1 Samuel 14:15 Power of God

 ”And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. There was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people: It seems that the Philistines were under a divine confusion and they woke that morning thinking “We are attacked by enemies in our midst!” They rushed about thinking their fellow Philistines might be the enemy and began to fight and kill one another.

i. It didn’t matter if the Philistines greatly outnumbered the Israelites and had far better weapons. God was more than able to set the Philistines against each other. If the Israelites had no swords, the LORD would use the swords of the Philistines against the Philistines.

b. The earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling: Jonathan used his heart and sword, but God did what Jonathan could not do – send a great earthquake to terrify the Philistines. Often, we wait around for God to do what we can do. But God will often do miracles – that He alone can do – if we will do what we can do. (Guzik)

Power of God

”I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.“ ‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Have you ever spoken to someone about Jesus and afterwards wondered, where did that come from? It’s the power of the Spirit speaking through you, not in your wisdom but in the power of God.

It’s up to us to be a willing student of His word (the Bible) and the power of the Spirit will do the rest when we speak to people about the salvation through Jesus Christ.

Blessings 

1 Samuel 14:11-14 Faith of Jonathon and Gideon

 ”So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.” Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them. That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land.“ ‭‭

I Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭11‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden: At this time of crisis the Israelites hid anywhere they could (1 Samuel 13:6). It was reasonable for the Philistines to think these were Hebrew deserters surrendering to the Philistines because they thought it was better than hiding in a hole.

b. Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel: At this exciting moment God confirmed Jonathan’s bold trust with this sign, and he knew God would do something great.

c. Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armor bearer after him: This was a difficult climb. Jonathan was not the kind to say, “Well, it would be nice to do this. But the rocks are steep and there are a lot of Philistines up there. Let’s just pray instead.” If we only want victory or only want to be used by God when it is easy, we won’t see many victories and we won’t be used much.

d. And they fell before Jonathan: Jonathan knew that the battle was the LORD’s, yet he knew God would use him to fight. When Jonathan saw God’s confirming sign, he didn’t lay down his sword and start praying that God would strike them all down. He prayed, made sure his sword was sharp, and trusted God would use him to strike them all down.

In verse 10: ”But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this will be a sign to us.”“

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One of my devotionals this morning was about Gideon’s army that faced overwhelming odds and the Lord whittled down Gideon’s army to 300 because He didn’t want them to think they defeated the enemy with their own might.

The Lord uses the weak to confound the strong 💪.

When you feel weak and defeated, have the faith of Jonathan and Gideon and lean on the Lord, allow Him to strengthen you and the Lord will use you mightily.

”The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭118‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Blessings 

1 Samuel 14:4-6 Boldly Trusted God

 ”Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore 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 restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”“

‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Between the passes…there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side: On his way to the Philistine garrison, Jonathan saw a strategic position – a narrow path through a pass with large, sharp rocks on either side. A few men could easily fight against a much larger number at this strategic place.

b. Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison: If Jonathan never decided, Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side (1 Samuel 14:1) he would have never found this strategic place. God guided Jonathan as he boldly trusted God and acted on that bold trust. (Guzik)

Boldly Trusted God

”Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;“

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Let’s face it, life is hard!

God guided Jonathon as he boldly trusted God and acted on that trust. 

We too need to trust in the Lord with all our heart especially when walking in the paths of real life!

“It is on GOD, not on thyself, that thou art commanded to depend. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool…. Self-sufficiency and self-dependence have been the ruin of mankind ever since the fall of Adam. The grand sin of the human race is their continual endeavour to live independently of God.” (Clarke)

“The measure in which I have trusted Jehovah and acknowledged Him, has been the measure of walking in the paths of real life.” G. Campbell Morgan

How are you walking in the paths of real life, as one who puts their trust in the Lord or one who trusts in their own heart?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 14:1-3 Outlook for Believing Souls

 ”Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men. Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. It happened one day: At the beginning, there was nothing in this day to indicate it would be remarkable. But on this day, God would win a great victory through the bold trust of Jonathan.

b. Said to the young man who bore his armor: Every “officer” in the Israelite army had an “assistant” known as an armor bearer. The armor bearer helped the officer in battle and in the administration of the army. They often carried the armor and weapons of the officer, so they were known as armor bearers.

i. “Armor-bearers in ancient times had to be unusually brave and loyal, since the lives of their masters often depended on them.” (Youngblood)

c. Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison: The Israelites were in a military conflict where victory seemed impossible. They were vastly outnumbered and greatly surpassed in military technology. Yet Jonathan was bold enough to go over to the Philistines’ garrison just to see what the LORD might do.

