I Samuel 14
Jonathan goes to Philistinesverse 1
Now it came to pass on a day
that Jonathan the son of Saul said
to the young man that bare his armor
Come – and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison
that is on the other side
BUT he told not his father
Saul with 600 men and priestverses 2-3
And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah
under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron
and the people that were with him were
about six hundred men
And Ahiah – the son of Ahitub – Ichabod’s brother
the son of Phinhas the son of Eli
the LORD’S priest in Shiloh – wearing an ephod
And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone
Jonathan near Philistine campverses 4-7
And between the passages
by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison
there was a sharp rock on the one side
and a sharp rock on the other side
and the name of the one was Bozez
and the name of the other Seneh
The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash
and the other southward over against Gibeah
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor
Come – and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised
it may be that the LORD will work for us
FOR there is no restraint to the LORD to save by
MANY or by FEW
And his armor-bearer
said to him
Do all that is in your heart – turn you
BEHOLD – I am with you according to your heart
Jonathan challenges Philistine to a fightverses 8-10
THEN said Jonathan
BEHOLD – we will pass over to these men
and we will discover ourselves to them
IF they say thus to us
Tarry until we come to you
THEN we will stand still in our place
and will not go up to them
BUT IF they say thus
Come up to us
THEN we will go up
FOR the LORD has delivered them into our hand
and this shall be a SIGN to us
Jonathan defeats the Philistinesverses 11-14
And both of them discovered themselves
to the garrison of the Philistines
and the Philistines said BEHOLD
The Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid
themselves
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor-bearer
and said
Come up to us – and we will show you a thing
And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer
Come up after me
FOR the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel
And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and on his feet
and his armor-bearer after him – and they fell before Jonathan
and his armor- bearer slew after him
And that first slaughter – which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made
was about twenty men – within as it were an half acre of land
which a yoke of oxen might plow
Philistines afraidverse 15
And there was trembling in the host – in the field – and among all the people
the garrison – the spoilers – they also trembled – and the earth quaked
so it was a very great trembling
Saul’s scouts see the Philistines scatteringverse 16
And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked – and BEHOLD
the multitude melted away
and they went on beating down one another
Saul heads out to fight the Philistinesverses 17-18
THEN said Saul to the people that were with him
Number now – and see who is gone from us
And when they had numbered
BEHOLD – Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there
And Saul said to Ahiah
Bring hither the ark of God
FOR the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel
LORD gave victoryverses 19-23
And it came to pass – while Saul talked to the priest
that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines
went on and increased
and Saul said to the priest
Withdraw your hand
And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves
and they came to the battle – and BEHOLD
every man’s sword was against his fellow
and there was very great discomfiture
Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time
which went up with them into the camp from the country round about
even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with
Saul and Jonathan
Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in Mount Ephraim
when they heard that the Philistines fled
even they also followed hard after them in the battle
So the LORD saved Israel that day
and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven
Saul made an oathverses 24-26
And the men of Israel were distressed that day
FOR Saul had adjured the people
saying
Cursed be the man that eats any food until evening
that I may be avenged on mine enemies
so none of the people tasted any food
And all they of the land came to a wood
and there was honey on the ground
and when the people were come into the wood
BEHOLD – the honey dropped
BUT no man put his hand to his mouth
FOR the people feared the oath
Jonathan eat some honeyverses 27-28
BUT Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people
with the oath wherefore he put forth the end of the rod
that was in his hand
and dipped it in a honeycomb – and put his hand to his mouth
and his eyes were enlightened
THEN answered one of the people
and said
Your father straitly charged the people with an oath
saying
Cursed be the man that eats any food this day
And the people were faint
Jonathan thought his father’s oath was wrongverses 29-30
THEN said Jonathan
My father has troubled the land – see – I pray you
how mine eyes have been enlightened
because I tasted a little of this honey
How much more – if haply the people had eaten freely
today of the spoil of their enemies which they found?
FOR had there not been now a much greater slaughter
among the Philistines?
