Scripture: 1 Samuel 14:1-23

I. God will not use the fearful and disobedient to save others.

A. 1 Samuel 14 presents a contrast between King Saul and his son Jonathan. Where was King Saul (vs. 2)? He and his men were hiding in a cave. So, Jonathan is moving (vs. 1) while Saul is sitting. God had rejected Saul as king because of his disobedience (1 Sam. 13:14), and Saul was now fearful because he was cut off from God. And sitting with Saul in the cave was another man who had been rejected by God: the priest Ahijah (vs. 3), a descendant of Eli. God had promised to judge and bring an end to the work of Eli’s family in the priesthood (1 Sam. 3:13).

B. Saul turns to Ahijah the priest and says to him in vs. 18, “Bring the ark of God here.” Saul did this for a good reason found in Deuteronomy 20:2: “And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people.” No Israelite army was to go into battle without being addressed by a priest. But in vs. 19 Saul stops Ahijah from doing his work. He says, “If we don’t move right now, I am afraid that this golden opportunity to win a great victory over the Philistines will be lost.” So, once again Saul does not obey God’s Word.

II. God will use those who are full of faith to save others.

A. We see why Jonathan is so brave in verse 6. “Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, ‘Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised, it may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.’” Jonathan’s courage came from his faith in God. Jonathan said, “Who knows? Who knows what God will do if we act in faith? There is no limit to what God can do to save us. God doesn’t need 600 scared soldiers to save Israel. God is powerful enough to save Israel with just me and my armor bearer.”

B. Jonathan’s faith was similar to the Apostle Paul’s in Romans 8:31: “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Who knows what God will do? Isn’t it exciting? Jonathan’s battle plan was absurd. It was ridiculous. He gave up the element of surprise (vs. 8). Then he climbed up a sheer rock wall (vs. 12) before fighting. So, who was responsible for this miraculous victory for Israel? Verse 23 says, “So the LORD saved Israel that day.” God used Jonathan’s faith, but it was really God who saved Israel.

Application:
Who knows what Jesus will do in response to your faith? Nothing can stop Jesus from saving.

Sources:
The book of 1 Samuel
Commentaries on 1 Samuel by Robert Bergen, Dale Ralph Davis and Tim Chester

SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What made Jonathan so daring for God? How daring is your own faith?
2. Did Jonathan know with certainty that he and his armor bearer would win the battle with the Philistines (vs. 6)? But what did Jonathan know for sure before he exercised his faith?
3. Can you think of times when common sense stands opposed to exercising faith? How is faith different from optimism?