Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Anger
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Fear
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Openness
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Intro:
Last week we left off with Saul’s army deserting him and him hiding
The people of Israel have no weapons
The Philistines are having their way with Israel
It looks hopeless Israel and the King of Israel’s character flaws are starting to show
That leads us to one of the greatest chapters in the Old Testament
Jonathan, Sauls son, steps out in faith and sees God bring victory
Did you know that God specializes insurmountable odds?
Israel has 600 soldiers and the Philistines have as many as the sands of the sea
Through that God brings incredible victory
This shows us that if we are willing to step out in faith, God can do the unthinkable
Read 1 Samuel 14:1-5
vs. 1-23 Jonathan Defeats the Philistines
vs. 1 Jonathan goes to garrison
One day Jonathan gets a thought
Let’s go over to the Philistine garrison and see what happens
Maybe he was tired of hiding, waiting around, or being bullied
Jonathan didn’t hear a word from the Lord, he just went
He didn’t tell his father
This wasn’t an act of disobedience
He had the ability to move on his own
Vs. 2 Saul hiding in pomegranate grove
Where was his father
Hiding in the caves by a pomegranate orchid outside of Gibeah
There is a rock of Rimmon (Hebrew for pomegranate) located one mile east of Gibeah/Geba (see comment on Judg 20:45) with a large cave that may have been serving as Saul’s headquarters.
His troops have deserted him
His options are few
Morale has to be low
Vs.
4-5 climbing rocky cliffs
To get to the garrison Jonathan had to climb some rocky cliffs
Forts were often put in places like these because they were high up and could see the enemy coming, but it was also hard to penetrate
This wasn’t a simple mission by any stretch
Vs. 6 Nothing can hinder Lord
It’s important to notice Jonathan’s faith
It’s just him and his armor bearer
An armor bearer was more than a porter of military equipment.
He fought together with him and probably served the function of a squire or apprentice.
It’s two against thousands
Look at Jonathan’s attitude
Garrison of uncircumcised
The Philistines weren’t God Children and they hadn’t set themselves apart
Jonathan knew that God was on his side
He also knew that nothing could hinder the Lord
He didn’t know if what he was doing was the will of God, but he was willing to step out and see
You can either be a Jonathan or Gideon
Gideon heard from an Angel of the Lord and still needed several signs
Jonathan knew who he was and was willing to trust God’s faithfulness
Nothing can hinder the Lord
Vs. 7 Do all that is in your heart
His armor bearer was fully behind him
Do whatever is in your heart
I am with you heart and soul
Jonathan didn’t go alone
He took someone with him and that person believed in Jonathan and was fully in
Sometimes when God leads you to step out you only go with a few people
Jonathan was ready to take on a whole army with two
vs. 8-12 Hebrews Coming Out of Holes
About this time the armor bearer is probably asking Jonathan what his plan was
“We are going to show ourselves to them.”
Say what?!?
No surprise attack?
Then what?
If they come out towards we need to run, if they call us up to them God has given us victory
As they show themselves the Philistines taunt them
Look the Israelites are coming out of their holes
Don’t be surprised at the mocking that happens when you are stepping out in faith
Look at so and so, they think they are going to do something great for God
When people say that I always reply the way that DW Moody did
“I’ll take my way of doing it wrong over your not doing anything everyday.”
In the Philistines cockiness they called Jonathan up
Jonathan looks at his Armor bearer and says “The Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”
It’s great when God confirms your step of faith
There was still work to do, but Jonathan could go in confidence
vs. 13-14 Killed 20 men
Jonathan finishes climbing the rocks and attacks
He would strike the men and his armor bearer would finish them
There was a wheat field in front of the garrison and Jonathan cut out a furrow
The reference to half a furrow in the Hebrew text suggests that Jonathan cut a swath half a furrow wide (estimated at ten to fifteen yards) through a field of about one acre.
This gave him room to fight without being impeded
He was able to kill twenty men in that time frame
vs. 15 Panic in the camp
Jonathan’s attack caused panic in the camp
God was able to compound Jonathan’s victory with striking fear in the hearts of the Philistines to cause confusion
It is a common motif that one of the ways a deity achieves victory is by throwing the enemy into confusion.
The army was in a panic and then God throws in an earthquake
At this point the Philistines knew that Israel’s God was working for them
vs. 16 Multitude dispersing
The watchmen look over to the garrison and see the panic with soldiers fleeing in all directions
Imagine having little to no hope and then see the armies fleeing
They tell Saul and we begin to see a host of horrible decisions
vs. 17 Who's missing?
The first bad decision is that Saul does a roll call
There are only 600 soldiers and this is wasting unnecessary time
Why did Saul want to know who attacked the Philistines?
Insecurity
He was afraid of who was going to get the credit
Saul cared more about his reputation
vs. 18-19 Withdraw Your hand
The next bad decision Saul makes is to call the priest in and pray
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