Saul was now king, and the enemy was still the Philistines. But, as you will see as you read this, or read the Bible under the book of I SAMUEL, perhaps Saul's biggest enemy was himself. God choose Saul because Saul was a great soldier and God needed to rid Israel of the Philistines who were Israel's greatest enemy, invading God's people at every turn.
Now, Saul had a son named Jonathan, and he, too, was a soldier, and at one point had destroyed a Philistine outpost, but Saul took all the credit for the victory. It may have been normal in that country and at that time, but it was a terrible instant for Saul as the incident gave strength to Saul's growing pride. His pride grew into an ugly obsession. Could it become a trait that would eventually be his undoing?
Now came another day for a battle, but the Israeli army had no steel with which to make weapons, nor were there any blacksmiths at that time. The Israel people who needed plows and other tools of steel had to enter Philistia in order to get what they needed. And only those soldiers who already had armor made before the battle would have armor this particular day. A detachment of Philistines had gone to a pass at Micmash, where there was an outpost on one side of the pass and any enemy outpost on the other side.
Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Hey, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." So, over they went, with the armor-bearer saying, "I am with you heart and soul." Jonathan added, "If they want to come to us, we will wait for them. If they want us to come to them, we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord will give them into our hands."
The Philistines saw them and said, "Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson." So Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and his feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. In that first attack, Jonathan and his young friend killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
Suddenly, on the large field of battle, panic struck, later thought to be caused by God. And Saul mustered his entire army together. All came to him except Jonathan. They had the Ark of God with them at that time, and it was brought out for the priest to pray. When the men reassembled to go to battle, they found that the Philistines were all in tumult and on the run, so the Lord rescued Israel that day.
However, during the battle earlier, Saul had warned his men to eat nothing until the victory was won. Most tried to obey, but fighting battles makes men hungry. And where Jonathan was fighting he happened to see some wild honey which he speared on the tip of his sword and put into his mouth. When he was found out, his father was angry and realized he must kill his son. But the men said, "Should Jonathan die, he who brought about this great deliverance in Israel? Never! As the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall." So the men rescued Jonathan. But Saul continued to battle with the Philistines at every opportunity many times after that day.
Another foolish act by Saul--don't eat anything until the battle is over! Fighting men need food, and so they told him. But about Jonathan, was Saul more concerned about saving face than being right?
"To spare Jonathan's life would require him to admit he had acted foolishly, an embarrassment for a king. Saul was really more interested in protecting his image than in enforcing his vow. This helps us to remember to admit our mistakes and show that we are more interested in doing what is right than in looking good." (Quote from the Study)
Did you like Jonathan? I do. And he has much more to reveal about his father, Saul, as well as the king after Saul, David.
Hoping to blog again tomorrow. See you then!
Jo in MN
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