between important episodes of the first king of Israel, Saul the Benjamite. In Chapter 13, ... and much like David's res
VENTURING BEYOND Going deeper in this week’s message topic through Intentional Intimacy with the Almighty God
The fourteenth chapter of 1 Samuel involving Jonathan, son of Saul, is sandwiched between important episodes of the first king of Israel, Saul the Benjamite. In Chapter 13, Saul became impatient with the prophet Samuel’s arrival to inquire of God. Saul took it upon himself to act as priest and accomplish a task that was not his to accomplish (1 Sam. 13:9-12). The response of God through Samuel to Saul is a sad one: “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought out a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you” (v. 14). Saul did a wrong thing. This was one of the many things that found God’s rebuke. His continued blunder occurs in the next chapter. His son Jonathan seeks to bring a victory to Israel by going over to a Philistine garrison with a lone armor bearer (1 Sam. 14:1, 6). Jonathan knows that the battle is the Lord’s by declaring that God can save (win) by many or by just a couple of young men (v. 6). God’s victory is affirmed to them by a sign (v. 10), and much like David’s response to Goliath’s threats (1 Sam. 17:45-47), Jonathan’s reaction is “the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel” (14:12). Sure enough, the Philistines fell and were scattered by the hand of God (vv. 13-16). But Saul’s mistakes would not end there with Jonathan’s victory. In fact, Saul would foolishly want to kill his own son by a stupefying vow (v. 24). Jonathan was ransomed by the people and survived his father’s incompetence as ruler and leader. But the final blow comes in Chapter 15. Here, Saul disobeys the command of God again, and his little kingdom is torn from him (1 Sam. 15:28). Samuel would tell this former king, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry” (vv. 22-23). God did indeed raise up another king to replace Saul (1 Sam. 16:1). And yet we see the famous faults of king David throughout Scripture as well. No earthly king or human being is capable of living a perfect life towards God. However, the Son of David, the promised seed of the women eventually came – to squash all rebellion and idolatry and to live in full obedience, even to the point of a cursed death on a tree. Jesus did this for His people, giving His Spirit to enable a life lived in obedience and service to God free from rebellion and idolatry.
