“Saul is Rash” - 1 Samuel 14

James White Conference July 12th 2017 6:30pm

Vanderlei Lima went to Athens to do what no other Brazilian had ever done—medal in the Olympic marathon. This marathon was special. The runners would retrace the 2,500-year-old route of Phidipedes, the original marathoner.

As Lima neared the last leg of the race, he was in first place, and throngs of flag-waving spectators cheered him on. It was one of those moments where people of various backgrounds put their differences aside. The joyful celebration turned to bewilderment, however, when an eccentric spectator bolted from the crowd and tackled Lima. The assailant, wearing a red, white, and green kilt, did not injure Lima, but the delay dashed Lima's hopes for a gold medal. In the ensuing chaos, Lima lost 20 minutes and two other runners sped by him to win the gold and silver. Despite the unfortunate incident, Lima did not give up.

Following the race Lima expressed this reaction: "I'm not going to cry forever about the incident, although it broke my concentration, but I managed to finish, and the bronze medal in such a difficult marathon is also a great achievement."

Obstacles. Yes we are faced with them everyday. The world is a mountain that we are trying to climb and there are always obstacles that keep us from accomplishing all that our hands find to do. There are always things that get in the way… always things that slow down our progress. Sometimes it can be very discouraging when we work so hard to do something, get it all set up turn it on and it does not work… then we say of course. All kinds of things get it the way to slow down our progression. Sometimes plans are bad. Sometimes bad leaders can slow down progress. Sometimes the mountain to climb is just too impossible to climb. You ever felt this way? I bet we all could say that we have faced an obstacle in one way shape of form at some point in our lives. But how do we get through it? How are we supposed to get through it? Jonathan shows us how. We will find out how in our passage today.

Last week… We witnessed the renewed conflict with the Philistines. The chapter then unveils the unfortunate events of Saul’s disobedience and the unfortunate consequences resulting. And at the same time we see the strategic and tactical advantage of the Philistines over the Israelites. No swords? Yet…the battle begins.

This week…Saul’s son Jonathan had a secret plan and he did not tell his father. His father and his 600 men trembled under a pomegranate tree. Jonathan revealed that he wanted to attack a Philistine outpost after scrambling a slippery and thorny cliff. “We can win this battle, you and me, with the help of our almighty God. When we come up upon them if they tell us to stay we will turn back, but if they tell us to come and fight we will take it as a sign that the Lord has given us the victory.” Jonathan and his armor bearer killed 20 men and caused a panic in the camp of the Philistines. An earthquake struck and brought more fear. The confusion was so great that the Philistines began to kill each other and Israel began to finish them off…yes the Lord saved Israel that day. But Saul in faithless ignorance, made a terrible vow that brought, in the word’s of Jonathan, “trouble” to the people. No one could eat until Saul gets full revenge on his enemies. The men were weak in exhaustion and yet no one dared break the oath. However, Jonathan did not hear of the oath and ate. “How foolish was this,” cried Jonathan for if the men were not weak they could have killed more Philistines. It actually worked against what it was that Saul wanted to accomplish. If he did not make the vow, then he might have had his full revenge. Yet again, my words, Saul was foolish. Saul desired to pursue the Philistines, but the priests said that they should first ask God. God did not reply. Saul made a vow to kill whoever caused this issue with God even if it was his own son. And it was found that it was his son. Saul demanded that he die however, the people came in to defend Jonathan. Israel won the day. Jonathan was spared. And Israel would continue to win under the rule of Saul.

“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

1 Samuel 14:6 NLT

“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

The Word of the Lord. May He hold His wonderful truths in our hearts forever. E pule

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

1. The Plan, The Presidents, The Preposterous

2. The Faith

3. The Mercy

The first thing we will look at are three specific obstacles we face today… the need for approval, bad leadership, and impossible goals w/ the plan the presidents and the preposterous. The second thing we will see is the power of mountain moving faith in our one true and all-powerful Lord … the faith. Finally, we will see how a curse came upon Jonathan because of the word of a king, just like it came upon us, and we found mercy just like Jonathan did…the mercy.

