YOUTH STS LESSON 210 JONATHAN TRIUMPHS OVER THE PHILISTINES

TEXT: 1 Samuel 14:1-52.         

 MEMORY VERSE: “And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him” (1 Samuel 14:13).

Saul was anointed king over Israel by Samuel in chapter ten. He had his first battle in chapter eleven. After two years of his reign, he established his military of three thousand soldiers (1 Samuel 13:1,2). Jonathan, under his military regiment, also fought against the Philistines in that same chapter. Many Israelites in his army deserted him and the six hundred who followed him were trembling with fear.  In this chapter, Jonathan summoned courage to attack the Philistines with his armour bearer which led to a great trembling among the enemies of Israel. Thereafter, the soldiers that followed Saul became courageous to attack. They subdued the Philistines. It takes the courage, boldness and fortitude of just one person, sometimes, to make great and positive impact in a community or a nation.

CONQUEST THROUGH SELF DETERMINATION (1 Samuel 14:1-23; Numbers 25:6-8; Acts 20:22-24; 2 Timothy 4:7; 2 Chronicles 15:7; Isaiah 48:17)

“Now it came to pass upon a day, that Jonathan the son of Saul said unto the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side. But he told not his father” (verse 1). It is important to note that most of the soldiers who remained were with Saul where he “tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron”. Besides, he had “Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod”. But with all these resources, physical and spiritual, Saul made no attempt to attack but “tarried”. But “Jonathan was gone” with only one “young man that bare his armour”, not even a fully trained soldier. Yet, he said: “let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison, that is on the other side”.

Question 1: What should be our attitude to God’s work when others are slacking?

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). We learn as Christian youths that when others are slacking from God’s service, we should give ourselves to it. We should not be discouraged by the inactivity of the majority or people we look up to as mentors. Our singular act of active and diligent service may spark up the flame of revival. Phinehas alone took a step that stayed the plague of destruction on Israel (Numbers 25:6-9). Even in our academics, the cold attitude that others develop towards diligent study, reading and practise should not discourage us from putting in our best. In verses 4-6, the two rocks on both sides were like obstacles in his way, yet Jonathan firmly believed and was prompted in his spirit by that faith. His armour bearer was in support of him as he said “Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart” (verse 7).

Question 2: What lessons can we draw from Jonathan and his armour-bearer when faced with obstacles?

We should not allow the sight of danger or difficulties to hinder us from forging ahead to victory. We should unite in faith and confront the problems. Paul had many dangers ahead of him in ministry but he was courageous to keep on fighting and at the end, he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Also, in our schoolwork, difficult subjects should not make us to quit. We can form a study group with the few who have the same focus on excellence. In the midst of great oppositions, we should rise to the challenge and fight for the Lord. Jonathan, who was neither a priest nor a prophet, began to make prophetic utterances. “Then said Jonathan, Behold, …if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us” (verses 8-10). Beyond the confession of faith, he took the step of faith (verses 11-14).

Question 3: What is the result of self determination in a given task?

The result of this action of faith, backed up with self determination, is that the Philistines “fell before Jonathan; and his armour-bearer slew after him”. That victory caused the enemies to tremble. God supported Jonathan by making the earth to quake (verses 14,15). At this point, it was discovered that Jonathan and his armour-bearer were the ones fighting the Philistines. Then Saul made attempt to talk to God, which he should have done before, but he was distracted by the noise of the battle and could not do it. He had no choice but to proceed into the activities of the warfare. This is how many believers miss out from their personal devotion. They do not pray before activities mount up, but wait until distractions begin. They have no choice but to proceed into the day’s activities without their quiet time. However, even the Israelites who had fled for refuge gained courage to join in the battle. “So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven”. Victory is ours if we follow God’s leading and instructions on how to perform any task.

CONSEQUENCE OF FOLLOWING A DEFIANT LEADER (1 Samuel 14:24-46; 13:3,4; 18:5-9; 1 Samuel 28:3-7)

A defiant is someone who is openly and deliberately disobedient. Saul had deviated from the commandment of God in the previous chapter. God had consequently rejected him. All he was doing now was in the flesh. Samuel did not pray for him about this battle because he had already offered the sacrifice himself against God’s word. Even the priest who was with him was rendered useless. Then he began to make rules that did not come from God. Obviously, the rules were not God-ordained because the only one who did not observe it prospered in the battle and Saul only shared in that victory. As for others, they were distressed. “And 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” (verse 24).

The people were held in bondage of a king who was merely following his senses (verses 25,26). When we follow the rules of preachers and people who are not hinged on the word of God, the result is bondage. We will lose our blood-bought freedom in Christ. Jonathan, who did not know about the oath, ate and he was refreshed and became more reasonable (verse 27).

Question 4: What should be our attitude to preachers whose rules and teachings are not based on the Scriptures?

We should not follow any preacher who does not base his preaching on the Scriptures. If we do not feed our hearts with the junks of backslidden preachers, our faith will be strong and our spiritual senses will be sharper. “Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey” (verse 29). We should not pay attention to the teaching of ministers whose life and teaching negate the word of God.  Saul’s oath was not motivated by God because it had no positive effect on the people who kept it and neither did it have a negative effect on those who did not observe it. Those who kept it “were very faint… [and] sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood” (verse 33). The directives of leaders who are not influenced by the Spirit of God will produce sinful acts in their followers. For about two years of his reign, Saul showed no serious interest in devotion to God. He had never built an altar until now. “And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD” (verse 35).  Even after building the altar, he still made plans to fight without consulting God. His followers who knew that he did things as he pleased told him: “Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee” until the priest said, “Let us draw near hither unto God”. On the advice of the priest, “Saul asked counsel of God… But he answered him not that day” (verse 37).

Saul had not developed regular communion with God, so it was hard for him to wait to hear from Him. No wonder he later resorted to a witch at Endor. Many people today fail to develop intimate relationship with God while growing up. As a result, later on they often get frustrated when seeking His will for their careers, jobs, marriages or other areas of their lives. They have not learnt how God speaks to them. Instead of taking responsibility for his spiritual dryness, Saul blamed others. He concluded that he did not hear from God because someone must have sinned. He cast lot and it fell on Jonathan. He requested that his son must die. But all Israel prevailed on him that Jonathan must not die. They came out clear to say that Jonathan was the one through whom the victory which he shared came to Israel. That was one thing that did not go well with Saul because he always loved to claim the victory achieved by others (1 Samuel 13:3,4; 18:5-9). After this, he “went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place” (verse 46).

CONTINUOUS FIGHT FOR THE LAND OF ISRAEL (1 Samuel 14:47-52; 15:1-5; 17:1-58; 18:5-11; 30:1-31)

There were continuous battles between Israel and enemy-nations. Likewise, there is continuous battle between believers and Satan. In the Old Testament, their battles were physical, though with spiritual implications while our battles are spiritual (Ephesians 6:12).

Question 5: What spiritual battles do Christian youths face today?

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Since our battles are spiritual, we do not see our enemies with physical eyes. Therefore, the battle is against the devil and his agents. These can be in the form of failure, disappointment, poverty and others. To overcome, Christian youths must use spiritual armour. This includes prayer, reading and meditating on the word of God, faith in God’s promises and courage to stand to the end. “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10,11).