Sons of Encouragement

by Francine Rivers

  Jonathan’s father, a prophet? How could that be?

  Others came near to hear what was being said.

  “What happened to the son of Kish?”

  “He prophesied!”

  “What? Is even Saul a prophet?”

  Jonathan pressed in among them. “Where is my father now?”

  “He’s gone up to the high place!”

  But by the time they got there, Saul and Jehiel were gone.

  “How long ago did they leave?”

  “Not long.”

  Jonathan and Abner ran to catch up. Finally, Jonathan spotted a tall man and a smaller one walking beside him on a distant hill. “Father!” Jonathan shouted and increased his speed. Abner was on his heels.

  Saul turned and waited. He embraced Jonathan, pounded him on the back, and grinned.

  “We were worried about you and came looking.” Jonathan panted. What was that he smelled on his father? Something sweet. His father’s hair was thick with oil.

  Saul greeted Abner.

  “What happened to you?” Abner demanded.

  Saul’s expression closed. “I’ve been looking for the donkeys.”

  Abner stepped closer. “You ate with Samuel!”

  Saul lifted his shoulders and turned toward home. “When we saw the donkeys were not to be found, we went to him. Jehiel had a little money with him as a gift.”

  “And Samuel took it?” Abner seemed surprised.

  “No,” Jehiel was quick to say.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  Saul glowered at Abner. “Samuel told me to go ahead to the high place.”

  Jonathan sensed the subtle change in his father’s demeanor. Something momentous had happened, but he was unwilling to explain.

  Abner put his hand on Saul. “What did Samuel say to you?”

  Saul jerked free. “He assured us that the donkeys had been found.” He stared hard at Abner. “And they have, haven’t they?”

  “Yes.”

  Without another word, Saul headed toward Gibeah.

  Abner turned in frustration. “Jehiel!” He walked with the servant, speaking quietly. The man spread his hands and shrugged.

  Jonathan caught up to his father and walked with him.

  Saul gave a harsh laugh. “Jehiel knows nothing.”

  “Is there something to know, Father?”

  Saul pressed his lips together.

  Jonathan’s heart thumped. “I smelled incense—”

  Saul flashed him a look. Color surged into his face. “Say nothing of it to anyone. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  Jonathan said nothing more, but he was afraid Kish’s prayers might have been answered.

  Saul refused to talk about his meeting with Samuel. He returned to work and plowed, while Kish and the others speculated on what had happened. Jonathan labored with his father, waiting for him to say something about what had happened in Naioth. But his father said nothing, working in silence, pensive and nervous. Jonathan refrained from pressing him like the others had.

  But he spoke to his mother about it.

  “Of course something happened,” she whispered. “I’m afraid to think what it might have been. Just stay close to your father. Do whatever he asks of you. When he’s ready, he’ll probably tell you first before the others. I think he’ll need you in the days ahead.”

  “Did he say anything to you?”

  “No, but sometimes a man’s silence speaks louder than his words.”

  Kish came out to the fields. “Let the servants do the rest of the plowing, my son. You are too important to do such work.”

  Saul glowered. “I’m a farmer, nothing more.”

  “Yes, we are farmers. But you may be called to something greater than that.”

  “I cannot live your dream, Father.”

  “We are summoned to Mizpah.”

  “Summoned?”

  “Samuel has sent word that everyone is to gather at Mizpah.”

  Saul turned ashen. “Why?”

  “Why do you think?” Kish was taut with excitement. “Samuel is going to tell us whom God has chosen to rule over Israel.”

  Saul put his hand to the plow. “Judah will rule.”

  “Judah?” Kish gave a derisive laugh. “There has not been a mighty man in Judah since Caleb and Othniel died. Judah!”

  “It is the prophecy!” Saul didn’t raise his head. “Jacob said—”

  “And you think that gives Judah the right to rule over us? How many centuries ago was that?”