Thesis statement: Though unapproved, ungodly leadership, and impossible circumstances in the world cause us to lose heart and despair in unbelief, it is the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus alone in clarity of His Word that is our hope and by the blood of Christ, like Jonathan, not one hair on our head will be touched apart from the will of God.

I. The Plan, the Presidents, and the Preposterous

- The obstacles of approval, bad leadership, and impossibilities can be difficult.

A. Was overconfidence the Plan? The author brings us an interesting setting.

B. The author is here setting a background to bring a bit more colorful contrast to the faith of Jonathan. The Plan. The initial step (focusing) leads us to perceive the apparent overconfidence of Jonathon in what he communicates to his armor bearer. But it was all so secretive? Did he not want support?

C. Why did he not tell Saul? We are not told, but I suspect that it was a “it is easier to get forgiveness than to get permission.” Maybe? Now a bit more contrast. Jonathon is moving and Saul is sitting under a pomegranate tree. But what is this… who is this next to Saul? (more light) The Presidents.

D. You rejected God and asked for a king and now… You have a rejected king and sitting next to him is a rejected priest. Ahijah (Aheeyyah) was the acting priest. This was the son of Ahitub (Aheetuv) who was Ichabod’s brother. He was Ichabod’s nephew. Remember Ichabod? That was the name his mom gave him because the ark was captured and the glory departed. He was the son of Phineas who was a meat-loving, women chasing scoundrel and a son of Eli whose neglect of his son’s caused his priestly line to be judged and rejected.

E. So now Israel, who rejected God, has a king whose dynasty was rejected and a priest whose priestly line was rejected. Now there is just… Too many men. Too many people. Making too many problems. And not much love to go round. Can't you see. This is a land of confusion.

F. And now the Preposterous. He and his armor bearer was not on what we would call hikeable ground. It was slippery and thorny cliffs. Way worse than Kokohead.

G. The Plan was secret, no one knew, the Presidents were rejected, and the whole thing, the whole idea was utterly preposterous.

H. In light of all of this, we see a real contrast of Jonathan from the background and setting. Secret plan that no one knows… have no approval or support, with leaders who do not guide, and faced with a physically impossible situation.

I. What do we do when we know that something must be done and its just impossible, not directed, nor supported? Ahhhh. Sound familiar?

J. Many of us do not like doing things, unless we have the approval and support of others. Now it is a good thing and wise to run things by people and get support before you move forward with following through with God’s Kingdom building. But, many of us are paralyzed by it. We cannot move forward without approval. We are insecure and crippled by the need for approval. God said it, but it is not a go until friends or family affirm it. We don’t need permission to obey…? No progress without their permission. Ahhh. But could it also be that we don’t want our works to be secret… we want people to know and see the works that we do. Maybe?

K. Many of us do not like doing things if leadership is messed up. Now having good leadership is ideal, but not consistent. But, sometimes we don’t do what we know is right and use messed up leaders as our excuse. We don’t want to follow laws and blame it on the leaders of our country. Don’t do our jobs because we think our bosses are ignorant and unworthy. Don’t go to church, evangelize or fellowship with people who need you because there are bad church leaders. With some of us, its worse. We don’t want to obey because we have leaders who don’t do this the way we want. We don’t need good leaders to obey…? No progress because of your principles.

L. Many do not like doing things unless we are sure that it is possible. Now being sensible on our ventures and being realistic is wise. But for some of us… Impossible means just that. Not possible at all. We won’t evangelize because there is no way this person will become a Christian. We won’t make huge sacrifices because there is no way we will recover from it. We don’t need to see everything as possible to obey…? No progress because of no possibilities.

M. Why is there no progression with us? Why do we crumble when the pressure comes? Why do we lose hope so fast? Why so quick to disobey, why so quick to give up? As Jonathan will show here… no faith. It is our greatest weakness.

II. Faith

- Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

A. Surely, we would have to say that Jonathan’s faith was not a by-product of his environment. And it was also not a case of optimism. Yet, faith can arise even when there is no reason to be optimistic. That is the point here.

B. But there really is a reason to have faith. Our faith is not a blind shot in the dark and hoping to hit something. We have something. The reason we believe, is Christ.

