1 Samuel 31:2

Followed hard. The disastrous defeat taught the Israelites the folly of adopting the ways of the world in demanding a king. When that king became a tyrant, the whole nation became a party to his shortcomings, and shared responsibility with him.

Slew Jonathan. The question naturally arises, Why did the Lord permit Jonathan to be slain along with his father when his attitudes were totally contrary to those of Saul? Why could not he, a spiritual-minded soul, disavowing his father’s ideals, and sympathetically knitting himself with David in following the opening providences of the Lord, have been permitted to live? Why could not Ishbosheth have gone in his place, instead of living on to follow in his father’s footsteps? This is a question beyond the ability of man to answer (see GC 47). The records of sacred history reveal that persecution and death have been the lot of the righteous in all ages. Because of the implications of the great controversy Satan must be granted an opportunity to afflict the righteous. But the Christian’s comfort is that though the adversary may be able to destroy the body, he is not able to destroy the soul (Matt. 10:28). Once the relationship of the soul to God has been unalterably decided upon, the continuance or discontinuance of this present life is not of prime importance. We may magnify Christ “by life, or by death” (Phil. 1:20-23).