Soldiers eating without draining the bloodverses 31-35
And they smote the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon
and the people were very faint
And the people flew on the spoil – and took
sheep – oxen – calves – and slew them on the ground
and the people did eat them with the blood
THEN they told Saul
saying
BEHOLD – the people sin against the LORD
in that they eat with the blood
And he said
You have transgressed – roll a great stone to me this day
And Saul
said
Disperse yourselves among the people – and say to them
Bring me hither every man his ox – and every man his sheep
and slay them here – and eat
And sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood
And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night
and slew them there
And Saul built an altar to the LORD
the same was the first altar that he built to the LORD
Saul seeks LORD’S counselverses 36-39
And said
Let us go down after the Philistines by night
and spoil them until the morning light
let us not leave a man of them
And they said
Do whatsoever seems good to you
THEN said the priest
Let us draw near hither to God
And Saul asked counsel of God
Shall I go down after the Philistines?
Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?
BUT HE answered him not that day
And Saul
said
Draw you near hither – all the chief of the people
and know and see wherein this sin has been this day
For as the LORD lives – which save Israel
though it be in Jonathan my son – he shall surely die
BUT there was not a man among all the people that answered him
Saul found that Jonathan was guilty of eatingverses 40-44
THEN said he to all Israel
Be you on one side and I and Jonathan my son
will be on the other side
And the people said to Saul
Do what seems good to you
THEREFORE Saul said to the LORD God of Israel
Give a perfect lot
And Saul and Jonathan were taken
but the people escaped
And Saul said
Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son
And Jonathan was taken
THEN Saul said to Jonathan
Tell me what you have done
And Jonathan told him and said
I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod
that was in mine hand – and lo – I must die
And Saul answered
God do so and more also
for you shall surely die – Jonathan
Soldiers prevent Saul from killing Jonathanverses 45-46
And the people
said to Saul
Shall Jonathan die
who has wrought this great salvation in Israel?
God forbid – as the LORD lives there shall not one hair of
his head fall to the ground
for he has wrought with God this day
So the people rescued Jonathan – that he died not
THEN Saul went up from following the Philistines
and the Philistines went to their own place
Saul won victories over many nationsverses 47-48
So Saul took the kingdom over Israel
and fought against all his enemies on every side – against
Moab – children of Ammon – Edom – kings of Zobah
against the Philistines
and whithersoever he turned himself
he vexed them
And he gathered a host – and smote the Amalekites
and delivered Israel out of the hands of them
that spoiled them
Saul’s family and leadersverses 49-51
Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan – Ishui – Melchi-shua
and the names of his two daughters were these
the name of the firstborn Merab
the name of the younger Michal
and the name of Saul’s wife was Ahinaom
the daughter of Ahimaaz
and the name of the captain of his host was Abner
the son of Ner – Saul’s uncle
And Kish was the father of Saul
and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel
Saul continued to draft young soldiersverse 52
And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul
and when Saul saw any strong man – or any valiant man
he took him unto him
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 6 And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor. Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. (4622 “restraint” [ma’tsowr] means a hindrance, control or obstacle)
DEVOTION: What type of faith to you have regarding the power of the LORD? Here we find an enemy that was in control of all the iron working in the land of Israel. They had no swords, except for Saul and Jonathan. So here is Jonathan challenging the enemy to a fight.
What did Jonathan believe? He believed that it was not with many or few that the LORD could give the victory. He challenged his belief. He wanted a sign from the LORD. There were two ways the Philistines could have answered Jonathan. One way, Jonathan thought the LORD would give victory. They answered that way and Jonathan went forward with his belief.
Jonathan, the son of Saul, told his servant that the LORD can work with many or few. To him they were few. The two of them went to war against a group of soldiers. Jonathan was looking for a sign from the LORD regarding whether he should fight or not. The sign was given and he fought. They killed twenty soldiers. The Philistines heard what had happened and were afraid. They started fighting with each other. The LORD sent an earthquake to keep them frightened. The children of Israel who were hiding came out to fight the Philistines and had a great victory.
There are some people who are individuals of faith. These people look at a bad circumstance and see that the LORD can work in this circumstance. The children of Israel were outnumbered and without many weapons to fight the Philistines.
