1Sa 14:1-23 | KingComments | STEP | In 1 Samuel 13 the failure of Saul has become clear. In 1 Samuel 15 Saul fails even more dramatically. Between these two chapters, which contain a double testimony of the failure of the king of the people’s choice, 1 Samuel 14 tells the story of a man of faith who overcomes. This chapter is a great encouragement to anyone who sees how the official authority of God’s people fails, but who continues to believe in the power of God himself. In this chapter, the Holy Spirit opposes two men. We see Saul, the man of the flesh, opposite his son Jonathan, the man of faith. The first part of this chapter ( ) leads to a climax through Jonathan’s faith. The second part ( ) leads to an anticlimax due to the foolishness of Saul, which forbids the people to eat anything before the evening. Jonathan means ‘the LORD has given’. He is a gift from God to His people at a time of great weakness. He is a flower that God makes blossom in the wilderness that Israel spiritually at this time is. Jonathan can no longer remain indecisive as the Philistines brutally move through God’s land. He decides to attack the Philistines’ garrison. This is not an impulsive action. He has thought about this and has been in prayer for it, and one day he is ready for it. The motive for this action lies in his faith. It is not so, that Jonathan has more military insight than his father. Saul is a good soldier. In the battle of God’s people, however, it is not about military insight, but about faith. Faith decides the outcome and not military insight. In 1 Samuel 17 we see this also in the fight between David and Goliath. With Saul we see no action. He is waiting. This is different from what the people wanted. After all, they wanted a king who goes ahead of them to fight. Jonathan cannot accept that his father is so indecisive. He knows his father. He knows it makes no sense to ask him if he can go or even to inform him that he will go. He knows that two can only go together if they have made an appointment ( ) and that this is not the case with his father. Saul, who will see it as a reckless undertaking, lacks the faith to do so. Therefore he goes without telling his father, although he should have. Yet this is not rebellion, but an action worked by God.

‏ 1 Samuel 14:1-23

Introduction

In 1 Samuel 13 the failure of Saul has become clear. In 1 Samuel 15 Saul fails even more dramatically. Between these two chapters, which contain a double testimony of the failure of the king of the people’s choice, 1 Samuel 14 tells the story of a man of faith who overcomes. This chapter is a great encouragement to anyone who sees how the official authority of God’s people fails, but who continues to believe in the power of God himself. In this chapter, the Holy Spirit opposes two men. We see Saul, the man of the flesh, opposite his son Jonathan, the man of faith.

The first part of this chapter (1Sam 14:1-23) leads to a climax through Jonathan’s faith. The second part (1Sam 14:24-46) leads to an anticlimax due to the foolishness of Saul, which forbids the people to eat anything before the evening.

Jonathan means ‘the LORD has given’. He is a gift from God to His people at a time of great weakness. He is a flower that God makes blossom in the wilderness that Israel spiritually at this time is.

Jonathan’s Proposal

Jonathan can no longer remain indecisive as the Philistines brutally move through God’s land. He decides to attack the Philistines’ garrison. This is not an impulsive action. He has thought about this and has been in prayer for it, and one day he is ready for it. The motive for this action lies in his faith. It is not so, that Jonathan has more military insight than his father. Saul is a good soldier. In the battle of God’s people, however, it is not about military insight, but about faith. Faith decides the outcome and not military insight. In 1 Samuel 17 we see this also in the fight between David and Goliath.

With Saul we see no action. He is waiting. This is different from what the people wanted. After all, they wanted a king who goes ahead of them to fight. Jonathan cannot accept that his father is so indecisive. He knows his father. He knows it makes no sense to ask him if he can go or even to inform him that he will go. He knows that two can only go together if they have made an appointment (Amos 3:3) and that this is not the case with his father. Saul, who will see it as a reckless undertaking, lacks the faith to do so. Therefore he goes without telling his father, although he should have. Yet this is not rebellion, but an action worked by God.

Saul and Those Who Are With Him

While Jonathan proceeds to act, Saul is staying under a tree. He prefers to take a wait-and-see attitude rather than take the initiative to fight. What should he do with his six hundred men against a numerous enemy? Where faith is lacking, there is no strength for battle.

Saul was not only surrounded by an army of six hundred men, but he also had the priest with the ephod in his company. It is a priest from the rejected priestly family of Eli who was set aside by God in 1 Samuel 2-3 (1Sam 2:27-30 ; 1Sam 3:11-14). Because the setting aside did not take place immediately, we find here a rejected priest with a rejected king. Military and religious, everything is at Saul’s disposal. The great absent One is God. Therefore, all external displays have no effect whatsoever. Appearance does not give any strength and it does not give any insight into how the battle should be fought.

