Jonathan - "A Man of Obedience" - 1 Samuel 14

Jonathan’s dad uttered a foolish vow thinking it would give them victory. But when your heart is not right with God, vows won’t help!

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We will be studying in our BIble study book on pages 12-19

This morning, I’d like to give you all a few minutes to recap last week:

Jonathan was a man of action.

He recognized the enemy around him.

He knew who he was!

He decided to do something about it.

Talk about these questions for the next 5 minutes, then we will continue in 1 Samuel 14.

Where is your enemy?

Have you given away your armor for someone else to use?

Today we are going to discuss what it means to be a man of obedience.

You can be a man of action without obedience, but you can’t be a man of obedience without action.

Jonathan was a man of action and obedience… men of action AND obedience:

Influence others with our participation

Understand the instability of pledges

And know the importance of our posture

So we are going to be in 1 Samuel 14, and the title of today’s study is: “A Man of Obedience”

How do I know if I’m a man of obedience?

1. The Influence of Participation

Your participation in the battle… being a man of action… matters! you are influencing someone!

1 Samuel 14:23 KJV 1900

23 So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.

How do I know if I’m a man of obedience? Are you living by:

a. God-given Cue

1 Samuel 14:10 KJV 1900

10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

1 Samuel 14:12 KJV 1900

12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

Here’s the distinguishing mark. Jonathan saw the movement and action of God. He saw God given him the cue, and then he acted in obedience.

You can be a man of action without obedience, but you can’t be a man of obedience without action.

1 Samuel 14:13–14 KJV 1900

13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.

Am I a man that takes my cues from God’s Word?

b. God-given Confusion

It seems that the Philistines were under a divine confusion and they woke that morning thinking “We are attacked by enemies in our midst!” They rushed about thinking their fellow Philistines might be the enemy, and began to fight and kill one another.

i. It didn’t matter if the Philistines greatly outnumbered the Israelites and had far better weapons. God was more than able to set the Philistines against each other. If the Israelites had no swords, the Lord would use the swords of the Philistines against the Philistines.

b. The earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling: Jonathan used his heart and sword but God did what Jonathan could not do – send a great earthquake to terrify the Philistines. Often we wait around for God to do what we can do. But God will often do miracles – what He alone can do – if we will do what we can do.

God-given men also wait for God to do what only He can do.

Think of this in terms of your children.

Call has given you the cue to disciple them at home, but it’s His job to

c. God-given Clarity

Enter Saul.

The watchmen look over in verse 16 and see that the Philistines were “Melting away.”

When God is at work, something become clear:

Who’s not in touch - Saul

all this is going on and saul says, “Who is missing?”

Jonathan… he wanted to know who would get credit for this!

Then he says in verse 18, “Bring the ark.”

he’s trying to look all spiritual.

Who was out of touch

Now as you look at the three types of people in here, which are you?

d. God-given Credit

1 Samuel 14:23 KJV 1900

23 So the Lord saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.

Think about these questions… (1) am I following God’s Word? (2) Do I allow the Lord to do what only He can while I do what He’s called me to do? (3) Have I joined the work? (4) who is getting the credit?

Discuss this at your table?

This requires transparency… but in this story so far, which of these men would you consider yourself to be?

Saul?

Jonathan?

Or a Hebrew that was involved with the Philistines?

Recognizing the Participants// The Influence of Participation

role of the pledge

2. The Instability of Pledges

a few years ago my resolution was to not eat sweets.

It was extreme.

it was with good intentions.

It didn’t last long.

As we participate, we have to remember that it’s not about us! and our strength.

Notice how Saul’s quick pledge/oath impacted those around him:

Saul made an oath

Quick, sacrificial oaths can do damage.

a. Pain can be Induced

1 Samuel 14:24 KJV 1900

24 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

verse 31 said the Israelites drove them from Michmash to Aijalon. that’s 15 miles!!! In one day!!! Fighting and going up and down mountains.

b. Provisions can be Ignored

I’m

God gave these people the land of Canaan so they would see his (1) provisions and that he is (2) provider.

This is God-given honey so I’m going to use it for strength.

c. Performance becomes about the Individual

God just gave them victory, now Saul makes a quick decision for everyone to not eat until the next day!

How crazy is it that we believe sometimes that a vow/pledge/oath would give us victory when our heart was not right with God.

1 John 1:9 KJV 1900

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Get things right with Him today!

God’s interested in your heart

d. Ownership is Invisible

Discuss at your table:

3. The Importance of Posture

Men of obedience are defined by redemption.

a. Jonathan’s Responsibility

b. Redemption

c. Retirement