  “Then you go! You’re the head of our clan! Maybe we’ll all get lucky and you’ll be king! I’m staying here.”

  Kish’s face reddened. “We all go! Samuel has summoned all the people. All of us! Do you understand?” He shook his head when Saul snapped the reins and bent his strength to the plow. “We leave tomorrow!” Kish shouted after him. He looked at Jonathan. “We leave at dawn!” He strode away.

  Jonathan signaled a servant and left him in charge of his team of oxen. He went after his father. Saul paused at the end of the field, and ran a shaking hand down over his face. Jonathan heard him mutter an angry prayer. Saul stood still, staring off into the distance. Jonathan stood near him, waiting, uncertain what to say. “What’s wrong?”

  Saul gave a bitter laugh. “Why should anything be wrong? Other than everyone is making plans for my life!” He gave Jonathan a stricken look. “A man should be able to say yes or no, shouldn’t he?”

  Jonathan didn’t know what to say.

  Saul shook his head and looked back over the newly plowed field. “He can’t be right.”

  Was he talking about Kish? or someone else? “Whatever happens, Father, I’ll stand with you.”

  Saul let out his breath slowly. “You won’t have any choice.” He handed Jonathan the reins and goad and walked slowly toward Gibeah, shoulders slumped.

  All Israel gathered at Mizpah. Jonathan had never seen so many people in his life! Thousands upon thousands of tents had been erected, and the multitude pressed close, murmuring like the rumble of a storm ready to rain praises on the king God had chosen.

  When Samuel came out, not a man, woman, or child spoke. Here and there, a baby cried, but was quickly soothed into silence.

  “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared!” Samuel raised his arms.

  Jonathan’s heart pounded.

  “I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”

  Samuel watched the clans of each tribe pass by him; the Levites, the Reubenites, the Simeonites and sons of Judah, then the tribe of Dan and Naphtali. The brush and scrape of sandals and bare feet were all that was heard, for no one dared utter a word as the prophet watched and waited for the Lord to tell him who would be king. The Gadites and Asherites, sons of Issachar and Zebulun passed him. Then the half-tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim descended from Joseph. Only the tribe of Benjamin remained.

  Jonathan’s stomach clenched tight. The closer they came to Samuel, the harder his heart pounded. His father wasn’t beside him. He couldn’t see his father anywhere. Where was he? He could feel the excitement in the air. Kish strode forward—head high, eyes bright, face flushed. Did he know Saul was missing?

  “Benjamin!” Samuel called out, and Jonathan’s heart leapt into his throat.

  A rush of quiet voices rippled like water cascading over rock.

  “Come forward clan by clan,” Samuel told them.

  The men of Benjamin obeyed.

  Kish looked around. He grasped Jonathan’s arm. “Where is your father?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Matri!” Samuel called out.

  Kish looked around again, his eyes frantic.

  “Kish!” Samuel’s voice rang out. �
��The Lord has appointed Saul king over Israel.”

  The tribe of Benjamin burst out in cheers and jumped up and down.

  “Saul!” Kish turned this way and that. “Saul!”

  The voices rose—some in triumph, some in question.

  Jonathan looked around, searching. Oh, Father. Father! Where could he have gone?

  Kish’s face darkened. He grabbed one of his sons and beckoned the others. “Find your brother! Quickly! Go! Before these cheers turn to jeers! Go!”

  “Has the man come here yet?” some called out.

  Samuel looked grim. “Yes. He has hidden himself among the baggage.”

  Jonathan felt the blood drain from his face and then flood back until he felt on fire with embarrassment. He ducked his head and wove through the men.

  Some began to shout. “Hiding? How can such a man save us?”

  “What sort of champion will he be?”

  Jonathan ran toward the piles of baggage, as eager to find his father as he was to escape disdain and contemptuous words. Hiding? Surely not! His father was no coward!

  Jonathan found his father huddled among the bundles and sacks, shoulders slumped, head in his hands.