Saul does not know that Jonathan left, nor does the people of Saul. The fight of faith is outside Saul and outside those who are connected to Saul.

The Terrain to Be Crossed

The description of the place Jonathan must cross makes it clear that he is embarking on a risky venture. God’s Spirit shows these things to teach us that following a path of faith can present us with enormous difficulties. Faith does not make blind to these difficulties but considers them.

Faith is not reckless. It overlooks the terrain and sees the difficulties. All the difficulties that are noticed are brought to the Lord by faith. Faith then sees that there are no difficulties for Him. Faith is not overconfident, but prudent and trusting. It turns the eye to God and then takes courage.

Faith of Jonathan and His Servant

After Saul’s attitude is shown and the way of faith to go, Jonathan repeats in 1Sam 14:6 the word of faith of 1Sam 14:1. Nothing can be expected of Saul, and the way is full of dangers. In his repetition of this great word of faith he goes even further than what he said in 1Sam 14:1. He no longer speaks of “the Philistines”, but now he calls them “these uncircumcised”. This shows that he sees them as God sees them. They are people who have no connection with God.

Saul’s army is not large, but at least he still has 600 men. Jonathan is alone with his armor bearer. He does not need the six hundred men, because he knows that he and his armor bearer are going with God. If you have God at your side, the greatest army has no chance. God can deliver as much by few as by many (2Chr 14:11; Jdg 7:7).

His armor bearer shows the same faith as Jonathan. It is a special blessing to fight the battle of faith with someone who faces the battle with the same confidence in God. The words of his armor bearer are an encouragement and confirmation for Jonathan.

Both men are young. To go a path of faith and perform acts of faith, it is not necessary to be elderly or to have much experience. It is about trust in God. Scripture gives several examples of young men who have acted in faith. Think of men like Elihu, David, Daniel and his three friends, and Timothy.

The Plan

Jonathan presents his armor bearer his plan. He speaks of “us”. It is a bold plan. The fight must be done with consultation. Faith does not take away the fact that we work with consultation, but it is the consultation of faith and not that of the rational calculation of probability. The reaction of the Philistines will determine their action, for they see in the reaction of the Philistines what God makes clear to them. He suggests that they will show themselves open and exposed to the enemy. The enemy will not expect that.

Jonathan anticipates two reactions. One reaction is that the Philistines say they will come down themselves. In that case they will stay where they are. The other reaction is that the Philistines will stay where they are, but they will say that Jonathan and his armor bearer must climb up to them. That will be a dangerous climb, where they will have to expose themselves completely. The Philistines will feel supreme and will not see any danger. It is precisely this dangerous command to climb up that will be the sign that the LORD has given them in their power.

The Execution of the Plan

Jonathan and his armor bearer translate their words into deeds and show themselves to the Philistines. By showing themselves, they are vulnerable to the arrows of the Philistines. The Philistines do not shoot their arrows at them, but words of contempt. However, these do not harm the two heroes.

Then the men from the garrison call on Jonathan and his armor bearer to come up to them. The Philistines are certain of their case. They will have a good time with these two Israelites. For Jonathan this is proof that the LORD has given them into his power.

Yet he says not that the LORD will give them into his power, but into the power of Israel. This is the language that David also speaks later when he is alone opposite Goliath (1Sam 17:46-47). Saul, on the other hand, speaks of “my” enemies. The victory that Jonathan and his armor bearer will achieve is a victory for all Israel. Jonathan is certain of victory by this command of the Philistines. In what he says to his armor bearer in 1Sam 14:12, there is no longer a “perhaps” (1Sam 14:6), but the certainty that the LORD will do it.

Jonathan climbs up on his hands and feet. This means that he cannot protect himself in any way. He needs all his agility to reach the top. He cannot even keep an eye on the enemy. The way of faith goes up but is not easy. Yet the goal of faith is achieved. When Jonathan and his armor bearer are at the top, the Philistines are struck down man after man by Jonathan and killed by his armor bearer. There is a fluid cooperation between the two men.

The number killed is not impressive when counted. They have defeated only twenty men. But God connects Himself to Jonathan’s faith. The area where the victory is won is described as “about half a furrow in an acre of land”.

