1 Samuel 14:11-2411And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. 12And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armorbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armorbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armorbearer slew after him. 14And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. 15And there was 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. 16And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. 17Then said Saul unto the people that were with him, Number now, and see who is gone from us. And when they had numbered, behold, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there. 18And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 19And it came to pass, while Saul talked unto the priest, that the noise that was in the host of the Philistines went on and increased: and Saul said unto the priest, Withdraw thine hand. 20And 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. 21Moreover 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. 22Likewise 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. 23So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven. 24And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. (1 Samuel 14:11‑24)
The Philistines might call the pe ple of God “Hebrews” as Saul had done, but Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.” To him they were “Israel,” the name grace had given to them. Indeed Jonathan did not say, The Lord hath delivered them into our hands, but he counts himself and his helper as but instruments in the Lord’s hand on behalf of His people. When we think of the sad condition of the people of God at this time, we can surely say that this was the language of faith.
The first encounter was not an easy one, for after climbing up the rocks on their hands and feet they met about twenty men—ten against one—but the Lord was with them, and pressing forward they slew the whole twenty. When we undertake to do something for the Lord, He often allows us to feel the difficulties before He comes in. Do not be discouraged by this, dear young Christian, for the Lord wants us to be cast upon Him, lest we should boast of what we have done. He must have all the glory, and surely He is worthy.
After this first encounter, fear fell upon the whole host of the Philistines, as well as upon all the people and even the spoilers who had gone out to spoil the land of Israel. The very earth trembled, and the Philistines began to beat one another down. The Lord had given the victory by the hands of two men having only one sword of their own. Truly “Salvation is of the Lord.” Jonah 2: 9.
When the watchmen of Saul saw the multitude of their enemies melting away, they came to Saul under the pomegranate tree and told him. Saul did not know who had gone out against them, so he numbered the people and found that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were missing. Even then he did not act in the energy of faith and go out at once to the battle, but delayed to find out who had gone out first. We ought not to be concerned about whom the Lord is using, but rather be content that He is working. How easily we, like Saul here, become occupied with the instrument instead of with the Lord, who alone can bless. Then Saul called for the ark of God, pretending to want the Lord’s mind about what he should do. In the previous chapter he had acted without waiting, but here he waited when he ought to have acted. That the Lord was working there could be no doubt, for the evidence of it was before his eyes. It was now a time to go foard, but poor Saul did not have faith, and the flesh never knows what to do or when to act in the things of God. As the noise of the battle increased, Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw thine hand.” He then went out with all the rest of the people, while those who had previously been hiding also came out to the battle, pressing hard after the Philistines, and the Lord saved His people that day.
But again we see the foolishness of unbelief and how it only spoils a work of God whenever it mixes itself up with it. Saul had been afraid of the Philistines when he should have been acting, and then he had caused a delay when the Lord was using Jonathan against them. He had pretended to be seeking the Lord’s mind when Jonathan knew it and was acting accordingly; now he puts a curse upon all those whc eat any food that day until he is enged of his enemies. How foolish is the “prudence” and religiousness of unbelief!
ML 08/01/1954