"Ner begot Kish, Kish begot Saul, and Saul begot Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal. The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal, and Merib-Baal begot Micah.” (v.33-34)
In tracing the names of Saul’s sons, we can see his decline and movement away from God. In the earlier part of his reign he was perfect in his allegiance to Jehovah evidenced by the early name of his son Jonathan, meaning “Gift of Jehovah.” But as time went by he became proud and self-sufficient naming his next two sons Malchishua “the king is salvation”, and Abinadab “the king is generous.” Finally, his movement away from God was completed when he named his last son Esh-Baal “the man of Baal”. Baal was the idol-god of Zidon and of many surrounding nations. This idol, represented the sun and its productive force, was worshipped with impure and scandalous rites.
However, praise God for Jonathan, the gift of Jehovah, who named his son Merib-Baal, “one who opposes Baal”. In this choice of his child’s name we see the deep-seated devotion of his soul, whose heart was true to God amid the darkening shadows of his father’s reign. It was this that probably drew David and him so closely together as friends.
The encouraging point found in this list of names is that no matter how far a family has strayed away from God, hope for peace in a household is only one devoted soul away. You can break the chain of generational sin and be a light in the darkness to your family. Become like Merib-Baal and do battle against the dark side. “May the force (the Spirit) be with you.”
The Truth: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
