory shall be proven to be true.  


Supporting Scriptures: 1 Samuel 13:3&4; 14:1-49; 18:1-4; 19:1-7; 20:1-42; 23:16-18; 31:1-13;  2 Samuel 1:12, 17-27; 4:4; 9:1-13; 21:12-14; 1 Chronicles 10:2

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