The Prince: Jonathan (7 page)

The king grew more and more frustrated. “The entire army will scatter before that old man gets here!”

Jonathan shuddered.
That old man?
Samuel was God’s prophet, God’s voice to the people. “He will come.”

“Where is he? Why does he delay? He said he would come in seven days.”

“It hasn’t been seven days yet, Father.”

“Soon, my entire army will have melted away.”

Abner did what he could to rally the remaining warriors, but confidence in the king was at its lowest ebb and the prophet’s warning was fresh in their minds. Their king had brought trouble upon them. Forgotten was the victory over the Ammonites. All men could think of was the gathering storm of war, the three thousand chariots and multitude of foot soldiers getting ready to destroy them.

Jonathan felt he had to do something to make up for bringing all this on his father.
But what? What, Lord?
No answer came.

Jonathan awakened Ebenezer before dawn on the seventh day. “If my father misses me, tell him I’ve gone out to wait for Samuel.” Jonathan went to the edge of the shrinking camp. Men huddled over their fires, ducking their heads when he glanced their way. He didn’t want to think about what they might be discussing.

Because of me, Lord, they’ve lost hope in Your king
.

The sun rose. There was no sign of Samuel. Jonathan worried. Had his actions at Geba caused the prophet trouble as well? What if the Philistines had taken him captive? Or worse, what if they had killed the aged man of God? He broke out in a cold sweat even thinking such thoughts.

Lord, we need him. He speaks Your Word to us. Please protect him and bring him to us. Oh, God, help us. Tell us what You want us to do! I thought I was stepping out in faith, but maybe my father and his advisors are right and I acted the fool. If so, forgive me, Lord. Let the trouble fall on my head and not my father’s. Not on these men who shake with fear. Don’t abandon us on my account, Lord
.

Jonathan’s armor bearer, Ebenezer, came running. “The king—” he rasped for breath—“the king wants you with him. He’s going to make the sacrifice.”

“What?” Jonathan ran as fast as he could, Ebenezer close behind him. When he reached his father’s tent, he entered and went cold at the sight of the king wearing a priestly ephod. “No!” His lungs burned. His heart pounded so hard, he thought he would choke. He grasped the Law he wore around his neck. “You can’t do this, Father. The Law says only a priest—”

“There is no priest!”

Terrified for all their sakes, Jonathan went to his father. “It’s not midday yet, my lord. Samuel
will
come.”

Sweat beaded on Saul’s brow. “I called for him and he did not come. I can’t wait any longer.” His face was pale and strained.

“The Lord will not help us if you do this.”

“My army! My men are leaving me! What would you have me do?” He looked around at all his advisors.

“Whatever is in your heart to do, my king.” They all seemed to agree.

Jonathan looked from Abner to Kish to the others and back to his father. “Samuel will come!” He stepped in front of his father. “Gideon had fewer men than we have, and he defeated the Midianites.”

“I am not Gideon!”

“You were a farmer like him. The Spirit of the Lord came upon you, too. You gathered a force of three hundred and thirty thousand warriors and defeated the Ammonites!”

“And where are all my warriors now?” Saul yanked the flap of the tent aside. “Gone!”

“You have more than Gideon had. Nahash and the Ammonites are destroyed!”

“The Philistines are a worse scourge than the Midiantes or the Ammonites.” Saul let the flap fall. He groaned, rubbing his eyes. “I never asked to be king. I never asked for any of this!”

“God chose you, Father.” Jonathan spoke as calmly as he could, though their fear seeped into him. “Trust in the Lord and in the power of His strength!”

“And what does that mean?” Abner stepped forward. “In practical, tactical terms, Jonathan?”

“God could send lightning bolts on our enemies,” Kish agreed. “Why doesn’t He?”

Saul turned abruptly. “Where is the Ark?” They all looked at him. “Maybe if I had the Ark with me. The Philistines were afraid of it once. Remember?”

Jonathan felt a knot growing in his stomach. Did his father mean to use the Ark like an idol? “They captured the Ark.”

“Yes. And a plague of mice and rats destroyed their crops. The Philistines were sick with tumors. Eventually they sent it back on a cart loaded down with gold.” Saul looked at Abner. “How long would it take to bring it here?”

A warrior entered the tent. “There is still no sign of Samuel, my lord.”

Abner frowned. “There is no time. You must do something now before all the men are gone.” Everyone agreed.

“Don’t.” Jonathan was a lone voice in the tent. He looked into his father’s face. “Wait. Please. Give the seer more time.”

Abner shook his head. “You know too little of men, Jonathan. If we wait much longer, the camp will be empty and the king will stand alone. How long do you think your father will survive with just those of us inside this tent to defend him?”

Abner’s words swayed Saul. “Bring me the burnt offerings and the peace offerings. We can’t ask God to help us unless we give
Him
something.”

Jonathan’s heart pounded heavily, the pit of his stomach like a hard, cold ball of fear. He drew out the Law. “You mustn’t do this, Father. Please, listen. I can show you—”

“Do you not yet understand?” Saul shouted. “I can’t wait.” His eyes blazed. “I won’t wait! Samuel promised he would come. He didn’t keep his word!” Saul went outside. “Gather some stones. We’ll build the altar right here.” He grabbed Jonathan’s arm. “You will stand over there. And say no more!” His chin jerked up. “The kings of other nations make sacrifices before their armies. Why shouldn’t I?” Saul turned to Abner. “Call the men. They must see what I do. Tell them I am making an offering to the Lord so He will help us.”

Jonathan turned to Ebenezer and spoke quietly. “Station yourself where you can see anyone approaching camp. When you see Samuel, run back here like the wind and shout his coming. Hurry!”

“Yes, my lord.” The boy drew back from the others, turned, and ran to do Jonathan’s bidding.

As the young prince watched his father, he wondered if God would take Saul’s fear into account.
Lord, forgive him. He doesn’t know what he’s doing
.

The men gathering looked pleased by what was about to happen. Had his father read, written, and studied the Law, he would know better than to defy the Lord like this! And those who followed him would know better than to trust their lives to the plans of men.

The sun hovered above the western horizon. A crippled calf was brought to Saul. Why kill a healthy one without blemish as the Law commanded? It seemed that as long as his father had decided to disregard one part of the Law, none of its other instructions mattered either. Jonathan watched as King Saul put his hands on the animal’s head, prayed loudly for God’s help, and then slit the calf’s throat. Jonathan closed his eyes, sickened by the ceremony. Soon he smelled smoke, mingled with the stench of disobedience.

Dismissed, the men went about their duties. Saul looked at Jonathan and smiled, confident again. He went back inside his tent to talk with his advisors.

Jonathan sat, head in his hands.

Ebenezer came running. Face flushed, out of breath, he rasped, “The prophet comes.”

Shame filled Jonathan. How could he face Samuel?

Saul came outside. “Come! We will meet him together!” He spread his arms wide and smiled warmly. “Welcome, Samuel!”

Samuel’s eyes blazed. His fingers whitened on his staff. “Saul! What is this you have done?”

Surprised, Saul frowned. He looked from the prophet to the men around him. “I saw my men scattering from me—” his eyes narrowed coldly—“and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled—” he swept his hand, taking in his advisors—“to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”

Jonathan looked between the two men. Wasn’t his father’s sin bad enough without trying to cast blame on the seer?

Samuel’s glance took in everyone. “Leave us!”

Jonathan wanted to flee before the wrath that was sure to come.

“My son stays.” Saul commanded Jonathan with a gesture.

Jonathan took his place beside his father. He could not desert him now: how could he when Geba had started all this?

Samuel stared at Saul. “How foolish! You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of His people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Jonathan cringed.

Saul gritted his teeth in anger, but when the prophet turned away, the king took a step toward him. “You turn your back on me, Samuel? You turn your back on Israel’s king? Where are you going?”

“I am going to Gibeah.” Samuel sounded weary and disheartened. “I would advise you to do the same.”

Saul kicked the dust. “Go and tell Abner to count the men we have left.”

Tears pricked Jonathan’s eyes as he watched the old prophet walk away. “We should follow Samuel, Father.”

“After we find out how many men we have left.”

Jonathan wanted to cry out in grief. What did it matter how many men stood with a king rejected by God? “Let me speak to him on your behalf.”

“Go, if you think you can do any good.” Saul turned away.

Jonathan ran after Samuel.

Samuel turned when he came near and spoke to those accompanying him. They moved away. Samuel leaned heavily on his staff, his face etched with exhaustion and sorrow.

Jonathan fell to his knees and bowed his face to the ground.

“Stand up!”

Jonathan surged to his feet, trembling.

“Why do you chase after me? Do you mean to use your sword against me?”

“No!” Jonathan blanched. “My father means you no harm, nor do I! Please . . . I came to ask you to forgive me. The blame is mine!”

Samuel shook his head. “You did not perform the sacrifice.”

Tears blurred Jonathan’s eyes. “My father was afraid. Because of what I did at Geba, all this . . .” He could not see Samuel’s expression or guess at what the seer thought. “I’m the one who attacked Geba and brought the Philistines’ wrath upon us. When we heard of the forces that are coming against us, the men began to desert. My father—”

“Each man makes his decisions, Jonathan, and each bears the consequences of what he decides.”

“But are we not also prey to circumstances around us?”

“You know better.”

“Can there be no allowances for mistakes? for fear?”

“Who is the enemy, Jonathan?”

“The Philistines.” Jonathan wept. “I don’t want God to be our enemy. What can I do to make things right?”

Samuel put his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “What do you wear against your heart, my son?”

Jonathan put his hand against his breastplate. “The Law.”

“Did you write it in your own hand because you thought you would be king someday?”

Jonathan blinked. Had he? Samuel said that Saul’s kingdom would not last now. Did that mean Israel would fall? Did that mean the people would all suffer at the hands of their enemies?

“You say nothing.”

Jonathan searched his eyes. “I want to say no.” He swallowed hard. “But do I know myself well enough to answer?”

“Speak the truth to the king no matter what the others around him say. And pray for him, my son.” Samuel released him.

Jonathan longed for reassurance. “Will you pray for my father?” Surely the prayers of a righteous man would be heard by God.

“Yes.”

Jonathan grasped hope. “Then the Lord our God will not abandon us completely.”

“God does not abandon men, my son. Men abandon God.” As the old prophet headed toward Gibeah, his companions joined him.

Jonathan stood watching for a long time, praying for Samuel’s safety and for his father, the king, to repent.