i. Maybe Jonathan remembered Shamgar and how Judges 3:31 described Shamgar’s victory over 600 Philistines with a sharp stick. Jonathan perhaps thought, “Well, if God could do it through Shamgar, He could do it through me.”

ii. Jonathan could strengthen himself in promises such as Leviticus 26:8: Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

d. He did not tell his father: Perhaps this was just an oversight, or something easily and properly explained. Or, it may be that Jonathan deliberately did not tell his father, because he believed his father would have simply said “no.”

e. Saul was sitting: This was a big contrast to Jonathan. The bold, brave, king was simply sitting…under a pomegranate tree while his son boldly went over to the Philistines’ garrison. Saul and the priest with the ephod sat back while Jonathan bravely trusted God.

f. Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother: The mention of Ichabod seems almost unnecessary. Why would we need to know that the priest with Saul, Ahijah, was the nephew of Ichabod? Probably, God wants us to associate the meaning of Ichabod’s name with Saul’s spiritual condition. Saul’s royal glory was almost gone, and it was appropriate that he associated with a relative of the man named “The Glory Has Departed.”

g. The people did not know that Jonathan was gone: This indicates that Jonathan did not go over to the Philistines’ garrison out of a desire for personal glory. If that were his motive, he would have told at least a few people that he went.

(Guzik)

“God is ever on the outlook for believing souls, who will receive His power and grace on the one hand, and transmit them on the other. He chooses them, that by them He should make His mighty power known.” (Meyer)

Outlook for Believing Souls

Meyer’s commentary is full of biblical truth, He uses the weak, which He gives power and grace on the one hand, and to transmit them on the other!

My wife and I lead a Life Recovery Bible Group at our church, a 12 step program for people with hurts, hang ups and habits.

It’s amazing to see God break the chains of addiction with His power and grace on the one hand and to transmit them on the other!

We all have a story of mercy and grace and when we share it, the Lord uses us to transmit them to others that need His power and grace!

Have you been sharing yours?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 13:19-23 Trust God for Everything!

 ”Now there was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel, for the Philistines said, “Lest the Hebrews make swords or spears.” But all the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle; and the charge for a sharpening was a pim for the plowshares, the mattocks, the forks, and the axes, and to set the points of the goads. So it came about, on the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people who were with Saul and Jonathan. But they were found with Saul and Jonathan his son. And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.“ I Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭19‬-‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. There was no blacksmith to be found throughout all the land of Israel: The Philistines had superior military technology and they wanted to keep it that way. Since they were a seafaring people, the Philistines traded with the technologically sophisticated cultures to the west, especially the Greeks. They imported weapons and acquired know-how from those distant lands.

i. “For decades archaeologists working at many different sites have unearthed iron artifacts in bewildering number and variety dating from the period of greatest Philistine power and leading to the general consensus that the metal was introduced into Canaan - at least for weapons, agricultural tools, and jewelry - by the Philistines.” (Youngblood)

b. All the Israelites would go down to the Philistines to sharpen each man’s plowshare: By carefully guarding their military technology, the Philistines kept the Israelites in a subservient place.

i. We might imagine that the Philistine blacksmiths, even though they charged each Israelite a pim for sharpening, would never put too fine an edge on anything. First, this was because these farm tools were the only weapons the Israelites had, so why make them so sharp? Second, if you make it really sharp, it will be longer before they come back with another pim to get their ax sharpened.

c. There was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people…. they were found with Saul and Jonathan: There were so few iron weapons available that only the royal family could be properly equipped. The rest of Israel fought with whatever they could.

i. It was bad enough to be outnumbered so badly. Now, we see God allowed the Philistines to have a huge technological advantage over the Israelites. The only way the Israelites could ever win was to trust in God for everything.

Trust God for Everything 

As we can see in these verses the Philistines were well armed but the Israelites weren’t, it came down to, trust God for everything.

That’s all He wants from us too!

Philippians 4:6-7 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Present your requests to God! And don’t give up, keep presenting them. 

I’m reminded of a quote from Charles Spurgeon:

“Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly. Others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might.”

Are you pulling continuously, with all your might?

Blessings 

1 Samuel 13:15-18 Allowed this Test!

 ”Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people present with him, about six hundred men. Saul, Jonathan his son, and the people present with them remained in Gibeah of Benjamin. But the Philistines encamped in Michmash. Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies. One company turned onto the road to Ophrah, to the land of Shual, another company turned to the road to Beth Horon, and another company turned to the road of the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. Then Samuel arose: Samuel left probably knowing that the announcement of judgment was an invitation to repentance, and probably also knowing that Saul would not repent.

b. About six hundred men: Earlier, Saul had about 3,000 in his regular army (1 Samuel 13:2). Now he is down to 600 because many soldiers scattered while Saul waited for Samuel (1 Samuel 13:8). The loss of so many men was probably the reason why Saul offered the sacrifice without Samuel, and it displayed a heart of distrust and disobedience to God.

i. According to 1 Samuel 13:5 the Philistines already had a huge army, easily outmatching Saul’s 3,000 men. Saul saw his already mismatched force shrink to one-fifth of its previous size (from 3,000 to 600). God allowed this to test Saul’s faith, to see if he believed God was great enough to deliver from so many with so few.

c. Then raiders came out of the camp of the Philistines: With so many troops the Philistines could raid at will. They were a fearless and fearsome army against Saul and Israel. (Guzik)

Allowed this Test!