  “You’re the king, Father. The Lord has made you king!”

  Saul groaned in misery. “Tell Samuel it’s all a mistake.”

  “God told Samuel it’s you. God doesn’t make mistakes.” Jonathan hunkered down beside him. “You must come.” He fought tears, humiliation gathering. What if others saw his father like this? He couldn’t bear it. “The Lord will help you. Surely the Lord will not abandon the one He’s chosen, even if He abandons the rest of us.”

  Saul raised his head. When he held out his hand, Jonathan grasped it and helped him to his feet. He could feel his father shudder when someone cried out, “There he is!”

  Men surged toward them. They surrounded Saul and Jonathan. Saul covered his fear and straightened. He was a head taller than every other man around him. Handsome and strongly built, he stood like a king among them. Saul was swept along like a leaf on a river until he stood before Samuel.

  The prophet held out his hand. “This is the man the Lord has chosen as your king. No one in all Israel is like him!”

  Jonathan saw men of Judah sneer and whisper among themselves. Thankfully, the vast majority shouted, “Long live the king!”

  “Listen to the Word of the Lord!” Samuel called out to the mass. Saul stood beside the seer, facing the people. Samuel opened a scroll and read from it. Some stood still and listened. Many fidgeted. A few whispered among themselves. Samuel looked out over the people.

  “The Lord said a day would come when we would ask for a king. He said to appoint a fellow Israelite; he may not be a foreigner.” He faced Saul. “The king must not build up a large stable of horses for himself or send his people to Egypt to buy horses, for the Lord has told you, ‘You must never return to Egypt.’ The king must not take many wives for himself, because they will turn his heart away from the Lord. And he must not accumulate large amounts of wealth in silver and gold for himself.”

  Samuel took a smaller scroll and placed it upon the altar he had made of stones, and then handed Saul the Torah. “Saul, son of Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah of Benjamin, you must copy for yourself this body of instruction on a scroll in the presence of the Levitical priests. You must always keep that copy with you and read it daily as long as you live. That way you will learn to fear the Lord your God by obeying all the terms of these instructions and decrees. This regular reading will prevent you from becoming proud and acting as if you are above your fellow citizens. It will also prevent you from turning away from these commands in the smallest way. And it will ensure that you and your descendants will reign for many generations in Israel.”

  Saul took the scroll and held it at his side like a sword. Samuel turned him toward the people. Saul’s jaw locked as he looked out over the thousands upon thousands staring at him. He looked but said nothing.

  Jonathan was filled with pride as he observed his father. No one could say that he had coveted the power of kingship. Saul had all the eagerness of a man who had just received a sentence of death. But no man among all Israel looked more like a king than Saul, son of Kish.

  Whatever it takes, Lord, help me to help my father, Jonathan prayed. Give me strength when he needs protection. Give me wisdom when he needs counsel. Put mighty men around him, warriors who fear You and will faithfully serve the king.

  Jonathan thought their lives would change, but as soon as the family reached Gibeah, his father turned to his field, leaving without orders those who returned with them and were eager to do the king’s bidding. They built camps around the town and waited.

  “Are you going to copy the Law, Father?”

  “The fields must come first.”

  Troubled, Jonathan went to his mother. “The seer commanded it, Mother. Surely Samuel will be displeased if Father doesn’t do it.”

  “Saul is king of Israel now, Jonathan, and every king does what is pleasing in his own sight. If your father won’t copy the Law, there’s nothing you can do about it. Do not waste time arguing with him. As strong as Kish is, has your grandfather ever won a battle with Saul?”

  “No.”

  “Your father had no ambitions to be king, but whether he likes it or not, he is. And whether you want to be or not, you are the prince, heir to the throne.”

  His mother was shrewd. Everything she said meant something. “What are you saying, Mother? I would prefer you tell me outright.”

  She spread her hands. “Is it for a woman to tell a man what he should do?”

  “All I want is to serve Father.”

