1 Samuel 14:1–15 (ESV) —
1 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 2 Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, . . .
6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried 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 can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” 7 And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” . . . 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. 14 And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land. 15 And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.
NOTE: Completely outnumbered … technologically inferior … hiding in caves … no leadership -- and it takes two people of faith, and an earthquake from God to rout the entire Philistine army. When you truly believe that you are doing the right thing, you can move mountains (especially when God adds an earthquake). I'm sure Saul was despondent as he hid in the cave. He had almost every warrior near him as well. My guess is that he wasn't trying to figure out how to win, but how to escape without losing his life. He had a good son, Jonathan. Many times good kids can come from bad parents and bad kids can come from good parents. We all have free will. We are not determined by our parents, but we are certainly helped in our direction toward life. Jonathan believed in God even if his father's faith was superficial. Jonathan would have made a great King -- he was another David, but from the line of Benjamin.
We can all be David's and Jonathan's, it starts with a relationship built upon TWO-WAY communication. You cannot have a one-way relationship with God or with anyone. You need to hear God daily from his word and you need to talk to God daily from what you heard from his word. If you don't listen to your spouse when you talk, do you really have a relationship? It is the same way with God.
PONDER:
- Do I have a relationship with God, or do I just have a religion?
PRAYER: Father, I want to be a David or a Jonathan -- a person who loves you and wants to do the right thing. Lead me and guide me through your spirit who lives in me. Change me to be more like your son. Teach me what it means to truly walk by faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment