1 Samuel 14:1-52
Intro: Jon
Courson made a statement once that really moved me – Here is what he said
I think that everyone of us from time to
time should attempt something so big that if God is not in it, it is doomed to
fail
A) I like that – Something
so big that the arm of the flesh can’t drive it – can’t
produce it
B) There is only one
explanation – You sit back and go this was a GOD
THING!!!!!
C) Well in our Passage
tonight we see such a situation – Jonathan Saul’s Son – radical step of faith
- RD V.1-6
Now
why didn’t he tell his father – not trying to be deceitful – but he Knew his
father wouldn’t approve
A) His father would quench
his faith – because what we see in Saul – he is just sitting
B) There’s a reason why the
author tells us Saul was camped out under a pomegranate tree.
1) Pomegranate was a highly
prized fruit in the ancient world.
2) It was a luxury food, not
a staple of the diet.
C) This detail about Saul may
be the author’s way of telling us about his lifestyle at that point.
1) His focus was no longer on
fulfilling God’s will for the kingdom of Israel. Instead, he was …
Concentrating on comfort
D) Comfort can quench faith – It is easy for someone
who is comfortable – who doesn’t want their comfort level shaken – Quench Zeal
E) Older believers – quench someone who is younger –
Mistake Zeal is immaturity
One of the reasons I like it
when the Lord brings new people to serve in the body –
A) They bring fresh vision –
perspective – easy for us who have been here a while to get comfortable in the
Routine
B) Saul is in
comfort not knowing what to do – his army has shrunk from 3,000 – 600
1) But his son is not
sitting but SEEKING –
C) Jonathan is interested in what God might want to do
!!! Let’s go & see.
D) Mission trip to Yugo – Amazing –
1) Howard Hendrix – first time in his life he was glad
he knew some of those songs
E) Every mission trip that I
have every been on since has been judged by that one
1) It was so AMAZING !!!!
Now I don’t know what sparked – Jonathan’s faith in
this way: I am sure he knew history
A) Perhaps he sat there one night thinking about
Shamgar – Judges 3:31 –
B) Shamgar
killed 600 philistines with a sharp stick
1) Perhaps
he thought – if God can do that with Shamgar he can do that with me!!!
C) Maybe he thought about
Gideon – or Samson
1) I don’t know if any of
those Stories inspired him
2) but I do know that stories like
this are meant to inspire us – take steps of faith
D) Be open to take that step
– to just go and see what God might want to do – how He might want to work
1) John Morton – Getting Fat
– need a Challenge
Jonathan knew this truth
about God – He didn’t need a whole army –
A) Jonathan believed in a Big God – He can save by
many or by few
B) Notice where Jonathan had the emphasis. He had
little faith in himself, but great faith in God.
C) It wasn’t “I can win a
great victory with God’s help.” It was “God can win a
great victory through even me.”
D) As Meyer says, “He had the
smallest possible faith in himself, and the greatest faith in God
1) All he aspired to was to be humble vehicle through
which the delivering grace of God might work.”
E) God is so blessed by that type of Heart
7 So his armor bearer said to him,
"Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to
your heart."
A) These are beautiful words for a man of Vision to
hear. Do all that is in your heart
B) I am with you – sink or swim – I am with
C) I am willing to take a Chance – willing to risk it
all –
1) My wife – Our decision with our Church in Oregon –
Personally liable –
E) Just bought a house – might lose it
Now I want to say this
however – I think that there was a certain degree of trust here
A) This armor bearer trusted Jonathan’s relationship
with the Lord
B) He knew that Jonathan was wise –
1) See that type of trust comes from time and
experience
C) People we have sent out – Not proven – couldn’t say
we bore witness –
1) Well go – let’s see – if
God is in it we will get behind it –
2) Others abundantly clear –
God’s hand is on them
Jonathan proves his wisdom – RD v.8-10
A) Here we see that Jonathan is not going to just rush
head long into the Frey –
B) But he puts forth a test to see if God is in this –
1) If they call us to come up – Then we will Know
C) Fleece is Ok – this is different from Gideon’s
fleece - Lack of faith
1) Because he had been given specific instructions
D) God graciously met Gideon in his lack of faith
E) What Jonathan is doing is different – Let’s just
see – if God will confirm – Wisdom in that
Property: Looking for
confirmation – Owner
Builder – city council - now
with the City
A) So that is what Jonathan is doing here –
RD v.11-15
B) We ended our study last week referencing 1 peter
5:8 Satan …… to & fro …. DEVOUR
1) Contrasting it with 2 Chron 16:9 – Eyes of the Lord
go to & fro ……… EMPOWER
C) God found on this day – such a heart in Jonathan –
God meets Jonathan’s faith
1) earthquake – Brings Victory
D) G.K. Chesterton used to
say that the
Christian life is not so much tried and left wanting but rather found difficult
and left untried.
C) Jonathan is willing to
take a Venture of Faith and God responds by giving the Victory
D) Faith is contagious – Jonathan’s
actions are going to inspire the rest of the People of Israel
1) Missions trips – Sharing
etc
E) But first we see how Saul
does his best to put a damper on this work of God