As we continue our study of the book of 1 Samuel, we cannot help but notice the stark contrast between Saul and his son Jonathan.  Saul was insecure and constantly worried about what other people thought of him; Jonathan, by contrast, was secure and unconcerned with the opinions of others.  Saul was impulsive and erratic whereas Jonathan was deliberate and steadfast.  Saul blamed others and was blind to his own shortcomings, but Jonathan took full responsibility for his actions.  Perhaps we wonder how they, father and son, could be so different, like night and day. What went wrong, or right?

Even though the Bible does not give us much information about Saul and his family, from what we do know about them, we can draw some conclusions.  For example, it is reasonable to conclude that Jonathan's courage was inherited, at least in part, from his father.  But what about the qualities Jonathan possessed that were absent in his father? Where did they come from? The logical answer is that Jonathan learned those qualities from someone else.

We do not know all the people who influenced his character, but one person stands out. When Saul became furious with Jonathan for defending David, he lashed out and exclaimed, "You son of a perverse and rebellious woman!" (1 Samuel 20:30). Ironically, Saul's insult may reveal something about Jonathan's mother. It suggests that she was not always in agreement with Saul and may have been a positive influence in shaping her son Jonathan's character.

If this inference is correct, we should thank God for Jonathan’s mother, whose influence may have helped shape the exemplary character we see in her son.  We cannot imagine what it was like for her to live with Saul, but she remained faithful and stood up to Saul. As a result, God's blessing was evident in the lives of her children.

Pastor Paul