Brethren, in life we will experience many trials and when we do we need to seek the Lord through it because He may have allowed it to test our faith, to strengthen us so He could use us elsewhere.

I once prayed for patience and after that prayer I experienced a trial that took me to the edge of a precipice and nearly to a breaking point. The Lord allowed it, to test my faith and to build up my strength, to meet me where I was at and to move me where God wanted me to be.

Next time you experience a trial, lift it up to the Lord and ask Him for strength to help you through it. Rely on your faith that you are His child and that He loves you.

Blessings 

1 Samuel 13:13-14 After Gods Own Heart!

 ”And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.”“ ‭‭I Samuel‬ ‭13‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

a. You have done foolishly: This is a stronger phrase than we might think. Samuel did not mean Saul was unintelligent or silly. The Bible speaks of the fool as someone morally and spiritually lacking.

b. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you: Despite all the excuses, all the reasons, all the blaming of someone else, the bottom line was still the bottom line. Samuel put it plainly: you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God. God commanded him to do something, and he did the opposite.

c. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever: The whole point in being a king was to establish a dynasty, where one’s sons sat on the throne afterwards. God told Saul that his descendants would not reign after him. Though he was a king, he would not establish the monarchy in Israel.

d. But now your kingdom shall not continue: From these words we might expect Saul to be removed as king at that moment. But Saul would reign for another 20 years. He would still be on the throne as a king, but it would never be the same because the end of his kingdom and his dynasty was now certain.

i. This was no small sin. “To disobey God in the smallest matter is sin enough: there can be no sin little, because there is no little God to sin against.” (Trapp)

ii. Because the actual judgment for this sin was so far off we should regard Samuel’s pronouncement of judgment as an invitation to repentance. Many times, when God announces judgment, He will relent if His people repent. “Though God threaten Saul with the loss of his kingdom for this sin, yet it is not improbable that there was a tacit condition implied, as is usual in such cases.” (Poole)

e. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people: Though God rejected Saul He did not reject Israel. Because God loved Israel He would raise up a king, a man after His own heart.

i. Saul was a man after Israel’s heart. He was all about image, prestige, and the things men look at. But God will now give Israel a man after His own heart and raise that man up to be the next king.

ii. It would be easy to say that the kingdom was taken from Saul because he sinned and on one level, that was true; but it was more than that. David also sinned yet God never took the kingdom from David and his descendants. The issue was bigger than an incident of sin; the issue was being a man after God’s own heart.

f. A man after His own heart: What does this mean? We can discover this by looking at the man who was not a man after His own heart (Saul) and comparing him to the man who was a man after His own heart (David).

i. A man after God’s heart honors the LORD. Saul was more concerned with his will than God’s will. David knew God’s will was most important. Even when David didn’t do God’s will, he still knew God’s will was more important. All sin is a disregard of God, but David sinned more out of weakness and Saul more out of a disregard for God.

ii. A man after God’s heart enthrones God as king. For Saul, Saul was king. For David, the LORD Godwas king. Both David and Saul knew sacrifice before a battle was important. But David thought it was important because it pleased and honored God. Saul thought it was important because it might help him win the battle. Saul thought God would help him achieve his goals. David thought that God was the goal.

iii. A man after God’s heart has a soft, repentant heart. When Saul was confronted with his sin he offered excuses. When David was confronted with his sin he confessed his sin and repented (2 Samuel 12:13).

iv. A man after God’s heart loves other people. Saul became increasingly bitter against people and lived more and more for himself, but David loved people. When David was down and out he still loved and served those who were even more down and out (1 Samuel 22:1-2).

g. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart: God was looking for this kind of man and God found this man in an unlikely place. In fact at this time, he wasn’t a man at all! God is still looking for men and women after His own heart.

(Guzik)

After God’s own heart!

We can’t be sinless because of our human nature but we can try to sin less and be like David, “A man after God’s heart has a soft, repentant heart.” 

God looks into our soul and see’s who we really are! 

Are we seeking Him?

Is our heart soft or hard?

Are we repentant?

Are you a man or woman after God’s own heart?

Blessings