1 Samuel 14:1-23
Q.1. What do we learn about Jonathan and his armour bearer? Where was King Saul? What was the basis of Jonathan’s plan? How did the battle go? – (1 Sam.14:1-15)
Was Jonathan brave or foolhardy? The Philistines had amassed thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, plus an uncountable army (1 Sam.13:5). Saul, in the outskirts of Gibeah, was left with just six hundred poorly armed men, and the priest Ahijah, who wore an ephod to discern the Will of the Lord (1 Sam.13:22; 14:2-3). Humanly speaking, Israel had no hope of winning. However, Jonathan relied on his belief in the greatness of God for the success of his mission and considered – perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or few (1 Sam.14:6). Jonathan was not recklessly throwing his life away. He decided to ‘put out a fleece’ that enabled God to open or close the door (1 Sam.14:8-19 c.f. Jdgs.6:36-40; Rev.3:7-8). Only after God had given the ‘green light’, did Jonathan conclude that God would give them victory – Come after me, for the Lord has given them into the hands of Israel (1 Sam.14:12). With faith in God, and for the benefit of His people, the two of them bravely faced the foe. Soon their boldness left twenty dead, and the Philistines in utter terror –there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people (1 Sam.14:15).
Q.2. How did Saul view the ark? How did they know who was missing? How did Jonathan inspire the victory? Who else supported the Israelite army? – 1 Sam.14:16-23)
It seemed that Saul had learned nothing from the past, when the Ark had been taken into battle and captured (1 Sam.14:28 c.f. 1 Sam.4:3-11). When the enemy scattered, Saul asked for his troops to be numbered, to see which soldiers were missing. He then discovered that – … Jonathan and his armour bearer were not there (1 Sam.14:17). Seeing the commotion, Saul dismissed the priest and rallied his troops for battle (1 Sam.14:19-20). They were hardly needed because – every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion (1 Sam.14:20). Saul’s army of three thousand had scattered, and some had even defected to the enemy (c.f. 1 Sam.13:2; 1 Sam.14:21-22). These re-joined Saul’s army and put the Philistines to flight. Nevertheless, it was not the soldiers, but – the Lord who delivered Israel that day … (1 Sam.14:23). Jonathan’s faith in his God had inspired an unlikely victory.