Too often we panic when it seems that circumstances are bad. We need to realize that the LORD can give victory over any circumstance at any given time. All HE needs is one who is willing to serve HIM. Jonathan was the one who chose to serve HIM.
Christ came to this earth as one man to save all those who would believe. HIS resurrection tells us that we can have victory over the last enemy – death. There are no hindrances that God cannot overcome. Are we going to be one that serves the LORD in difficult circumstances? Do we want victory over our enemies?
The LORD wants us to take steps of faith in our walk with HIM. This comes through prayer and fasting most of the time.
CHALLENGE: If you are facing difficult circumstances, do you trust the LORD or give up? Most of the Israelites gave up and went into hiding or went to the camp of the Philistines. One man trusted the LORD!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle; and behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. (4103 “discomfiture” [mahuwmah] means destruction, trouble, tumult, confusion, disquietude, a mental state characterized by a lack of clear and orderly thought and behavior, or panic)
DEVOTION: Jonathan was brave. He went against the Philistine with just his armor bearer and himself. He made a statement that if the Philistines answered him one way the LORD was going to give him victory and if they answered another way he would not fight. They answered the way he knew that he would have victory.
Once his victory was set the rest of the Philistines were in confusions. They started killing each other. It was the LORD showing that one many could chase a thousand away. It was a promise HE would give HIS people throughout their history.
God used those Israelites who went to be with the Philistines to help them be defeated. And the LORD saved Israel that day.
God is not the author of confusion in the minds and hearts of believers but HE can cause confusion in our enemies. It should be that our enemies are HIS enemies as well. This was true of Israel. All nations were the enemies of Israel because they worshiped false gods. They were not allowing the LORD to lead them. Most of the time even the children of Israel were not allowing the LORD to lead them.
Our enemies need to know that we are not fighting alone. We need to realize that we are fighting alone even if there are no other humans willing to fight with us.
God and one obedient servant can defeat any army. We need to keep our eyes focused on the LORD at all times. Remember every day is a new battle with our enemy and his followers. Our victory is assured if we are obedient to HIM.
CHALLENGE: If we want our enemies to be confused, we have to be obedient to the LORD at all times.
: 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over to Beth-aven. (3467 “saved” [yasha] means to help, be victorious, to save from ruin, deliver, to set free, to preserve, to aid, rescue, come to aid, or give victory.)
DEVOTION: Once the LORD started showing victory to the children of Israel because of the battle of Jonathan other Israelites came out to battle and the victory was secure.
Sometimes it only takes a little victory for the rest of the people to follow the lead of those who are willing to fight for what is right. Jonathan and his servant were willing to fight for what they thought was right in the eyes of the LORD and it worked to help the rest of Israel to come to the battle.
We need to realize that this could even work today if we are willing to fight for what is right in our world. Too often we don’t have those few men who think something is right and then go out and do it.
The LORD is waiting at times for individuals who are willing to know what is right and do something about it. HE wants HIS children to know the difference between what is right and wrong and be willing to stand up for what is right.
Today we have many churches and individuals who are worried about hurting someone’s feelings and so they don’t say or do what is right in the eyes of the LORD. This is wrong. God wants us to stand for what is found in the Word of God. HE wants us to be individuals who are willing to go to battle against all odds to see that what is right, wins in the end.
CHALLENGE: Are we willing to understand what is right in the eyes of the LORD and fight for it in our society? We need men and women who are willing to go against all odds and fight.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 26 And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey `dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. (1982 “dropped” [helek] means flowing, a continuous progression of a liquid, the characteristic of a liquid, stream, or the slow gravitational motion of a thick, viscid liquid)
DEVOTION: Can leaders make foolish statements? The answer is YES, if they are not in tune with the LORD. Here we have Saul in the heat of the battle making a statement that is going to hurt his troops. He wanted them all to not stop to eat or drink anything until the battle was over. Not only did he not want them to do it but he put a curse on anyone who did.
What was the result of the foolish statement? The troops were very hungry and thirsty at the end of the battle and they were sinning against the LORD by not taking the time for animals to be drained of their blood properly. They just ate the meat with the blood in it. This was a sin but they were too tired and hungry to care. Saul knew that he had to do something about it and commanded them to bring their animals to him to be killed and drained properly.