  She folded her hands in her lap and smiled enigmatically. “Then serve him.”

  Ah. If the Law must be written and his father had no time to do it, then he must.

  He went out into the field and asked permission to go to the school of prophets in Naioth. Saul nodded. “Finish the task as quickly as possible and come home.” He embraced Jonathan, kissed him, and let him go.

  By the time Jonathan returned to the house, his mother had already made preparations for his journey.

  TWO

  Jonathan unrolled the scroll a little farther, secured it, and carefully dipped his stylus into the ink. He copied each letter, jot, and tittle exactly as it was written in the Law handed down by Moses. His lip was raw from chewing on it, the back of his neck ached, and his shoulder muscles were knotted; but he finished the line, set the stylus aside, and leaned back, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

  “Enough for today.”

  Startled, Jonathan glanced up and saw Samuel watching him. The seer’s face was solemn, his eyes glowing with inner fire. Jonathan never felt at ease when he looked into Samuel’s face, this man who heard the voice of God and spoke His Word to the people.

  As Jonathan stood, Samuel took the scroll, rolled it carefully, placed it inside its covering, and put it away.

  “The letter of the Law is important, my prince, but you must also understand what it says.”

  Jonathan recited, “‘Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.’” He saw the frown that crossed the seer’s face and felt heat flood his own. Had Samuel thought him impertinent, or worse—disrespectful? Jonathan wished he had not said something that might be misconstrued as criticism of the prophets’ sons, whose reputations were as different from Samuel’s as the sun was from the earth. Jonathan swallowed hard, debating. If he apologized, he might have to explain.

  “You walked all the way to this school of prophets to copy the Law. Why not one closer to home?”

  “You were here, my lord.”

  Samuel’s eyes darkened. “Do not call me lord.” He pointed up. “There is only one Lord. The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of heaven and earth.”

  Jonathan hung his head. Better to say nothing than to cause more offen
se.

  “Did your father the king send you here?”

  How should he answer? He did not want the prophet to know that Saul thought the fields more important than the law of God.

  “You won’t answer?”

  “He gave me permission to come.”

  “Why is your father not with you?”

  Jonathan’s heart thumped. “The king has matters of great importance—”

  “More important than copying the Law?”

  A rebuke! “No. I will give it to him.”

  Samuel shook his head. “Everyone heard what I said to your father at the coronation at Gilgal. You were standing right there beside him, weren’t you?”

  “Yes.” Jonathan’s palms sweated. Was God listening? “You said the king was to have a copy of the Law, read it every day, and carry it with him at all times.”

  “The king is to write a copy of the Law in his own hand.”

  Jonathan could not promise that his father would take the time to make his own copy. Despite the warriors who had followed Saul back to Gibeah, the king kept to his fields. Maybe he hoped they would grow tired of waiting and go home. But would God allow that to happen? It was one thing to want to be king, another entirely to be called by God to be king.

  “Are you afraid to say anything?”

  Jonathan looked up at the seer. “I don’t know what my father is thinking. He is pressed from all sides. I didn’t want to add to his burdens.”

  Samuel’s expression gentled. He held out his hand. “Sit.” He approached and sat on the bench with Jonathan. He rested his hands on his knees. “If you wish to honor and serve your father, tell him the truth. If you always speak the truth to the king, he will have reason to trust you, even when he doesn’t like what you say.”

  “As the people trust you.”

  A flicker of pain crossed the seer’s face. “If Saul obeys the Law, the Lord will give him victory over our enemies, and Israel may complete the work God gave them to do when they entered Canaan.”

  “My father will listen.”

  “It is not enough to listen, my son. One must obey.”

  Jonathan was certain his father would have come himself to copy the Law if he had not had so many other responsibilities. He worried about preparing the fields. He worried about the quality of the seed. He worried about sun and rain. He had always worried about many things. Now he had the entire nation to concern him. “Can any one man hold the future of Israel in his hands?”