And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. 1 Samuel 14:6.
Because of Saul’s sin in his presumptuous offering, the Lord would not give him the honor of vanquishing the Philistines. Jonathan, the king’s son, a man who feared the Lord, was chosen as the instrument to deliver Israel. Moved by a divine impulse, he proposed to his armor-bearer that they should make a secret attack upon the enemy’s camp….
Together they withdrew from the camp, secretly, lest their purpose should be opposed. With earnest prayer to the Guide of their fathers, they agreed upon a sign by which they might determine how to proceed…. Approaching the Philistine fortress, they were revealed to the view of their enemies, who said, tauntingly, “Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves,” then challenged them, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing,” meaning that they would punish the two Israelites for their daring. This challenge was the token that Jonathan and his companion had agreed to accept as evidence that the Lord would prosper their undertaking. Passing now from the sight of the Philistines, and choosing a secret and difficult path, the warriors made their way to the summit of a cliff that had been deemed inaccessible, and was not very strongly guarded. Thus they penetrated the enemy’s camp and slew the sentinels, who, overcome with surprise and fear, offered no resistance.
Angels of heaven shielded Jonathan and his attendant, angels fought by their side, and the Philistines fell before them.
These two men gave evidence that they were moving under the influence and command of a more than human general. To outward appearance, their venture was rash, and contrary to all military rules. But the action of Jonathan was not done in human rashness. He depended not on what he and his armor-bearer themselves could do; he was the instrument that God used in behalf of His people Israel.
Conflict and Courage p. 152
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for us as we are making final plans for going to Ronnie Jay’s wedding. Rose
—–B is still in need of a good job. Please pray. L
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Dear Friends,
Other than Janie, Gary was the only other child in the neighborhood. He lived several blocks away, but was, from the age of five, allowed to come to my house to play. Over the years, we talked about what we would do when we grew up. He had it all figured out. We would graduate from high school together. Then, while I was a stay-at-home mom, he would go to college to become an architect. He even drew detailed plans for our house. For a lonely little girl, these plans seemed like a dream come true.
One day, when we were about nine, we were walking by the playground of the school across the street. Some girls Gary knew came walking toward us. When they got near us, Gary began talking with them. Soon, they asked him who I was. To my disappointment, he introduced me as his cousin. I felt like crying. I felt betrayed. After the girls left, Gary tried to rationalize his actions, but it did no good: I knew that he was ashamed of me. Our friendship cooled considerably after that.
How often we treat our Loving Saviour like Gary treated me. How often we pretend that we don’t even know Him. How many times we break His Great Heart of Love by acting ashamed of our Best Friend. How many times we attempt to rationalize away our denial just like Gary did. Jesus warns, “Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” Matt 10:32,33 Paul adds, “if we deny him, he also will deny us.” 2 Tim 2:12 Solemn thought with eternal consequences.
Like Peter, we do not really know ourselves and think that we would never deny our Lord, but when the test comes, we do as did he. When Jesus told His disciples that they would deny Him, Peter stood up and proclaimed that although everyone else would deny Him, he never would. “But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I. And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.” Mark 14:29-31 Peter could not believe it, but when he was “backed into a corner,” he denied his Master. He denied the One Who was sacrificing His life for him. “Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.” Matt 26:75 That was the start of a new life for this outspoken disciple. From that moment he stood firm for his Saviour no matter what the consequences might be.
May we love our Dear Saviour so much, that we will never deny Him. May we invite Him to dwell with us and in us as we walk along life’s road. May we introduce Him to all we meet is my prayer.
Rose