Focus Chapters:
- 1 Chronicles 9:35-39
- 1 Samuel 13:1-5
- 1 Samuel 13:19-23
- 1 Samuel 13:6-18
- 1 Samuel 14
Standout Verse(s):
1 Samuel 13:5-13, 14:6 NLT
The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns. Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”
Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”
“How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
Observation (s):
- When the Israelite army saw the situation that they were in, they allowed fear to consume them and some of them abandoned the pending fight.
The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the grains of sand on the seashore! They camped at Micmash east of Beth-aven. The men of Israel saw what a tight spot they were in; and because they were hard pressed by the enemy, they tried to hide in caves, thickets, rocks, holes, and cisterns. Some of them crossed the Jordan River and escaped into the land of Gad and Gilead. Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear.
- When Saul saw that his men were abandoning the army, instead of waiting for Samuel to offer the sacrifice, per God’s commands, he allowed fear and impatience to rule and offered the sacrifice himself.
Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”
- Despite the men’s abandonment, Jonathan, Saul’s son, still believed that the Lord could win the battle.
“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
Application:
God has proven to us that He did not require a large number of men or resources to win battles. When God is on your side, your victory is determined by the authority of God not the size of your army. There is no safety for your enemies in their large numbers.
Some of the men in Israel’s army forgot the times, like Gideon and the 300, when God proved himself. Instead, they focused on the Philistine numbers and the seemingly impossible situation. This focus stoked their fears and they deserted their brothers. Saul was also impacted negatively by the desertion of men. He placed his victory in the size of his army and so, when his men deserted, he switched to trying to rush God. His fear and disobedience cost him his throne. Unlike his father, Jonathan’s attitude to the desertion was different. He pressed on and kept his focus on God and His reputation, knowing that God can still provide a victory even with a few men.
Are you in a fight? Don’t focus on the enemy or the seemingly impossible situation. Don’t focus on the quantity of your resources. Be a Jonathan, focus on God. Nothing can hinder Him from gaining the victory.
One Response
Another insightful post. Thanks for giving us something to think about.