The second consequence of his rash statement was that Jonathan was not present when he made the statement and didn’t know anything about it so he ate some honey and was refreshed to continue fighting. The other soldiers told him after he ate what his father had said. So Jonathan was cursed by his father without even knowing it.
We can make statements when we are in the heat of a battle without thinking and then wish we hadn’t said them afterwards. This is true of soldiers on the battle field and Christians when they are facing great difficulty. Each can make statement to God that they wish they had not said.
We need to watch what we say at all times. It should be especially true when we are in the heat of the battle. One of the great characteristics of God is that HE will forgive us of rash statements. We have to ask HIM.
CHALLENGE: It is always better to not make the statements. Throughout the Word of God, we are warned to watch what we say but guarding our tongue.
: 37 And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will YOU deliver them into the hand of Israel? But HE answered him not that day. (7592 “counsel” [sha’al] means consult, request, ask permission, beg for, inquire of, ask intently, seek, or to interrogate)
DEVOTION: It is interesting when God answers and when HE doesn’t. Here we find that Saul is asking the LORD if he should continue to go after the Philistines and HE gives no answer.
Saul had talked to the priest and asked to draw near to God. Even with the priest consulting the LORD there was no answer. Now there had to be a decision made regarding attacking the Philistines. The decision was that the LORD was displeased because of something that happened in the battle of the day. So, Saul had to find out if there was something wrong in the camp. He found out that Jonathan had eaten some honey and wanted to kill him because of the curse he had stated when Jonathan was not around.
The other soldiers would not allow the king to kill his own son because they stated that it was because of Jonathan that they had gained the victory of the day. They didn’t tell him that the curse was wrong to state at the beginning but the LORD was trying to teach Saul a lesson.
HE does not answer prayers at times because their needs to be a change in circumstances. There was a problem in the camp and it had to be settled. Saul needed to learn that the LORD is not pleased with foolish statement during a battle.
HE used the other soldiers to prevent Saul from killing his own son over something he had not heard until it was after the fact. We need to realize that God sometimes doesn’t answer our prayers because there is something in our lives that needs correcting.
CHALLENGE: Remember we are to keep short accounts with the LORD. Our examination of ourselves regularly helps to prevent the LORD not answering our prayers.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Saul asked counsel of Godverse 37
No answer from the LORDverse 37
Saul asked the LORD regarding guilty oneverse 41
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Saul built an altarverse 35
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 3, 6, 10, 12, 23, 33-35, 39, 41, 45
LORD sends an earthquakeverse 15
God – Elohim (Creator)verses 18, 37, 41, 44, 45
Ark of Godverse 18
LORD God of Israel verse 41
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Philistinesverses 1, 4, 11, 19, 30, 36, 37, 46, 47, 52
Uncircumcisedverse 6
Enemiesverses 24, 30, 47
Ammonverse 47
Edomverse 47
Kings of Zobahverse 47
Amalekitesverse 48
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Cursedverses 24, 28
Feared the oathverse 26
Troubled the peopleverses 29, 31
Eat meat with bloodverses 32-34
Sinverses 33, 34, 38
Transgressedverse 33
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
No restraint to the LORDverse 6
Saveverse 6
Signverse 10
Deliveredverses 10, 12, 48
Savedverses 23, 39
Draw near to Godverse 36
Counsel of Godverse 37
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Ahiah – LORD’S priest – wearing an ephodverses 3, 18
Hebrewsverses 11, 21
Hand of Israelverse 12
Ark of Godverse 18
Children of Israelverses 18, 40
Saul tries to kill his son Jonathanverses 41-45
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
14:6–10 As they approached the Philistine camp, Jonathan reaffirmed his intentions to “go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows” (v. 6). The derisive term hāʿǎrēliym, translated as “uncircumcised fellows,” has religious connotations, highlighting the fact that the Philistines were outside the covenant of Yahwistic faith (cf. Gen 17:10–14). Jonathan also used this time of prebattle preparation to reaffirm his faith with a prayerful utterance (“Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf”; v. 6) and a confession of confidence in Yahweh’s power to bring victory against all odds (“Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few”; v. 6; cf. Rom 8:31).
