1st Samuel 14:1-23 NOTHING HINDERS THE LORD We are living today in a time of increasing moral and spiritual departure that is having an effect on the younger generation more than the old people. However, among us there are those who are younger who are people of faith. Saul's son, Jonathan, in spite of the religious form and lack of faith in his father, had the marks of faith on him. Faith lets us see the things around us through God's eyes and takes its orders from God, not from that which is expedient or the opinions of men. Israel was in despair and hopelessness because of the dishonor and defeat that came on them under Philistine influence and occupation.
Jonathan and his armor-bearer, in faith, and knowing the present state Israel was in was intolerable, acted to do what was needed while his father was sitting under a pomegranate tree. When we live by faith, we realize that defeat and failure is a dishonor to God. It is our responsibility to rise above whatever situation that has brought sin and unbelief on God's people, and determine to go forward in the power and name of the Lord. Saul was doing an awful job of leading God's people. For some reason he did not communicate with Jonathan under whose authority he had delegated previously one thousand men. Saul also made a foolish decree, which no common sense person, let alone a leader, would make for his soldiers not to eat. And more, he did not even consider the needs of his own men.
The kind of decisions Saul made were not just because he had a weak personality. Decisions made on the spur of the moment and with due consideration of God's will are because a person has a failing spiritual character. Our spiritual condition affects our spiritual decisions. Jonathan was a man of faith who was in fellowship with his armor-bearer as the two of them separated from the politics and religion of his father. Even though the priests, the people and the ark of God was with Saul, the Lord was with Jonathan. Faith looks to God alone to guide us and to bring about the right results.
Faith also does not act because of the influence of people and circumstances around us. The enemy had a strong position on the high ground. As far as man's strategy is concerned high on the top of the cliffs seemed to be a perfect place. But faith sees beyond the obstacles to the sovereign God who holds the highest position of all. When we trust God, the size of the opposition is not a major consideration. "In vain do earth and hell oppose, for god is stronger than His foes." God honors faith and we can act with confidence even when all that is in opposition seems much stronger than we are. The resources and power of God are unlimited, and when He puts them in place for our use, we can accomplish the tasks He gives us and He can do His will through us.
Faith counts on the power and presence of God to use us as the channel through which He does what is right. We do not doubt God's ability to do beyond what we ask or even think. Our confidence is in Him, and He can easily deal with a situation with many or few, using either many or few. The strength of a human being really doesn't matter when the Lord uses His strength. Simple trust in Him brings the right result either in success as we see it, or more importantly, as God sees it.
Both Jonathan and his armor-bearer were men of faith, who by faith waited for the unmistakable leading of the Lord. They were not in haste to do something. They were not looking around for something of which to boast. They were willing to stay where they were until they had unmistakable assurance the Lord was with them and directing them. The contempt of the Philistines and their mocking words gave assurance to them that God wanted them to go forward in faith, and God would take it from there.
We do not have to be "terrified by our adversaries" when we are "striving together for the faith of the Gospel" in the place and time of God's choosing. Jonathan realized he was a representative of Israel even though there was only he and his armor-bearer to attack the enemy. "One person and God are a majority." He identified himself with the people of God even as we do today although we may be isolated from them for awhile. Those two men were where all Israel should have been, but in spite of that Jonathan acted on their behalf.
Our faith is, and will continue to be, challenged. The unfaithfulness of other believers has made many Christians the objects of scorn, but people of faith move ahead in spite of the reproach and derision that may be heaped upon them. Faith carries out the will of God with enthusiasm even though the obstacles are like high cliffs in front of us and at the top are the enemies of God. We may never know the end result of a matter, but one thing we can do is trust God.
The reward of faith is victory that may come in an unexpected or unusual way of which we had never thought. We can be sure God has acted on our behalf even though the actions and outcome may be not be what we had hoped for or wanted. The panic that overtook the Philistines came from the Lord and must have astounded Jonathan. The revival of Israel followed although Saul didn't have enough spiritual sense to discern what was happening. When we are called by God to act, then we use what we have as best we can, and rely on Him to bring the needed victory, or the result that best suits Him. Jonathan could not do everything, but he did what he could, where he was, to the best of his ability and the Lord brought the needed assistance from unexpected places.
Some without courage got their courage back. Some who were with the enemy came back with God's people. God was glorified in many ways as He worked for and through, His people. Saul, the powerless leader who depended on the flesh, sits waiting, perplexed as what to do next. He had called for the ark to try and hear God's voice but his ears don't hear God even though he can hear the tumult of the enemy. In unbelief and uncertainty, he finally joins in the fight only to find it has been won without him. Frightened people have rallied; wanderers were brought back; people are united and the battle is won - all without Saul. The faith of Jonathan brought God into the whole situation and God was able to "restrain by many or by few." These principles in the ancient historical event are all applicable to us today in our life-situations.