Jonathan Defeats The Philistines

I Samuel 14:1–15
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For a time Saul failed to take any action against the Philistines (vv. 1-3). Jonathan decided to initiate the battle by attacking an outpost guarding the pass between Michmash and Geba. It does not tell us what motivated him to do this but perhaps it was because he had become weary of the long hopeless standoff in the battle and his father wasn’t doing anything. Jonathan probably didn’t tell his father what he was doing because he thought Saul would not let him go. His courageous faith stands out in bold relief against the background of Saul’s paralysis. The king had only six hundred men in his encampment on the outskirts of Gibeah. Perhaps the author intends to say that Saul’s situation was desperate, but not hopeless.

Jonathan attempted to bolster the confidence of his young armorbearer by reminding him of two things (vv. 4-7). First, the enemy was “uncircumcised.” This was a kind of ethnic slur used to mock the enemy and thus express confidence in victory. Second, Jonathan stressed that God is capable of giving victories to the few as well as to the many. Yet Jonathan did not presume that his action automatically would fall within the will of God. The plan was to cross the valley and reveal themselves to the Philistines who controlled the heights above (vv. 8-10). If the enemy ordered them to halt they would not ascend the height where the enemy was camped. If the Philistines challenged them to climb up, Jonathan would regard that as a sign that God would give a victory. Such a challenge would indicate overconfidence, even carelessness on the part of the defenders. Since this fight with the Philistines was ordered by a prophet (I Sam.10:8) and consecrated by sacrifices, Jonathan believed that God would make his will clear.

When the Philistines spotted Jonathan and his armorbearer, they assumed that they were “Hebrews” coming out of hiding (vv 11-15). This challenged the two to climb up to their camp. Jonathan then began to make the precipitous climb confident that the vidtory was his when they reached the top. Jonathan and his armorbear slew twenty of the enemy in a very small area. Before the main force of the Philistines could come to the aid of their outpost, a tremendous earthquake began to shake the ground. The enemy was thrown into panic and began to flee back to their homeland.

Application

If I ever feel surrounded by the enemy with problems on every side and just felt like going into hiding I need to remember that God is never intimidated by the size or complexity of my problems. He just wants me to commit the resources I have to Him and rely on Him to lead me to victory.