Jonathan received encouragement from his armor-bearer, who was with him “heart and soul” (v. 7). The armor-bearer’s response, more eloquent in the Hebrew (lit., “I [am] with you like your heart [is with you]”), is a pledge of total support for whatever actions Jonathan might take. This degree of loyalty would be needed, especially in view of Jonathan’s blueprint for action.
Jonathan’s plan for fighting the Philistines defied all military logic. First, he would give up the element of surprise: “We will cross over toward the men and let them see us” (v. 8). Second, he would avoid a skirmish with the Philistines if they abandoned their position of strategic superiority on the hilltop and exhausted themselves coming down to his position. On the other hand, he would attack if they challenged him to scale the sheer rock wall and then take them on. The plan is so absurd that if it did succeed it could only be because “the Lord has given them into our hands” (v. 10). Jonathan may have intended the phrase “the Lord has given them” as a wordplay on his own name, since it was expressed with a form of ntn and yhwh, the two lexical roots comprising his name. (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, p. 156). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers)
14:6 uncircumcised. This was a derogatory term used by the Israelites to describe the Philistines. by many or by few. Jonathan demonstrated the great faith that should have been demonstrated by the king (cf. 13:11). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 14:6). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
Jonathan initiates the attack (1 Sam. 14:1–15). The Philistines had sent a detachment of soldiers to establish a new outpost to guard the pass at Michmash (13:23), and Jonathan saw this as an opportunity to attack and see the Lord work. Saul was hesitating in unbelief (14:2) while his son was acting by faith. God had called Saul to begin Israel’s liberation from the Philistines, but most of the time he only followed up on what others started. In spite of all that the Lord had done for him and all that Samuel had taught him, Saul was not a man of faith who trusted the Lord and sought to glorify Him. Saul had a priest of the Lord attending him, a man named Ahijah from the rejected line of Eli (v. 3), but the king never waited for the Lord’s counsel (vv. 18–20). Saul is a tragic example of the popular man of the world who tries to appear religious and do God’s work, but who lacks a living faith in God and a heart to honor Him. Unfortunately, church history records the lives of too many gifted people who “used God” to achieve their own purposes, but in the end abandoned Him and ended life in disgrace.
Why didn’t Jonathan tell his father that he had a plan to rout the enemy? Because Saul in unbelief would have vetoed such a daring venture of faith, and Jonathan had no desire to disagree with him at such a crucial time. Jonathan may have been insubordinate to his father and commander-in-chief, but his plan was still the wisest approach to take. With their false sense of security, the Philistine troops at the new outpost wouldn’t be afraid of a couple of Jews who managed to cross the pass and climb the cliffs. Maybe the guards would see them as two Jewish men who wanted to desert the Hebrew army and find refuge with the enemy. Jonathan wasn’t about to let the enemy attack first.
You can’t help but admire Jonathan’s faith in the Lord. Perhaps as he climbed the rocks, he meditated on God’s promises of victory stated in the covenant. “You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you” (Lev. 26:7–8, nkjv; see Deut. 28:7). Action without promises is presumption, not faith, but when you have God’s promises, you can go forward with confidence. Jonathan may also have been thinking of Gideon when he told his armor-bearer, “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few” (1 Sam. 14:6, nlt; see Judg. 6–7). “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom. 8:31)
But Jonathan’s plan of attack differed from Gideon’s in at least two ways: It was not a surprise attack at night, and he and his armor-bearer deliberately let themselves be seen by the Philistine guards. It was the guards’ response that would give Jonathan the guidance he needed. Should Jonathan wait for the Philistines to come over or should he go over and meet them on their own ground? When the two men disclosed themselves to the enemy, the Philistines only laughed and mocked them. They treated them like frightened animals that had emerged from their burrows or like soldiers who were deserting the Hebrew cause and joining the Philistine army.
