Now we pick up our study at verse 16 with King Saul's lookouts informing him that the Philistines are running to and fro in terror. "Saul's lookouts at Gibeah in Benjamin saw the army melting away in all directions. Then Saul said to the men who were with him, 'Muster the forces and see who has left us.' When they did, it was Jonathan and his armor-bearer who were not there." (1 Samuel 14:16-17) Saul realizes someone must have carried out an attack on the Philistines but he doesn't know who until the roll is called.
We were told yesterday that the current high priest, Ahijah, was with Saul in the camp. (Ahijah's name is sometimes rendered as Ahimelech.) "Saul said to Ahijah, 'Bring the ark of God.' (At that time it was with the Israelites.)" (1 Samuel 14:18) Some scholars believe the second half of verse 18 should be translated as, "Bring the ephod." In yesterday's text we found Ahijah was wearing the ephod (the priestly garment) and since he is the current high priest he would also be wearing the breastplate in which were stored the Urim and Thummim for casting lots to determine the Lord's will. Whatever Saul actually said, his intention is clear: he wants to ask the Lord whether he and his army should swoop down on the panicked Philistines. The answer to that should really have been obvious. It is time to strike; the Lord supernaturally infused the Philistine army with terror and confusion to make it easier for the Israelites to defeat them.
I don't know about you, but there have been times when I knew what the Lord was telling me to do and I either didn't want to do it or I wanted even more assurances than He'd already given me. I wanted to hear the instructions yet again. In fact, I'd have liked to hear the instructions so many times over that I'd have probably never ended up taking the step of faith at all. The Lord is patient with our weaknesses and there's no doubt about that, but when it's time to act it's time to act. If He has made it clear to us what we are to do and when we are to do it, our response should be to obey. When we were kids it was important for us to learn to immediately obey our parents because our safety might depend on it if our parents needed to call us away from something dangerous. Likewise, we are to be quick to obey our heavenly Father. We must be quick to back away from what He says is dangerous and we must be quick to forge ahead when He's calling us to victories and blessings.
Before the priest can consult the Lord for Saul, Saul realizes that the right thing to do is to take action. "While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the Philistine camp increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, 'Withdraw your hand.'" (1 Samuel 14:19)
"Then Saul and all his men assembled and went to the battle. They found the Philistines in total confusion, striking each other with their swords. Those Hebrews who had previously been with the Philistines and had gone up with them to their camp went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan." (1 Samuel 14:20-21) Even the deserters rejoin Israel in the fight! We had been told that many of Saul's men fled when they saw how many troops the Philistines sent out to the fight. It appears that some of these deserters joined up with the Philistines. But now, seeing they are soon to be on the losing side if they remain with the Philistines, they come back to fight with their fellow Israelites.
The Israelites who did not join the Philistines, but who had instead hidden from the battle to come, are stirred to bravery now. They come out to join the fight. "When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit." (1 Samuel 14:22)
"So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven." (1 Samuel 14:23)
A great victory is accomplished because Jonathan trusted the Lord. His faith encouraged his armor-bearer to attack the Philistine outpost with him. The faith of Jonathan and his armor-bearer encouraged the soldiers of Israel to attack the enemy. Sometimes we say to ourselves, "I'm just one person. What can I really do for the Lord or for my people?" The answer is: a lot! Over and over in the Scriptures we find the Lord telling us to "be strong and courageous". Courage is infectious. When our brothers and sisters in the Lord see us courageously obeying the Lord, they are encouraged to do likewise. The faith of one person can set an example for a lot of other people. So don't tell yourself (or allow the devil to tell you) that you can't do anything for the Lord or for your fellow man. The decision of Jonathan---one person!---to trust the Lord to help him attack the Philistine outpost caused Israel to win a battle even though the Philistines vastly outnumbered them and possessed far superior weapons. What might the Lord do in your life, in my life, and in the lives of those around us if we are willing to trust and obey Him?
(Tomorrow I may not have an opportunity to publish our daily Bible study session. I have to leave home around 6am to have a medical test performed under anesthesia. Prayers are appreciated for all to go well and hopefully I will be back into the study with you on Friday.)
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