The Prince: Jonathan by Francine Rivers Read Free Book Online

you a king. Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you.”
    Despised by all .
    “Here I stand!” Samuel held his arms outstretched. “I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day. Now testify against me in the presence of the Lord and before His anointed one. Whose ox or donkey have I stolen? Have I ever cheated any of you? Have I ever oppressed you? Have I ever taken a bribe and perverted justice? Tell me and I will make right whatever I have done wrong.”
    Jonathan felt tears well at the pain in Samuel’s voice. All because his sons had brought shame upon his house. Lord, let me never bring shame upon my father! Let my actions be honorable .
    He stepped forward, unable to bear the pain he saw in Samuel’s face. “You have not cheated us, Abba.” His voice broke.
    Samuel looked at Jonathan.
    The people spoke, calling out here and there. “No! You have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.”
    Tears streamed down Samuel’s cheeks. He turned to Saul. “The Lord and His anointed one are my witnesses today, that my hands are clean.” His voice was harsh with pent-up emotion.
    “I am witness.” Saul bowed his head in respect.
    “He is witness! The king is witness!”
    “God is witness!” Jonathan cried out.
    Samuel’s voice steadied when he spoke of Moses and Aaron and the forefathers of all present who had come out of Egypt. His voice filled with sorrow when he spoke of their sins in serving the baals and ashtoreths of the Canaanites rather than the Lord their God who had performed signs and wonders and delivered them from Egypt. The people had forgotten the Lord! And the Lord gave them into the hands of their enemies! Over the years, when they cried out and repented, the Lord sent deliverers—Gideon and Barak, Jephthah and Samson—to rescue them from the hands of evildoers.
    “But when you were afraid of Nahash, the king of Ammon, you came to me and said that you wanted a king to reign over you, even though the Lord your God was already your king.”
    Jonathan hung his head. Had he once given thought to what it meant for God to withdraw from His people so that men could rule themselves? He calls us His children and we have rejected Him. Jonathan’s throat closed tightly. Lord! Let me never forget that You are my king.
    Samuel pointed. “All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the Lord has granted your request!”
    Jonathan looked up at his father. Saul stood, head high, and looked out over the tribes of Israel. He was no longer the frightened man who had hidden in the baggage. His face was fierce, challenging. The Law felt heavy against Jonathan’s chest.
    “Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to His voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God. But if you rebel against the Lord’s commands and refuse to listen to Him, then His hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors!”
    Jonathan put his hand over his heart, feeling the Law encased there. Mercy, Lord. Have mercy upon us!
    “Now—” Samuel’s voice deepened—“stand here and see the great thing the Lord is about to do. You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the Lord to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the Lord for a king!”
    People murmured and shifted nervously. If God sent rain now, the crops would be ruined. Jonathan studied the sky. Clouds were forming; already the sky was darkening.
    Saul groaned.
    Jonathan knew all his father’s hard work would gain him nothing. He shut his eyes. Lord, we have sinned! I love my father, but we have all done an evil thing in asking for a king. Forgive us .
    Jonathan’s heart quickened as clouds swirled. Lightning flashed,