1 Samuel 14 | Jonathan’s Courage

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Transcript

Charlie Mitchell 0:01

You're listening to the Dope Daily Audio Bible, and I'm your guy, pastor Charlie Mitchell, and today we're looking at one Samuel chapter 14. Let's roll that same day, Saul's son, Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, come on, let's cross over to the Philistine Garrison on the other side. However, he did not tell his father. Saul was staying under the pomegranate tree Imigran on the outskirts of Gibbon. the troops with him numbered about 600. Aja who was wearing an e FOD was also there. he was the son of The brother of IBAs, son of Phineas, son of Eli, the Lord's priest at Shiloh, but the troops did not know that Jonathan had left. There were sharp columns of rock on both sides of the past that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine Garrison. One was named Boez, and the other Sina one stood to the north and the front of Mik Mash and the other to the south. In front of gaba, Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, come on, let's cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will help us. nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few, his armor responded, Do what is in your heart. Go ahead. I'm completely with you. All right. Jonathan replied, we'll cross over to the men and then let them see us. If they say, wait until we reach you, then we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, come on up. Then we'll go up because the Lord has handed them over to us. That will be our sign. They let themselves be seen by the Philistine Garrison, and the Philistines said, look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have been hiding. The men of the garrison called the Jonathan and his armor bearer. Come on up, we'll teach you a lesson. They said, follow me. Jonathan told his armor bearer, for the Lord has handed them over to Israel. Jonathan climbed up using his hands and feet with his armor bear behind him. Jonathan cut them down and his armor bearer followed and finished them off. In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor bearer struck down about 20 men and a half acre field terror spread through the Philistine camp and the open fields to all the troops, The Garrison and the raiding parties were terrified. The earth shook and terror spread from God. When Saul's watchman and Gibby of Benjamin looked, they saw the panicking troops scattering in every direction. So Saul said to the troops with him, call the role and determined who was left us. They called the role and saw that Jonathan and his armor bear were gone. Saul told a hydrogel, Bring the arc of God for, it was with the Israelites at that time, while Saul spoke to the priest, the panic in the Philistine camp increased in intensity. So Saul said to the priest, stop what you're doing. Saul. And all the troops with him assembled and marched to the battle, and there the Philistines were fighting against each other. In great confusion. There were Hebrews from the area who had gone earlier into the camp to join the Philistines, but even they joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. When all the Israelite men who had been hiding in the hill country of Rem heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day. The battle extended beyond Beth Haven and the men of Israel were born out that day for Saul, had placed the troops under an oath. The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemy is cursed. So none of the troops tasted any food. Everyone went into the forest. There was honey on the ground. When the troops entered the forest, they saw the flow of honey, But none of them ate any of it because they feared the oath. However, Jonathan had not heard his father make the troops swear the oath. He reached out with the end of the staff he was carrying and dipped it into the honeycomb When he ate the honey, he had renewed energy. Then one of the troops said, your father made the troops solemnly swear. The man who eats food today is cursed and the troops are exhausted. Jonathan replied, my father has brought trouble to the land. Just look at how I've renewed energy because I tasted a little of this. Honey, how much better? If the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies, then the slaughter of the Philistines would've been much greater. The Israelites struck down the Philistines that day from Mik Mash all the way to Alon. since the Israelites were completely exhausted, they rushed to the plunder, took sheep, goats, cattle and calves, slaughtered them on the ground and ate meat with the blood Still in it, some reported to Saul. Look, the troops were sinning against the Lord by eating meat with blood still in it. Saul said, you've been unfaithful. Roll a large stone over here at once. He then said, go among the troops and say to them, let each man bring his ox or his sheep. Do the slaughtering here and then you can eat. Don't sin against the Lord by eating meat with the blood still in it. So every one of the troops brought his ox that night and slaughtered it. Bear. Then Saul built an altar to the Lord. It was the first time he had built an altar to the Lord. Saul said, let's go down to the Philistines tonight and plunder them until morning. Don't let even one remain. Do whatever you want. The troops applied, but the priest said, let's approach God here. so Saul inquired of God, should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel? but God did not answer him that day. Saul said, all you leaders of the troops, come here. Let's investigate how this sin has occurred today. As surely as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son, Jonathan, he must die. Not one of the troops answered him. So he said to Israel, You'll be on one side, and I, and my son, Jonathan, will be on the other side and the troops replied, do whatever you want. So Saul said to the Lord, God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? if the unrighteousness is in me or in my son, Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give Orum. but if the fault is in your people, Israel, give thon. Jonathan and Saul were selected and the troops were cleared of the charge. Then Saul said, cast a lot between me and my son Jonathan. And Jonathan was selected. Saul commanded him. Tell me what you did. Jonathan told him. I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying. I'm ready to die. Saul declared to him, May God punish me and do so severely if you do not die, Jonathan. But the people said to Saul, must Jonathan die? He accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel. No. as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground for He worked with God's help today. So the people redeemed Jonathan and he did not die. Then Saul gave up the pursuit of the Philistines and the Philistines returned to their own territory. When Saul assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies in every direction against Moab, the Ammonites, Edam, the kings of Zoba and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he caused havoc. He fought bravely, defeated the AMLO kites and rescued Israel from those who plundered them. Saul's sons were Jonathan ish V and Mal Kua. The names of his two daughters were Murup. his firstborn, and Michael the younger. The name of Saul's wife was a Noam daughter, AHMA. The name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Saul's Uncle Ner Saul's father was Kish Abner's father was Ner son of Abiel. The conflict with the Philistines was fierce, all of Saul's days. So whenever Saul noticed any strong or valiant man, he enlisted him. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I pray from this chapter, we are able to remember that you are able to save. Whether we have many or we have a few, give us faith like Jonathan had, willing to step out in faith into uncertain territory. Guard us from the rash and crazy decisions that come up with fear or pride. Help us move with wisdom and dependence on who you are and may our hearts be aligned to your will. Strengthen us to act in faith and to trust you with the outcome. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.