"Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men. 3 Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.
4 Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a SHARP ROCK on one side and a SHARP ROCK on the other side. And the name of one was BOZEZ, and the name of the other SENEH. 5 The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah."
Ever feel like nothing is going well and God has forgotten you, like grass looks greener on the other side of the fence? You're not alone. The army of Israel was feeling just like that at this point in time. Those troublesome Philistines were at it again.
Israel was under the leadership of King Saul who had just been told that his kingly line would end with him and be given to another. Well, he was sulking about it, of course. More importantly, the Spirit of The Lord was no longer with him and he knew it. Not much headway was made against their enemies, the Philistines, as a result. So, he was relaxing on the outskirts of his capital, Gibeah.
1 Sam 14:6
"6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
Many see The Lord God as holy or righteous or as one who judges sin. But the revelation of The Lord that Jonathan had was God as Savior: Y'shua! That's what The Name means-Savior! He came to save. He came to give us victory over our enemies.
1 Sam 14:9-10
"9 If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. 10 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 will be a sign to us.”
Enemies never want to humble themselves. They always think they are better, smarter, higher.....whatever.
Vs. 11-12
"11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.” 12 Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.”
Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
The Lord always wants us to go up higher. The best defense is offense. Go. Attack! The Lord is always with you. Jonathan and his armor bearer went up on their hands and knees , a picture of prayer. We are never taller than when we are on our knees.
Vs. 14
"14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land."
Whoa! There was 2 against 20! But with God, that is a majority! The gates of hell cannot prevail against us. When we step out in faith, God will save us every day. Salvation in our physical body, from depression, from worry, from stress or whatever we are facing today. No matter who or what our enemy is God will save us from them all. Amen!
Vs. 15-16
"15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling. 16 Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there."
Because of their faith, all Israel was saved and had the victory.
Saul, however, wanted to know disobeyed his orders and won this victory. He, like all men of the flesh, do not understand men of the the spirit. The one trusts his own efforts, the other trusts in God. People of the flesh will always persecute people of the spirit. It is still happening today.
One of the big ways you can spot those of the flesh is that they are jealous and contentious toward those who are of the spirit. They come against grace, which some refer to as "easy believism," not knowing they are really going against Jesus and the real gospel.
Saul made up this ridiculous law that the people ended up transgressing at the end of the battle because they were so hungry. That's what legalism does: IT CAUSES LICENTIOUSNESS. Rather than doing what it's proponents intend--to restrain the flesh--IT DOES THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
Grace, on the other hand, swallows all our sin. It alone can produce holiness. The Spirit does a much better job of helping of us to discern what is good and right for us. "Discerning" is 180% different from "knowing" good and evil. Knowing presupposes an ability in ourselves to know the difference. "Discernment" comes from The Lord.
After all that Jonathan and his armor bearer had done for the people and the great victory they had won, foolish old Saul wanted to kill his son for transgressing the dumb law he had made. But the people rescued him. They at least had the sense to know he had worked with God.
As it was then, so it is in the Church today. The "Sauls" are still coming against those who trust God. They don't understand people like Jonathan and his armor bearer.
(Jonathan and his armor bearer take on the Philistines.)
Ever feel like nothing is going well and God has forgotten you, like grass looks greener on the other side of the fence? You're not alone. The army of Israel was feeling just like that at this point in time. Those troublesome Philistines were at it again.
Jonathan and his young armor bearer, however, were not satisfied with just sittin' around and moping about it. They left his father, King Saul, and the other troops, unbeknownst to the king. They determined to go over to the Philistine garrison and defeat them in the name of The Lord!
You can stand in present day Israel at Michmash and look down toward the deep wadi that Jonathan and his armor bearer crossed. The picture below shoe just how steep and rocky the terrain was.
(Wadi at Mickmash.)
Jonathan expressed his faith by declaring it to his armor bearer. He recognized that the Lord is never limited by the lack of His people’s abilities, powers, or resources. He didn't look at the size of their problems; He saw the Problem Solver!
"SENEH," one of the two sharp rocks mentioned above, means "a thorn bush." Thorns are a typology of the curse. The Israelites were sure feeling like they were under the curse. Bozez means " shining." To them, things were looking brighter on the other side.
It sure seems that way when circumstances are against you. But God is NEVER against His people. He is always for us!
(Saul informed by the prophet, Samuel, that his kingly line will end.)
Israel was under the leadership of King Saul who had just been told that his kingly line would end with him and be given to another. Well, he was sulking about it, of course. More importantly, the Spirit of The Lord was no longer with him and he knew it. Not much headway was made against their enemies, the Philistines, as a result. So, he was relaxing on the outskirts of his capital, Gibeah.
Jonathan, on the other hand, saw the Philistines for who they were: Uncircumcised and having no covenant with God like they did.
We have a covenant with God today. Theirs was sealed by circumcision of their flesh, ours by circumcision of the heart. Our enemies, who do not fear The Lord and are uncircumcised, DO NOT HAVE GOD ON THEIR SIDE.
Jonathan was not depending on the might of armies. He did not put any faith the flesh like his father. He had faith in God.
Jonathan was not depending on the might of armies. He did not put any faith the flesh like his father. He had faith in God.
1 Sam 14:6
"6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
Many see The Lord God as holy or righteous or as one who judges sin. But the revelation of The Lord that Jonathan had was God as Savior: Y'shua! That's what The Name means-Savior! He came to save. He came to give us victory over our enemies.
1 Sam 14:9-10
"9 If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. 10 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 will be a sign to us.”
Enemies never want to humble themselves. They always think they are better, smarter, higher.....whatever.
Vs. 11-12
"11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.” 12 Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.”
Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
The Lord always wants us to go up higher. The best defense is offense. Go. Attack! The Lord is always with you. Jonathan and his armor bearer went up on their hands and knees , a picture of prayer. We are never taller than when we are on our knees.
Vs. 14
"14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land."
Whoa! There was 2 against 20! But with God, that is a majority! The gates of hell cannot prevail against us. When we step out in faith, God will save us every day. Salvation in our physical body, from depression, from worry, from stress or whatever we are facing today. No matter who or what our enemy is God will save us from them all. Amen!
Vs. 15-16
"15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling. 16 Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there."
Because of their faith, all Israel was saved and had the victory.
Saul, however, wanted to know disobeyed his orders and won this victory. He, like all men of the flesh, do not understand men of the the spirit. The one trusts his own efforts, the other trusts in God. People of the flesh will always persecute people of the spirit. It is still happening today.
One of the big ways you can spot those of the flesh is that they are jealous and contentious toward those who are of the spirit. They come against grace, which some refer to as "easy believism," not knowing they are really going against Jesus and the real gospel.
(King Saul foolishly wanted to punish his son.)
Saul made up this ridiculous law that the people ended up transgressing at the end of the battle because they were so hungry. That's what legalism does: IT CAUSES LICENTIOUSNESS. Rather than doing what it's proponents intend--to restrain the flesh--IT DOES THE EXACT OPPOSITE.
Grace, on the other hand, swallows all our sin. It alone can produce holiness. The Spirit does a much better job of helping of us to discern what is good and right for us. "Discerning" is 180% different from "knowing" good and evil. Knowing presupposes an ability in ourselves to know the difference. "Discernment" comes from The Lord.
After all that Jonathan and his armor bearer had done for the people and the great victory they had won, foolish old Saul wanted to kill his son for transgressing the dumb law he had made. But the people rescued him. They at least had the sense to know he had worked with God.
As it was then, so it is in the Church today. The "Sauls" are still coming against those who trust God. They don't understand people like Jonathan and his armor bearer.
No comments:
Post a Comment