C. Listen to Jonathan, v. 6, “nothing can hinder the Lord.” God, our reason, does all that he desires.

Psalm 115:3 NLT

Our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes.

D. Listen to Jonathan v. 6, “Perhaps the Lord will help us,” Our hope is in Christ, our reason, who is able to do all things and will come to help.

Psalm 62:5 NLT

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

E. Listen to Jonathan v. 6, “whether he has many warriors or only a few” God, our reason, also does it through supernatural or ordinary means. We can receive help from God, by the parting of the red sea and a pillar of fire. But we can also receive help from God by his servants or the very person sitting next to you. (Think about that)

F. None of it was based on human wisdom or understanding, but on Christ alone by the truth about Christ alone. And I love the word “perhaps” ulay

Dr. Davis said it this way… It is as if Jonathan says, “God can do mighty works with very small resources, and God may be glad to do it in this case; and how can we know, dear armor-bearer, unless we place ourselves at his disposal?”

F. None of it was based on human wisdom or understanding, but on Christ alone by the truth about Christ alone. And I love the word “perhaps” ulay

Perhaps

H. Look… Dad and his troops are under a pomegranate tree in fear. God does not need 600 trembling men to do this. It can just be the two of us. (The few)

I. Family, today you maybe faced with a difficult situation. A plan that is unsupported, bad guidance from leaders, and apparently impossible.

J. It may seem hopeless, but there is hope in Christ alone by the truth about Christ alone. But Perhaps the Lord will help you. Super important stuff here

K. Perhaps… you might think that in order to have faith it has to be indubitably certain, precisely dogmatic, and absolutely positive. No. Faith must not be confused with arrogance. Jonathan proclaims the power of Christ and retains the freedom of Christ. God can do it, if He desires it to be so. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

L. Perhaps… we must understand that faith does not dictate to God as our errand boy, faith does not manipulate God with our apparent good deeds, putting Him in our debt. Faith has a degree of ignorance like a child who trusts their Dad simply because Dad said hat it was so. Not a bratty child demanding or will throw a tantrum. (Ultimatums)

M. Perhaps… we must understand that we are God’s people. Jonathan knew that the hand of God would come against the uncircumcised Philistines. The pagans! They were not His people and they were the enemy of His people. God defends his people, helps his people, saves his people from their enemy.

N. Perhaps we should rest in the fact that we are the people of God and His eye is on the sparrow, He has the hairs on your head are numbered shall not be touched. What child who asks his dad for bread will the dad give a stone? Do you today not realize that you are God’s people?

III. The Mercy

- The curse of sin has come upon us all, and the Lord had mercy upon us and gave us the blood of Christ

A. Now the supernatural earth shaking Victory came, but in faithless ignorance and presumption, Saul made a rash vow that brought trouble for the whole lot of them. No one is to eat until the enemy is completely defeated lest a curse come upon you.

B. So then a curse came upon Jonathan. Just like we make vows everyday and break um. But before we reap the consequences of that vow, we must remember that the curse of sin is already on us and like Jonathan we deserve death. The people came to intervene for Jonathan, just like Christ came in to intervene for us.

C. They asked Saul for mercy and they got it. Christ came by the Mercy of God and gave it. Though it did not cost the people, it did cost the Son of God his life. Even the rash vow of the king, the sins of David and all of the OT saints… needed to be paid for by the blood of Christ. The Blood of Christ is key for everything and everyone.

D. We were cursed like Jonathan, but He saved us by becoming a curse for us.

Galatians 3:13 NLT

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”

The Gospel of Jesus

E. We have hope in Christ alone through the truth about Him alone. And the Word declares. Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures and He was buried…

F. Jesus came to bring life. To seek and save that which was lost

G. Today there is life for us. Life for those who have faith. Those who believe. If you are hearing this for the first time...

H. Perhaps… Like Jonathan said, We believe, God can save us for he is able, God is free to save us for He is free, and like the Israelites, He did. This is our hope. Hope in solus Christus by sola Scriptura for Soli Deo Gloria. we sung it today… In Christ alone, by Scripture alone, for God’s glory alone.