Bible Study: 1st Samuel chapter 14
Here's what went down in the Made In Jesus Bible Expository on September 5th
Since 1st Samuel 14 is long, we will focus on verse 1-23
Today's Bible Study Objectives:
√Understanding the character of Jonathan
√Understanding the character of Saul
√Understanding the character of Israel
Last time we looked at the historical context of the book of 1st Samuel
We established that Samuel was the last judge of Israel and that this book is set at a time when Israel is in transition
They have seen what other civilizations around them are doing and have been fascinated by the idea of kingship, hence they want a king and in comes Saul
Now, let's head straight to chapter 14
Verse 1 is particularly interesting for two reasons:
1. Jonathan decides out of the blues to head into the camp of the enemy
2. He does not tell his father what he is upto
This sets our baseline for understanding the character of Jonathan!
In just this one statement, Jonathan is brought forth as a person who feels compelled to do something...
If you read the last verse of chapter 13, you realize that the enemy had camped in land belonging to Israel. Now, while this made Jonathan want to do something about it, Saul on the other hand was doing what?
Seated under a tree with his army of 600 men...wierd...huh?
Now, as if this is not enough, he had the priest of the Lord with him...but still he chose to seat under his tree and think about his stuff...
Now, as i keep reading through chapter 14, i stumble upon verse 6
1st Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."
The word to note here is PERHAPS!
This is how the dictionary defines PERHAPS
• adv : by chance;
It is an adverb which denotes lack of assurance or guarantee...by chance!
Here, two other things about Jonathan come forth:
1. He is brave and headstrong
2. He is willing to lay his life down if it will awaken people into action!
Notice the power behind this statement in the same verse "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few"
I am forced to ask myself there: what just happened?
We were in Jonathan the uncertain one, but now we are in Jonathan the certain one...in a twinkle we have moved from a "perhaps" to a "statement.of great faith"!
I love the response in verse 7 from the armour bearer! This guy probably realizes "this is the real deal"
Interestingly, Jonathan the certain one, now goes ahead and becomes Jonathan the prophetic one in verse 8-12
I mean, we've gone from uncertain, to certain, to prophetic! It doesn't get any better than that! But wait...it actually does!
Verse 13 and 14 show a pursuit into manifestation that shakes any person. Two guys, against a garrison of philistines
But they go forth and begin the slaughter!
Then what happens?
1st Samuel 14:15 Then panic struck the whole army--those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties--and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.
The ground SHOOK! Literally!
Hear this: When the Lord is in the equation, the results will work for you!
Moving forward: What does Saul do when he hears there is panic in the philistine camp? He remembers he has a priest in his presence and now he goes ahead to try do what he was meant to be doing in the first place!
But then due to the commotion, he again abandons that quest
This brings out another character of Saul:
He was easily moved by what was happening around him
So, finally Saul and His men go to war and actually wage war!
And now interesting enough, the israelites who had been trading with the philistines (read 1st Samuel 13:20-21), plus those hiding from the philistines, rise into battle
Hear this: when the Lord begins to work for you, you will influence your environment
And so Israel was saved that day, because one man refused to sit and do nothing!
All that God needs you to do is to do something! Arise and shine!
God bless you all.
Since 1st Samuel 14 is long, we will focus on verse 1-23
Today's Bible Study Objectives:
√Understanding the character of Jonathan
√Understanding the character of Saul
√Understanding the character of Israel
Last time we looked at the historical context of the book of 1st Samuel
We established that Samuel was the last judge of Israel and that this book is set at a time when Israel is in transition
They have seen what other civilizations around them are doing and have been fascinated by the idea of kingship, hence they want a king and in comes Saul
Now, let's head straight to chapter 14
Verse 1 is particularly interesting for two reasons:
1. Jonathan decides out of the blues to head into the camp of the enemy
2. He does not tell his father what he is upto
This sets our baseline for understanding the character of Jonathan!
In just this one statement, Jonathan is brought forth as a person who feels compelled to do something...
If you read the last verse of chapter 13, you realize that the enemy had camped in land belonging to Israel. Now, while this made Jonathan want to do something about it, Saul on the other hand was doing what?
Seated under a tree with his army of 600 men...wierd...huh?
Now, as if this is not enough, he had the priest of the Lord with him...but still he chose to seat under his tree and think about his stuff...
Now, as i keep reading through chapter 14, i stumble upon verse 6
1st Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."
The word to note here is PERHAPS!
This is how the dictionary defines PERHAPS
• adv : by chance;
It is an adverb which denotes lack of assurance or guarantee...by chance!
Here, two other things about Jonathan come forth:
1. He is brave and headstrong
2. He is willing to lay his life down if it will awaken people into action!
Notice the power behind this statement in the same verse "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few"
I am forced to ask myself there: what just happened?
We were in Jonathan the uncertain one, but now we are in Jonathan the certain one...in a twinkle we have moved from a "perhaps" to a "statement.of great faith"!
I love the response in verse 7 from the armour bearer! This guy probably realizes "this is the real deal"
Interestingly, Jonathan the certain one, now goes ahead and becomes Jonathan the prophetic one in verse 8-12
I mean, we've gone from uncertain, to certain, to prophetic! It doesn't get any better than that! But wait...it actually does!
Verse 13 and 14 show a pursuit into manifestation that shakes any person. Two guys, against a garrison of philistines
But they go forth and begin the slaughter!
Then what happens?
1st Samuel 14:15 Then panic struck the whole army--those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties--and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.
The ground SHOOK! Literally!
Hear this: When the Lord is in the equation, the results will work for you!
Moving forward: What does Saul do when he hears there is panic in the philistine camp? He remembers he has a priest in his presence and now he goes ahead to try do what he was meant to be doing in the first place!
But then due to the commotion, he again abandons that quest
This brings out another character of Saul:
He was easily moved by what was happening around him
So, finally Saul and His men go to war and actually wage war!
And now interesting enough, the israelites who had been trading with the philistines (read 1st Samuel 13:20-21), plus those hiding from the philistines, rise into battle
Hear this: when the Lord begins to work for you, you will influence your environment
And so Israel was saved that day, because one man refused to sit and do nothing!
All that God needs you to do is to do something! Arise and shine!
God bless you all.
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