This kind of arrogant self-confidence was exactly what Jonathan wanted to see, because this gave him and his armor-bearer opportunity to get close to the guards before attacking. Who would fear one soldier and his armor-bearer? But these two men had Almighty God on their side! “One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised” (Josh. 23:10). The two courageous Jews quickly killed twenty men, and then the Lord honored their faith by sending an earthquake, “a very great trembling”! “But the Lord your God will deliver them over to you, throwing them into great confusion until they are destroyed” (Deut. 7:23). Terror and confusion gripped the enemy camp and prepared the way for a great victory of the army of Israel.
Saul watches the battle (1 Sam. 14:16–19). Saul and his 600 men were back at Gibeah where Saul lived, and the watchmen on the walls could see the Philistine forces retreating and couldn’t explain why. Did part of the Israeli army plan a sneak attack without Saul’s permission? Who was missing? Jonathan and his armor-bearer! This was the second time that Jonathan had acted on his own (13:3), and it probably irritated Saul that his own son should be so independent. As we study the life of Saul, we will see more and more evidence that he was what some people call a “control freak.” He envied other people’s success, he was suspicious of any strategy he didn’t originate or at least approve, and he was ruthless when it came to removing people who challenged his leadership or exposed his folly.
Saul asked the priest to bring him the Ark of the Lord and probably also the ephod. He was probably planning to take the Ark to the battlefield with the army, a foolish tactic that had brought judgment in Eli’s day (chap. 4); and the priest could use the ephod to determine God’s will in the matter. But the priest never had a chance to determine God’s will, for when Saul heard the noise of the battle increasing, he interrupted the divine proceedings and made his own decision. Once again, Saul’s impatience and self-confidence got the best of him and he acted without knowing God’s will or receiving God’s blessing (Deut. 20:4–5). He was desperately anxious to prove himself as good a soldier as Jonathan and he desperately wanted to avenge himself against his enemies (1 Sam. 14:24). It was to fulfill his own personal agenda, not to honor God, that he rushed into the battle spiritually unprepared. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (pp. 72–74). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications)
14:1–15 Seeing his father’s inactivity, Jonathan slipped away with his armorbearer to attack the Philistines. This was not a brash stunt or a foolish suicide mission. Jonathan was looking to God to provide a great victory. It did not matter that there were only two of them. Jonathan’s confidence was: “For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.” Jonathan’s faith would be rewarded. God showed him that he would have success when the Philistines would invite him up, perhaps thinking he was a deserter. As soon as the Philistines said “Come up to us,” … Jonathan climbed up to their garrison, and soon laid twenty of their number in the dust. As the survivors fled, God sent an earthquake which caused great confusion in the Philistine camp. The faith evidenced by Jonathan (v. 6) and his armorbearer (v. 7) was all God needed to deal with the Philistines. Too bad that Saul’s foolishness lessened the fruits of victory! (MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 306). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.)
Ver. 6. And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, &c.] A second time, as Abarbinel thinks; the young man giving no answer to him the first time, perhaps through fear, he repeats it, and enlarges upon it for his encouragement: come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; as these Philistines were, whereas several of the other nations, though Heathen, were circumcised; as the Edomites, Arabians, and others; and this Jonathan observes to the young man, in hope that they being such the Lord would deliver them into their hand: it may be that the Lord will work for us; a sign, as the Targum, a miracle, as indeed he did; and of which Jonathan was persuaded in his own mind, though he did not choose to express himself in a confident way; not knowing in what manner, and whether at this time the Lord would appear, and work salvation and deliverance; and yet had a strong impulse upon his mind it would be wrought, and therefore was encouraged to try this expedient: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few; he is not limited to numbers, and can easily work salvation by a few as by many. It is no difficult thing to him to save by few, nor can anything hinder him, let the difficulties be what they will, when he has determined to deliver his people. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 478). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
Deuteronomy 4 Moses appeals to the Israelites to live a life of faithful obedience to God.
INSIGHT
Thomas Jefferson once said, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.” If true politically, how much more so spiritually. “Take heed,” Moses says three times in chapter 4. First, take heed and keep your soul diligently. Second, take heed that you not worship idols. Third, take heed that you not forget the covenant the Lord made with you.
These are all dangers for us today. How easily we get careless about the welfare of our souls. How easily we worship modern idols. How easily we forget the promises of the Lord. We, too, must take heed. The price of our spiritual strength is eternal vigilance. (Quiet Walk)
Remember to Sing
How good it is to sing praises to our God.