This indicates the result of a victory: an area is released that can be ploughed. The piece of land can again fulfill God’s purpose for His people and that is that His people enjoy the blessing of the land. Thus every spiritual victory lays the foundation for enjoying the spiritual blessings God has given to His people.

Consequences of Jonathan’s Deed

When Jonathan has done what he can do, God will do what Jonathan cannot do. What God does is an extension of what Jonathan has done. God makes Jonathan’s small victory a great one. He multiplies this victory, just as He multiplies a little bit of food. The report of the defeat spreads like a wildfire and the Philistines tremble with a great trembling (literally: with a trembling of God).

Saul’s watchmen see the consequences of Jonathan’s victory, that is, of God’s underlining of Jonathan’s faith performance. If faith acts, the enemy quivers and trembles. The watchmen observe this. They report this to Saul.

Saul Shares in the Victory

Saul assumes the possibility that men have left his army and that they have done something with the Philistines. He has an investigation carried out to know who and how many are gone. It turns out to be only Jonathan and his armor bearer. For Saul, however, this cannot be the reason for the commotion among the Philistines. He does not think further because there is no faith in him.

Saul can also be a pious man, he can question God, although he has no faith. To question God, he wants the ark to be brought. “Ark” (1Sam 14:18) presumably must be ephod. With the ark one cannot question God. It is more likely that Saul will have asked Ahijah to clothe himself with the ephod and to ask God.

When Saul notices how the Philistines are becoming more and more chaotic, he says that Ahijah should not do anything more. He decides that no more time should be lost in questioning God. Action is needed. You should not spend any effort and time on religion if you see that the situation is, in your opinion, ripe to act. This is Saul.

When Saul arrives at the battlefield, he does not have to do anything. God has worked for him and thus gives the enemy into Saul’s hands. He does so because of Jonathan’s faith (cf. 2Chr 20:22; Jdg 7:22).

Another consequence of Jonathan’s victory is that Israelites who have put themselves in the service of the enemy – and who are also called “Hebrews” by the Holy Spirit here – return to the army of Saul and Jonathan. Traitors and cowards now choose the side of God’s people because they see that there the victory is. Such people only want to benefit, but never take part in the real battle.

Faith initiatives are taken by only a few. If it then becomes apparent how much this is blessed, others also join in who have first observed the development and have no part in this faith. Great revivals have always started with a few.

Saul Prohibits to Eat Food

It is clear that the LORD is at work and that He has delivered Israel. This is the highlight of this history. We see Him standing up for His people in grace, while the people have turned their backs on Him.

The army moves on to defeat the Philistines. Saul turns it into a prestige case for himself. He speaks about “my enemies”. Saul does not speak of the LORD, not of Israel, but only of himself. He puts the people under oath because of his own feelings of revenge that the people will not eat before he has avenged himself. Saul swears several times in this chapter (1Sam 14:24 ; 39 ; 44) and every time he has not kept to what he has sworn.

The character of Saul’s folly is legalism. By this he imposes a commandment on the people that robs them of their strength. Thereby the people are being worn out. Faith and the taking to oneself of what God gives, gives new courage and strength. A legal mind and a constant talk about commandments and prohibitions paralyzes the people of God. People who do that, also have no room in their thinking for acts of faith like that of Jonathan. They do not like it either, because it is outside the old, familiar paths.

The issuance of this severe injunction is:

1. Non-political and unwise. It may seem as if time is gained that is otherwise spent on food, but in reality, the people lose the strength for pursuit.

2. Imperious and unfriendly to the people. If the people had wanted to have a feast, there would have been something to be said for the ban, but to forbid them to use food, although they are hungry, is cruel.

3. Wicked, because Saul connects the Name of God to it through a curse and an oath. This is not the way to reign. Those who are in reign over others may reprimand and punish, but they may not curse their subjects. When David speaks of one of his enemies as someone “who loved the curse” (Psa 109:17-18), he may mean Saul.

The people are obedient to Saul’s command, but what a torment it is when they enter the forest where they see honey on the ground. This means a great temptation for the people. However, the fear for Saul is so deep in them that they do not even dare to taste the honey for fear of Saul’s curse.

Saul, through his legal performance, has closed the path of the people to the blessing of the land. Canaan after all is a land that flows with honey. Here we have an example of it. They can, as it were, suck honey from the rock (Deu 32:13b). The sweetness would quickly give them new energy. We see this with Jonathan.