1 Samuel 14.
Christian Friend vol. 18, 1891, p. 281.
Amid the moral desolation, presented by the state of Israel and of Saul, at this moment, the "lovely flower" of faith, as exhibited in Jonathan and his exploits, cannot but excite our admiration. It is evident indeed that the Spirit of God loves to linger over the details of Jonathan's faith, and hence it is that we are permitted to follow him and his armour-bearer step by step in their successful expedition against the enemies of God and His people.
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In the previous chapter nothing can be more humbling than the confusion, distress, and utter impotence of Saul and Israel. The only exception there to the general condition is Jonathan, who "smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba."* But this victory vouchsafed to Jonathan served to show that God was still with His people, if those in responsibility did but know how to count on His presence and succour. And yet the lesson was wholly lost on Saul. Exalting himself through the achievement of his son, he "blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews [not Israel, but the Hebrews] hear." The rumour consequently went forth that Saul, not Jonathan but Saul, "had smitten a garrison of the Philistines."
*The question has sometimes been raised whether this is not the same circumstance which is unfolded at length in 1 Samuel 14. The careful reader, however, will perceive that there are too many differences in names of places, etc., to make this probable.
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Not knowing how to profit by it, the fruits of the victory only served to humble still more both Saul and his people. The Philistines assembled in force, and the people, God's people, having only the leader of their own choice, not God's leader, sought to hide themselves, wherever they could, from the face of the enemy; while others, called here "Hebrews" by the Spirit of God, left the land of promise, and went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Even those who were with Saul in Gilgal followed him trembling. What a spectacle!
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Saul falls still more deeply, unable to stand the test to which he was being exposed. He knew that divine guidance and blessing were with the prophet, but unable quietly to wait on God, and, governed by his circumstances and fears, he sought to bring God in by a self-willed act of devotion. As if the offering of a sacrifice could be a substitute in the time of need for confidence in, and waiting on, the Lord. The prophet came on the scene, rebuked the foolish king, and announced that his kingdom had been forfeited through his disobedience. The rest of the chapter shows us Israel despoiled by the Philistines, and even dependent upon them for means to sharpen their shares, their coulters, their axes, and their mattocks. To the outward eye they were unarmed and defenceless, at the mercy of the foe.
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It is precisely in these circumstances that faith obtains its brightest victories; and this is the lesson of the contrast between 1 Samuel 13 and 1 Samuel 14. Counting on the reader to pursue the details, a few points only in illustration will be adduced. Remark, then, first of all; that faith acts from itself, does not consider difficulties; nor seek the counsel and aid of others. Only to his armour-bearer, who had fellowship with his master in faith, does he communicate his purpose. He told not his father (v. 1); and the people knew not that Jonathan was gone. (v. 3.) The path of faith is utter folly to the natural man; and to discuss what faith proposes with those who have no confidence in the Lord, is to lose faith, and to ensure defeat,
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The sure sign of a man of faith is seen in the fact that Jonathan had God's own estimate of the Philistines. Does he regard them as powerful enemies? They were powerful as long as Israel did not lean on Jehovah for strength; but to Jonathan they were the "uncircumcised." David in like manner looked upon Goliath as "this uncircumcised Philistine." Oh, what a difference it makes when we view things according to God! Observe, moreover, that Jonathan's confidence is entirely in the Lord. "It may be," he says, "that 'the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few." With the Lord on his side, with the Lord, indeed, working in and through His servant, it was no longer a question of what Jonathan and his armour-bearer were, but what Jehovah of hosts was as against the Philistines. Faith thus brings God in, and measures the foe by what God is.
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How rare a thing is hearty fellowship in the enterprises of faith! Jonathan enjoyed this priceless blessing in the person of his armour-bearer, who replied to his master: "Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold I am with thee according to thy heart." To such a soul faith can disclose all its thoughts, and accordingly Jonathan communicates his modes of procedure to his armour-bearer. He discerned as divinely taught, that if the enemy in the folly of self-confidence invited them up, it would be a sign that the Lord had delivered the Philistines into their hand; for faith in God learns the mind of God at every step, and knows, therefore, how to meet every difficulty.
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Remark, also, that self finds no place where faith in God is in vigorous activity. The two things indeed are incompatible. On the men of the garrison, therefore, inviting Jonathan and his armour-bearer up, Jonathan said to him, "Come up after me; for the Lord hath delivered them" - not into our hands, but - "into the hand of Israel." Faith wages its conflicts for no selfish interests or ends, but for the glory of God on behalf of His people; for, whatever their state, it identifies itself with them because they are God's people. Jonathan's object was thus the deliverance of Israel, for he had felt the reproach of their condition, and in anticipating the victory, he will ascribe it to the interposition of God to deliver His people. He and his armour-bearer might be the vessels of the deliverance, but God's object in it, as through grace it was also theirs, was the blessing of Israel.
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The victory was assured before the battle commenced; for Jonathan, according to the true estimate of the people after the battle was won, "wrought with God." (v. 45.) The Philistines were consequently powerless, and they fell "before Jonathan; and his armour-bearer slew after him." But if Jonathan wrought with God, God wrought also with His servant, for He sent a "trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling." The battle was the Lord's; faith recognised it, and the Lord Himself secured the issue. There was no restraint to Him, as Jonathan had confessed, to save by many or by few (v. 6); but whether with many or few, it is always His own right hand and His holy arm that gets to Himself the victory.
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The remainder of the chapter is simply the record of the folly of the natural man as seen in the seeking to fight the Lord's battles. Saul exhibits his incompetency at every step, has neither faith nor wisdom, and only hinders where he desired to help; for he thought of vengeance on his enemies, and not on the enemies of God and Israel. He thus marred, in his fleshly zeal, the full success of the day, and would even have put Jonathan to death, the conspicuous vessel of the deliverance wrought, because in ignorance of the curse his father had pronounced, he had put forth his rod and eaten of the honey that lay in his path, while in pursuit of the foe. "And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day." Such was the true verdict of the people, for it is endorsed by the Spirit of God. We thus learn that faith is always confident, always wise, and always does the right thing; and that unbelief is always afraid, always foolish, and that if it tries to do the right thing, it will always do it in the wrong way. These two things are exemplified in Jonathan and Saul.