Saul and Jonathan

The speaker reflected on the story of King Saul and Jonathan, explaining how this story reveals the relationship between God and man. At first, God ruled His people through prophets and judges, but the people asked for a king like the other nations. Although this request showed a weakness of faith, God mercifully accepted and appointed Saul as king to grant them the freedom of choice and the experience of responsibility.
God chose Saul and gave him all gifts — beauty, strength, prophecy, and holy anointing — but he failed because he wanted independence from God and walked according to his own mind instead of obedience to the divine command. The lecturer clarified that gifts are divine blessings but become dangerous when not used with humility and submission to God’s will.
Saul sinned by disobeying the Lord’s commands, so God rejected him and established David instead. Although Saul began with strength, envy and pride destroyed him from within until he reached a state of opposing God Himself.
The sin of Saul developed gradually — from envy to hatred to hostility — leading to complete spiritual downfall. Yet his son Jonathan was a model of purity, loyalty, and sincere love; he loved David with a pure spiritual affection, without jealousy or ambition, preferring his friend over himself. He became an example of a faithful friend living in truth even amid evil.
Saul ended in physical and spiritual ruin after turning away from God’s voice, while Jonathan remained honored in Scripture and history as a symbol of purity and faithfulness.

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