Psalm 147:1
Nancy Gustafson, a retired opera singer, was devastated when she visited her mother and observed her decline from dementia. Her mom no longer recognized her and barely spoke. After several monthly visits, Nancy had an idea. She started singing to her. Her mother’s eyes lit up at the musical sounds, and she began singing too—for twenty minutes! Then Nancy’s mom laughed, joking they were “The Gustafson Family Singers!” The dramatic turnaround suggested the power of music, as some therapists conclude, to evoke lost memories. Singing “old favorites” has also been shown to boost mood, reduce falls, lessen visits to the emergency room, and decrease the need for sedative drugs.
More research is underway on a music-memory link. Yet, as the Bible reveals, the joy that comes from singing is a gift from God—and it’s real. “How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” (Psalm 147:1).
Throughout the Scriptures, in fact, God’s people are urged to lift their voices in songs of praise to Him. “Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things” (Isaiah 12:5). “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him” (Psalm 40:3). Our singing inspires us but also those who hear it. May we all remember: our God is great and worthy of praise.
By Patricia Raybon
WHAT WE COULD NOT DO FOR OURSELVES
I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. John 17:4
The work of salvation was something that Christ Himself had to do, and He could therefore speak of it as being done. “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” Now I want to put that in the form of a negative like this: The Lord Jesus Christ did not come into this world to tell us what we have to do; He came Himself to do something for us that we could never do for ourselves. These negatives are all so essential, because there are people who believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, but if you ask them what He came into this world to do, their answer will be that He came to tell us what we must do ourselves. Or they talk about good works and say that if we do this or that, we will make ourselves Christian and make ourselves right with God. No! Our Lord says here, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”
The truth that we have to take hold of is that which is emphasized here, and the best way to understand it is to consider what it was He did, and, too, what He was doing beforehand. He came to do certain things Himself, and we are saved by what Christ has done for us, and not by what He tells us to do. The work of salvation is His work and His doing, and He came specifically to do it; and here, in these words, He looks ahead, as it were, to His death on the cross, as well as back to what He has already done. Under the shadow of the cross, he reviews the whole work, and He is able to say, “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” “I have completed it.” So a very good way of testing whether we have a right or wrong way of looking at salvation is to ask ourselves whether we see Christian salvation as something that is exclusively and entirely the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A Thought to Ponder
Christ came to do something for us that we could never do for ourselves.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 100-101, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Higher Ways
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)
God’s thoughts and ways are by no means equivalent to man’s. How, then, can we hope to understand those things that He has communicated to us in His Word? To be sure, God has not told us all He knows, but what He has provided is sufficient for our faith, and He has also given clues as to the nature of many things we can only fully know in eternity. We know enough now to trust Him for the things we can’t verify. But the aspect of Scripture that sets it apart from all other “religious” writings is that its truths are surrounded by and based on historical and scientific facts that are verifiable. The fact that we find Scripture to be accurate wherever it can be checked gives us reason to believe that those teachings that we can’t check are accurate as well.
What are some of God’s favorite object lessons? Certainly His creation is one. A God who can call something into existence that didn’t exist before can do anything. “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things” (Isaiah 40:26). Another standard is God’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt. “According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things” (Micah 7:15). Yet another is the second regathering of Israel in the last days. “The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from…all the lands whither he had driven them” (Jeremiah 16:15; cf. v. 14). The final great guarantee that He will work on our behalf is the fact of the resurrection. “His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19-20)
Make no mistake! God is capable of solving any problem we have. And what’s more, He wants us to know it! (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
David Nelson shares (VA): “The important thing is to stop lying to yourself. A man who lies to himself, and believes his own lies, becomes unable to recognize truth, either in himself or in anyone else, and he ends up losing respect for himself as well as for others. When he has no respect for anyone, he can no longer love and, in order to divert himself, having no love in him he yields to his impulses, indulges in the lowest forms of pleasure, and behaves in the end like an animal, in satisfying his vices. And it all comes from lying – lying to others and to yourself.” FYDOR DOSTOEVESKY, The Brothers Karamazov
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